4.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20Bottle, generously traded by Savvy1982 and shared with Parksy and Gripp. Pours a lustrous deep chocolate brown with a dense, finely bubbled golden brown head. Aroma is rich and full of promise: caramel, chocolate, vanilla, and hops, but more than that, evoking creme brûlée, and date cake with bourbon sauce and creme fresh. Beautiful flavour structure, high intensity, thick and chewy; sponge toffee, burnt marshmallow, chocolate, oaky vanilla, dates, ill-defined spices or perhaps just the suggestion thereof, and an assertive bitterness that has coniferous and citrus pith qualities. This beer is enormous, but carries itself elegantly. For me this was close to perfection in it’s balance, flavour profile, and it’s adept use of barrel aging to compliment the underlying beer. I’m probably in the minority amongst Ratebeerians in that I am not tired of barrel aging beers, and this brew is an example of why-- when done well, it can elevate the end product to become something extraordinary. I know the product monograph describes this as an English style BW, but to me it exemplifies the best in American craftsmanship, taking every component of an established style, elevating them and combining them in such a way as to give new life and fresh awareness to an old favourite. Exquisite.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Shared bottle with Timfoolery. This bottle was full of sweet malty goodness aka SMG. If you’re a fan of sweet full flavored beer then this ones for you. Hits the palate with Carmel and molasses just like a barley wine should. WOW!!
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle from some trade. Aroma and flavor of SMG..."sweet malty goodness." (Thanks for the drop DTM.) Really malty caramel and sweet flavor makes this taste like a caramel turtle fudge brownie...literally. I know most don't dig a sweet beer, but "I'm your huckleberry." Loved this beer!
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
4.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bomber of 2012 Vintage. Dark reddish brown in appearance with a thin layer of beige head. The aroma is heavy on the bourbon and molasses in addition to some vanilla and dark fruits. The taste blends caramel, bourbon and black cherry upfront followed by notes of raisin, date and burnt sugar. Also a noticeable oaked alcohol characteristic present throughout each sip. Mouthfeel is sticky and syrupy with low carbonation and a final onslaught of bourbon and caramelized sugars in the finish. Rich and potent as you would expect with plenty of complex flavors to savor.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Holy caramel Batman! Dark brown clear pour. Tan head. Awesome mouthfeel - tons of caramel. Very nice. Did I mention the caramel?
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle, from trade with MtGoat. Pours a deep red-hued brown body with a small, light beige head. Aroma is deep mellow velvety bourbon notes with deep malty caramel tones, hints of nuts, biscuits and toffee; all integrated smoothly in the back. Taste is smooth deep malty tones with well-balanced bourbon tones, soy, coconut and hints of toffee. Full, elegantely textured body with a well-fitting medium carbonation level. Absolutely lovely beverage.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle - WALEZ tasting. Pours beautiful clear deep ruby with a small beige head that leaves decent lacing. Aroma is caramel, brown sugar, dried fruit, a touch of bourbon. Flavor is the same, medium sweet, light bitter, bit of wood and its associated astringence. Medium body, creamy mouthfeel, warming finish. Good beer; probably should not have had it AFTER the King Henry tho :)
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle.
Pours a deep black with a nose of winey roasted nuts and chocolate fudge. Taste is similar. Nice beer.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bomber thanks to Mark.
Appearance : Deep clear brown with small head.
Aroma : Rich raisins and brown sugar. Light licorice, delightful rich sugars. Lightly smoked caramel with great herbal hops.
Taste : Rich raisins with light vanilla. Pumpernikel bread with herbal hops. Bitter hops on the finish. Light oxidation.
Palate : Nice soft carbonation. Nice palate overall.
Overall : Very nice and rich. Well balanced. Nice complex malty flavors. nice hop profile too. Exactly the kind of barley wine that I enjoy. Really well made. Nice light oxidation.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle @ home ... vintage 2012... It pours clear dark brown with a small light brown head....The aroma is bourbon, raisins, dark fruit and caramel....The flavor is very nice dark fruit, bourbon, sweet dark fruits, brown sugar and oak...
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Location: 22 oz bottle shared by NickD717, 3/2/13
Aroma: The nose is fairly heavy malty, with caramel, wood, vanilla, some fruit, and quite a bit of booze
Appearance: This one pours a dark reddish color with a smallish beige head and some average lace
Flavor: The flavor is pretty big with some heavy malts, lots of booze, and some hop bitterness too
Palate: This ber is full bodied with a thick feel and, of course, a big boozy punch from the ABV
Overall Impression:
Thanks Nick! This one is certainly a sipper. There’s really no argument that this is some very good stuff, but I still would have preferred just a bit less heat.
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