4.7 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Bomber of the initial bottling from 2006. Thanks chris!! Very nice, sweet cocoa/coffee aroma blended perfectly with hints of Jack Daniels-like bourbon. Pitted fruits, prunes, and raisins are also evident in this AMAZINGLY quaffable and pleasant aroma. Flawless. Nearly opaque dark mahogany body with a mild, frothy, tan/yellow head with nice legging. Head is a bit too small and retention is not overly fortuitous. Sweet, raisiny, fruity start, which has some bourbon flavors before a nice, leathery, tobacco, roasted, chocolate maltiness in the middle. Finishes with some light piney hop bitterness. A little more roastiness lingers. Warming. Extremely drinkable, extremely delicious, outstanding work of art.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle to snifter (thanks Bob). Looks good; dark with thin lacing. Smells PUNGENT! Bourbon and vanilla. Tastes pretty good too; much like it smells. Mouthfeel is decent, but will likely improve with age (along with the taste). Solid, but I’d like to let it sit for a year or two and revisit it.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
2011 bottle (neck says 2010 brandy) Pours brown with no head...bubbles around the edge of the glass. Aroma has candied fruits and red wine, fig...tart...boozy. flavor is very winey and tart atop oaky fig. Mouthfeel is medium and the finish is winey and dry...warming. woulc try again...not sure this held up well at all.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
With tremendous thanks to Blankboy. Appearance: Red wine, teeny tiny small brown head. Aroma: Stewed fruits, plums, raisins, brandy, I can anticipate a sticky mouthfeel by the aroma, red wine, oak, a little nutty chocolate. Flavour: Tart!!! Brandy and oak, big red wine flavour, malty, sloes, peppery, a little nutty, very sour, just a whirlwind of flavours, crab apples and cranberry. Fantastic. Thanks Paul.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
My 3000th rating. 375ml bottle from Crossroads Beer & Wine, Burlington, MA. Marked "Vintage 2011" on the neck, and stated ABV 12.5%.
A flat black pour, like a strong coffee, with no head and an oily texture; the aroma hits as soon as the cork is popped - rich fruit cake and vintage port wine; the taste is equally impressive - soused raisins, burnt toffee, oaky red wine, and sweet vanilla; the finish is dry and moreish and masks the alcohol very well. More a super-strong English Strong Ale than a Barley Wine in my opinion - but very nice indeed, regardless of the category.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
2010 on bottle: Pours a dark cola brown with a thin tan head that diminishes quickly. Sweet aroma is brandy with hints of oak, vanilla, and fruity apple. Flavor is oaky with a mild brandy presence and vanilla in the finish. Has a creamy texture and well balanced hiding the alcohol very well. Easy drinking and delicious!
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
straight apple brandy aroma. Pours a very dark plum color with no head. Tons of apple flavor up front with some finishing malt. Also a sweetness of sorts and a little alcohol burn. But other than that no hint of the almost 12%
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle 375ml @ Patricks Pub og Restaurant, Kristiansand
Pours deep brown with a small off-white head. Aroma has notes of malt, vanilla, coconut, bourbon, oak and caramel. Taste is medium to heavy sweet and light bitter. Body is full, texture is oily, carbonation is flat to soft.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Sampled at an esbls tasting. After much discussion it was determined that this was the version. Such an interesting beer. This combines a sour, woody effects, fruot, wine, vanilla, and big malts. Tasty and beyond.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20
Great barley wine from tap. Beautiful brown color with light brown around the edges. Aroma of brandy, raisins/plums, and malt. The taste had a pleasant sourness to complement to dark fruit sweetness and alcohol. Maybe just a slight burnt oak taste too. No carbonation to me, very crisp tasting.
2.9 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle. Prunes, plums, and wine in the nose. Dark, wine or thick cola color.
Sourish, off-putting flavors. This is not in the proper condition. Thin body, right for an aged sour beer, but not a barley wine. Something is disappointingly off with this one.
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