Library Old Library Barleywine

Brewed by Library Bar & Restaurant
Style: Barley Wine
Houghton, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: DEC 24, 2008 <b>2008.</b>Unfortunately, this years batch is nothing to rave about. The nose gives away a heavily tangy old malt character that sets out a path of oxidation. This is like a dirty, old Kuhnhenn barleywine. Apparently, less alcohol and roast, but nothing to get whooped up about. Oxidizes sherry malt, dusty old hops, subdued alcohol, undue tanginess and not much complexity. Very one-dimensional in oldness. Not well kept, apparently.

<b>2007.</b> This year finds the beer in a similar vein to 2006. There’s a good amount of chocolate malt remaining in the beer, and giving it a certain turbid cocoa powder quality. Light tanginess arises from malt and yeast signatures. Likely the most mellowed and least alcoholic tasting of the batches. Gives a lightly aged vibe, which is nice. This seems to blend the chocolate-malt influenced bill with the dry hopping. Definite and certain move of spicy English hop carry through the finish with some Hot Chocolate characters. Bright high-quality fruit profile much diminished in this version. Not really digging this one all that much, unfortunately. 3.7

<b>2006.</b> A deeper darker rendition. Apparently with twice as much chocolate malt in at as the 2005. This really shows through in a nice sweet cocoa flavor, that melds well with the other bright estery fruits of the incredible malts. The addition of more chocolate malt, definately brought this closer to an Impy/B-wine hybird, but without roastiness this stays a phenomenal barleywine. 4.0

<b>2005.</b> Deep rich murky dark burnt brown pour, with fully diminished head. Very still. STRONG apricot and cherry aroma. Wow! Very alcoholic. Strong flavors of abbey fruitcake and oranges simmered in spices. Unfortunately this potent brew is somewhat one dimensional, lacking much hops or malt flavors, except in the finish. This is like no other Barleywine I’ve had. T

Deep ruby brown color with light head. Very sweet and acidic palate with black curant and dark cherry aromas. The finish is bitter with a gentle coffee bite and malt mixture similar to all other dark Library brews.