 JB175 (1364), Holland, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 14, 2006 Updated: Mar 12, 2008
2006 bottle (served in the 50-60 degree range). Pours to a very dark red with very little head. Alcohol present in the aroma, with a light brandy-like scent. Intense, fruit-like sweetness upfront that tastes like a strong red wine. Nice tingly-hop finish with a noticeable alcohol belly burn. Definitely enjoyable, but a bit too intense given its youth. I’m guessing this will age very well. Re-rate of a 2002 bottle on 3/7/08 - Amazing how well this one has aged. Soft raisin and sweet fig. This one really shapes up nicely - I’m kicking myself for passing up on a case of 05 that was less than 40 bucks.
Rotorhead87 (111), Temple, Texas, USA
Oct 9, 2008 2008 Vintage
Pours a dark brown color with virtually no head. It has a scent of malts and some oak, with some alcohol present as well. The initial flavor rapidly progresses from a quick hoppy bite to sweet malts to a somewhat oaken, alcoholic finish.
This is a great, top class barley wine, not over the top hoppy like some I have had. The only thing that prevented me from rating this higher was the fact that I could sense the alcohol as much as I did. I am laying down the rest of my 4 pack to age for a while, hopefully it will mellow out and be even better!
ruggedman (429), Portland, Maine, USA
Oct 5, 2008 Bottle at Novare Res. This stuff is fantastic, I’m starting to think I love barleywines as much as IPAs. Sweet, malty, the hop presence is there though and this is a great barleywine. Toffee and caramel aromas and flavors from the malts. Nice mouthfeel too.
Imperial-John (98), Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Oct 1, 2008 2006 bottle. Bubbly murky brown with creamy tan head that coats glass as it thins. Sweet oakey whiskey aroma. As aroma would suggest, wweet oakey raisin whiskey taste with clean aftertaste. Very warming and so smooth for 13.25%. It brought a tear to my eye as I drank this as it is the last of the 2 I had. This and Old Rasputin are 2 of my highest ratings. Thank you North Coast, hope to see you again soon.
Illini08 (519), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Oct 1, 2008 2007 bottle. Picked up at Brawley’s in Charlotte, NC. Dark amber pour with no real head to speak of. Very vinous aroma, dried fruits, maybe some leather, vanilla, some booze. Sticky sweet flavor. Fruity, some caramel and molasses. Not much in the way of hops. A bit of booze noticable in the finish. Pretty smooth on the palate. A little sweet stickiness as well. Enjoyable and I think it will get better with more age.
timsilvia32 (252), from Michigan now in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Sep 29, 2008 2008, Solid amber pour, very slight cream head that dissappated quickly. Big sweet malty aroma. Tastes of the same with carmal/toffee, slight fig, raisin. Carbonation stays up front with very little hop prescence to speak of, making it a bit sticky. This reminded me more of an old ale, which I enjoy much more than barley wine. Thought this was good and will only get better with a little age.
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