Marin Old Dipsea Barleywine Bourbon Barrel (Brett)

Brewed by Marin Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Larkspur, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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In short: A funky, oaky, tannic crazy big beer. Fantastic stuff
How: Bottle 22oz. 2009 vintage, red-wax top. Consumed when approximately 1.5 year of age. Bottle sent to me by changeup45, thanks a lot Gary
The look: Cloudy very dark burgundy topped by a medium beige head
In long: Nose has a rather strong brett presence with a fun fix of rich toffee, green apples, oak, light bourbon, grapefruit skin, more… Somehow the nose doesn’t feel all over the place, this is a nice complex and original aroma. Tastes is just as complex and original. Toffee, oak tannins, tart fruits, earthy wood, fresh oranges (!!!), acetic acid, vanilla, and I could go on and on… With all the brett, oak tannins, and other stuff I almost didn’t feel any sweetness and alcohol. The unexpected tartness of this barley wine almost makes it refreshing. I’m beginning to think that there is a lot of potential in those funky bretty barley wines. We have a local beer doing something similar (Benelux Noël en Fût de Chêne avec Brett) that is pretty kick-ass too, but this Dipsea brett is even better, incredibly complex and totally “out there”. I loved that beer. Oh, and by-the-way, there was almost no bourbon presence in this beer. This was a fantastic experiment that Marin Brewing must make again. And if you’ve never written to a brewery threatening to kill yourself if they don’t brew a certain beer again, then you’re clearly not me.

Nose is funky sour green apple bourbon barrel, fruity candy notes. Dark auburn pour, decent ring of foam and lace. Green apple, dark fruit, bourbon, wood, funky brett. Nice way to disguise an infected batch - w brett. Well its nice, the brett dries, adds interesting cartb.

Bottle provided by Kan, many many thanks! Mahogany hued with a fizzy small head and minimal lace. The wonderful nose displays light brett character, roasted, toasty, and caramel malts, some vanilla and bourbon tones, a hint of oak with some leafy herbal and minty hop vapours. The taste is every bit equal to the nose, nice malt profile with fruity, minty, and herbal qualities balanced very well by both the bourbon character and the light handed brett influence. I struggled to find what kind of spicy note I found but alas I settled upon marjoram. There is a moderate alcohol note upon the finish but so much to hinder my enjoyment of this well balanced yet complex flavor profile. The mouth feel has soft yet lively character with a bit of stickiness.

This is shockingly good but I do fear that with age that the brett may start to dominate and alter the spot on balance that currently exist. I say get one now and enjoy soon.

Bomber with red wax shared by IrishBoy. Pours brown with a thin beige head and a cherry and alcohol aroma. There is a chocolate cherry flavor over a sturdy sweet malt base with a bourbon finish. Nicely aged and a good use of brett.

(22oz bottle thanks to BMan1113VR) clear rich medium brown with oily tan bubbles. Nose of honey, floral, brett, bourbon, wood and caramel. Taste of brett, floral, caramel, honey, butter with light alcohol and oily texture. Lower carbonation than expected. I didn’t think the brett would show through in such a big flavored beer, but it really did. Surprised me in a nice way, an interesting combination.

Bottle:   Brett made its appearance as soon as I popped the cap on this one.   Deep ruby in color, large finely bubbled light beige head, nice lacing.   Looks the biz.   Brett on the nose, right up front, followed by a nice biscuity malty sweetness.   Bourbon isn’t real noticeable until I take my first sip.   Brett is fleeting, up front, Bourbon reigns in, leaving behind a sweet malty biscuity backside.   Not really heavy, a little viscous, and certainly smooth.   I expected this one to be a bit hotter, but its really easy to take in.   I guess the age did that ey?   Backside actually shows a little hops.   Body and mouthfeel are full to moderate.   As I mentioned earlier, not realy heavy but its smooth.   Brett seems to be mainly in the aroma and right up front, Bourbon swings in behind, does stick around for a bit, Brett fades, leaving a nice english style Barley Wine with a little hop gift at the backside.   This was a treat, if not a heavy one.   Seems fairly refined.   Actually wished it was a bit hotter and thicker, but thats the masachist in me talking.   Great stuff, Brett adding a very interesting flair!

Red brown color with a small, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of vanilla, dried fruits, caramel malts, smoke, leather, cocoa, and wine notes. Taste of pine, tobacco, caramel malts, dark fruits, light wildness, and a sweeter finish with some alcohol as well.

Thanks to psiweaver and hopsbreath for getting me out bottles of this. A: Pours a moderate mahogany with a nice tan head and very minimal lacing. S: Not too much going on here considering how much really should be going on here. A bit of the Brett comes through along with a bit of malt, but not much bourbon. T: Brett comes in a bit, as does the malt. Again, not too much--if any--bourbon character. Not sure if this just isn’t well balanced in general, or if it’s at that point of limbo where the Brett is starting but hasn’t brought through enough character to really carry the beer. M: A bit dry and a bit hot. Fairly thick. D: Fairly low. I just can’t figure out where this one is going. Luckily I’ve got more to cellar, so I’m thinking (or maybe hoping) that I’m just getting to this one at the wrong time in it’s development. Looking forward to revisiting this. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 09-05-2010

Bottle shared by John, thanks! Poured a cloudy reddish brown with a brown head that dissipated to the edges. Aroma was full of sweet grain, caramel, light fruit and bourbon. Flavor had growing sweet grain and caramel with a bit of light fruit and bourbon. Didn’t really notice any brett characteristics, but still enjoyed the beer.

Thanks to Josh for sharing. Pours a deep reddish brown with a small head. Aroma of tart cherries, brett, dark fruits and toffee. Flavor of toasted malt, dark fruits, oak, earthy, brett and tart cherries.