4.4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle for rating #2400: Viscous pour, burnt caramel in color, the deepest brown before becoming black, thin short lived light beige head, a few whisps of lacing. Being at nearly two and a half years in the bottle, it has taken on an aged appearance. The aroma is dominated by the raisin and prune. Very subtle oak, vanilla, and bourbon character as well. I can see where the aformentioned aromas might have been stronger years ago. Any sort of hop presense has diminished. Oh my lord, on first sip you realize how smooth and silky this one is. WOW! Amazingly smooth. Wrapped around my tongue are raisins, prunes, soft caramel, and sense of accomplishment. This is one of the better Barley Wines I have had in a long time. Damn! This one takes on a Port like quality. Utterly delicious! I do believe this one needs to be brewed again. Full bodied, silky smooth mouthfeel. So clean, well balanced, and flavorful. This one is very warming, but not alcholic at all. I am amazed to see that it is listed as 11.6% ABV. Quite sweet on the tongue, but not yet cloying. I think as time goes on it may get that way though. Lingering raisins and prunes, with faint hints of vanilla, oak, and bourbon. Sad to see the remainder of my glass being finished. I really wish I had more of this. Fantastic stuff!
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
UPDATED: JAN 29, 2012 A: Dark chocolate brown body with a thin to moderate sized khaki head. Light amount of lacing left behind.
S: Tootsie rolls, brownies, slight burnt brown sugar, the slightest hints of sherry and booze.
T: Chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, sherry, toffee, slight booze, oak, and a hint of vanilla.
M: The highlight of the beer. Sublimely smooth with a light to medium level of carbonation. Decadent, silky-sweet finish. Not cloying in the slightest. Perfect.
O: This is closer to a 4.75 here, but the nose could have been a "tad" better. Well worth the hunt... I am lucky I didn’t have to do the hunting. Thanks, Joe.
4.8 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
This was presented as a surprise bottle by Jon at a tasting. tried to go into this as imparital as possible. poured about 3-4 oz into a large stemed goblet. color is dark brown with a small dense head that falls quickly. clear up to the light. smell is rich dark malts mixed with dark fruits belgian yeast esters and rich barrel oak and bourbon component. notes of dark sugars and tobacco. there is a moderate note of oxidation that almost ties all the smells together. taste is, well, a barrel aged belgian barelywine. perfectly executed. a rich malt base with notes of brown sugar carmel maple syrup leads to a touch of dark fruits rasin and light note of roasty chocolate and a bit of tobacco. belgian yeast esters a touch fruity but clean and kept in check. barrel component adds a vanilla oaky char with a hint of spirit. finish is a touch sweet with a light bitter balance. a touch of alcohol to taste. oxidation is definitely noted but mild and adds another note of complexity. mouthfeel is super smooth and full bodied without much alcohol to feel. carbonation is low lending a creaminess to the feel. the balance of all the components sets this one apart from all the others. I can’t thank Jon enough for sharing this masterpiece
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
Mega Tasting III. 22oz bottle, wow...really? I’m reviewing this beer? Pinch me. Huge thanks to Derek for this one!
A - Pours a very dark brown, almost black, small ring around the glass, no head or lacking to speak of.
S - Huge sweetness, caramel, molasses, slight dark fruit, ultra-smooth alcohol. Just an excellent combo of sweetness and booze. Lots of chocolate in there as well...wow. The oak is a perfect touch.
T - Burnt sugars, caramels, chocolate, touch of oak, dark fruits. This is like a decadent chocolate truffle mixed with sweet caramel and dark fruit. Seriously amazing. Lots going on...just excellent.
M - Full, rich and smooth, light carbonation, creamy finish.
D - Uh, wow. This is just phenomenal. Almost like a BA stout in some ways. The chocolate sweetness and dark fruits are just stellar along with the oak. Jeez...really impressive.
4.8 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
LCBS late addition. This was maybe my number one want, and somehow this uncanny crew put it together. It’s a sweet nose loaded with brown sugar, dark fruits, and sweet malt. M is super smooth and creamy with an explosion of sweet malt, molasses, dark fruit, and maple syrup. Simply amazing!!!!!!
4.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Sampled at the same time as the Tampa crew and saved for rating 1500. Greg, you a re a man amongst men. Thank you, humbly, for this share. The man tried the dregs of the second bottle so we could all sample it.
Bottle courtesy of tpd975. Thanks for the amazing share, Greg! Pours dark caramel brown with an off-white head. Nose is what I imagine northern purgatory smells like: malt, caramel, some sugar, brandy, plums, brown sugar, raisin, chocolate, toffee, and heath bar. Flavor is similar, but it would be wrong not to name it out: brown sugar, malt, caramel, toffee, brandy, raisins, dark fruit, and a barely noticeable hop presence. Medium to full body and a force to be reckoned with.
4.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Very tiny hand bottle shared by hophead22...Pours a thick reddish brown with no head. Coats the glass very nicely...Aroma is lots of caramel and alcohol..Flavor is burnt caramel, slightly fruity, raisins and some bourbon...thick...Pretty damn awesome. Thanks Tim and thanks Treyrab!
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Small hand bottle generously sent to me by treyrab, I am in your debt Trey. Rating #104. Muddy brown with virtually no head, just very still and quite hypnotic to look at. Wonderful aroma, huge and bold, molasses, raisins a touch of vanilla and a little bit of bourbon, quite spectacular, I spent a good 10 minutes just breathing in this rare creation. Sweet is the first thing that hits my lips, a little more bourbon, slightly fruity and more dark molasses, but not what I expected after smelling it for all that time, but this was just plain fucking tasty and I look forward to the time when/if I get a chance to try it again. (1162)
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
I am proud to say I was lucky enough to have this beer twice in a two month period. First bottle provided by matta. Second bottle bonused in a trade by a wonderful BA in the great white north, and shared with the tampa, orlando, and miami crew.
A: Pours a nice deep shade of brown with tinges of angry maroon showing through. The head is rather small with little retention or lace.
S: Wonderful malty sweetness. Tons of sweet molasses, chocolate, caramel, and over ripe dark fruit.
T: This one has gloriously aged. Tons of wonderful malt sweetness. Molasses, caramel, and rich nutty toffee. Dark fruit is there with mild chocolate, mild woody notes and a dash of vanilla.
M: On the fuller side of body, rich, bold, smooth, sweet, tasty, with a bit of booze in the finish
D: Wonderful, a masterpiece that is not only rare, it is great. One of the best aged beers I have ever had. Wish I had been drinking good stuff to have tried this one fresh as well.
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