4.4 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/2022oz bottle. 2011 vintage.
A: Red raspberry with brown hints. Very thin lacing. Grips the glass.
N: Tons of caramel and oak. Lots of toffee. Smoothly sweet like caramel being layered in a commercial. Smells like a fresh coffee cake with specks of brown sugar.
T: Very well blended. Has a distinct oakiness that lends peppercorn and vanilla. Caramel and toffee flavors are subtle. Raisins and licorice bitterness. There’s a pronounced hop presence/some pineapple. Could use a little more sweetness, IMO, but I can’t really knock the execution, either.
M: thinner than I might like, but it keeps the beer from being a choking hazard. Alcohol is really well hidden.
O: One of the best barleywines out there. Strong execution all around, and highly recommended. So smooth and complex.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Black color, brown foam, moderate lacing. Brown sugar/molasses smell, buttery. Taste has similar notes with chocolate, a touch of coffee. Slight bitterness and alcohol warmth in the finish. Good beer, not sure what the hype is about.
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
22oz Bottle pours a black color without much head. Strong caramel flavors, lots of sweetness, and some spice flavors. Mellows as it has time to breath. A great beer.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
A - Dark red-brown with a finger of frothy khaki colored head. Fades normal.
S - Sweet caramel and caramelized malts, brown sugar, oak, vanilla, whiskey, dark fruits, and some booze.
T - Sweet caramel and caramelized malts, oak, vanilla, whiskey, brown sugar, dark fruits, toasted coconut, and some booze.
M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a warming and sweet finish.
D - Fantastic barrel aged barley wine. Great overall balance.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Not the religious experience I was expecting. The aroma is very sweet, boozy, fruit, vanilla. The appearance is deep red/brown, opaque, thin head. The flavor is fruit, booze, candi sugar, vanilla. Certainly an "English" BW in that hops are almost non-existent. Thick in body, sweet, sticky mouthfeel. I wanted to pour this on some pancakes. The finish is hot, solvent like. I really enjoyed this, just not as much as I thought I might.
4.5 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle, 2013 vintage. Aroma: mmm, Sucaba-like. Chocolate, caramel, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, oak, roastiness. Sexy as hell. Damn. Pours dark brown/ruby with small tan head that dissipates quickly. Taste: Dark fruit -- raisin, date, fig -- caramel, roasty chocolate, so well-placed oxidation. Holy wow, nice. Mouthful of happiness, with just the right hint of bitterness. Sweet and rich. Viscous, velvety slick texture. Full body, soft carbonation. Warming alcohol in the finish, but alcohol amazingly well concealed for the ABV. Overall: this is simply stunning. A fantastic beer, worth sipping and sharing with friends.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
2013 bomber from trade with michaelinwa. Pours a murky dark brown color with slight mahogany tint. Nice 1 finger head that lingers a bit. Big butterscotch and bourbon aroma mixed with some sugary dark fruits and vanilla. Taste is very boozy with nice rich flavors. Moderate sweet but not syrupy like some barley wines. The butterscotch, bourbon, vanilla, figs, and raisin flavors are blend well together. Slight alcohol warming in the finish. Overall, this is a little boozier than I usually like my barley wines but I still love it. Top notch.
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Pours a murky dark tea color with an evenly distributed tan lacing. Aroma consists of candied sugar, dark fruits, licorice, vanilla, cherry, booze and cinnamon. The alcohol is somewhat harsh.
4.4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Sample at the Blarney Wine tasting on 03/16/2013: The beer is a clear dark mahogany color with a medium off-white head that diminishes steadily. Partial rings of lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malt, hops and oak. Full-bodied with flavors of malt, oaky bourbon, vanilla and figs. The finish is rich and malty with a bourbon and raisin aftertaste. Very good Barley Wine all around.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Had on draft at the brewery. Raisin, bourbon, coconut, vanilla, malty, viscous. A very good beer.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Sampled at a bottleshare. Dark brown color, little khaki head. Little loose lace. Awesome vanilla, light roast, dark vinous flavor in the nose. Warm finish. Light bitter, some spice. Great stuff
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