Rascal Creek Old Incinerator Brandy Barrel Barleywine

Brewed by Rascal Creek
Style: Barley Wine
Merced, California USA

Thank you KrausenJockey! Looks like this one is from 2004. Hazy deep brown with a small beige head, fading to a ring. Brown sugar, vanilla, wood and booze--dunno if I could specifically place brandy, but definitely not bourbon--is up front with some raisins, toffee molasses and light chocolate notes behind with only some light sherry. The flavor has some added tobacco (with a little tang) and misc dark fruits. This never got too sweet by any means--the tobacco and light cherry kept it relatively balanced. Dry finish with just a little alcohol (definitely not 13%), bitterness at a 3. Light carbonation with a medium full body. A most excellent BW.

Sampled at Toronado 2009 Barleywine Festival. 2004 vintage. Pours deep amber bordering on a murky chocolate hue yet still somewhat clear and a nice mocha head. Cripes, the aroma nearly buckles my knees. Just fantastic. I get smooth notes of stewed prunes, figs and stewed sugary raisins. It is just smooth and muted and wonderfully blended together. I also get thick viscous malt smell rounding out the dark fruitiness and leading into blunted wood notes. I don’t know if I’m getting this down right. Good gravy. I think my first 10 aroma for a Barleywine. Thankfully the taste is much the same with smooth blended flavors of prunes, figs, cherry compote and stewed raisins moving into aged rich lightly roasted malts. Harmony. But then a smooth wood sensation picks up a supporting role about midway. It seems to thin out a tad into the finish with persistent rich dark fruitiness and fading malt. Wow!

Thanks KrausenJockey. Pours amber brown, Dark fruits, caramel, molasses, wood, brandy, little nutty. Oh and what is wrong with Oakes?

On tap at the brewery. Thanks to KrausenJockey & Aspiditis for hosting. This brown beauty is a great beer. Not only is it a nice looking pour, but the complex sweetness in flavor is great. I got some brown sugar, molasses, plum and a few other things.

04 sample pours ruddy and muddy brown with a thin egg shell head. Nose is huge with dried fruits, caramel, maple syrup, brown sugar, oak and brandy. The flavor is as full and complex and creamy on the palate. ABV hidden very well. Had on tap at the Valley Brew Fremont St. brewery. Look for this one at the Toronado ’09 BW Fest .

Dull flat brown colour. Fairly malty aroma with a decent brandy character. Thick malty body with light boozey notes and a hint of chocolate. Big, but not overly complex and the flavour combination is not particularly compelling.

This is a simply amazing, out-of-this-world barley wine that is done to perfection!! With a ABV of 13%, it’s mind blowing to think that you cannot taste it whatsoever. Aroma of toffee, nuts, some brandy and vanilla. Flavor profile is the same with a creaminess that is just perfect.

Bottled. Clear ruby, no head. Raisiny madeira aroma. Sweet and full bodied with clean mouthfeel. Very malty with notes of berries and wood. Surprisingly low bitterness.