 BlackForestCO (549), Fort Collins and Black Forest, Colorado, USA
Feb 29, 2008 Updated: May 7, 2008
07 bottle thanks to lb4lb, thanks Deniz. This turned out to be a real nice surprise. It poured a clear amber color with a thin beige head that faded to a ring. Aroma of sweet malts and a very nice fruity undertone, including hints of orange, apricot, and pear, with a light alcohol on the nose as well. Moderate caramel malts lead into a strong fruit presence consisting mostly of citrus (orange and apricot) giving way to a nice, bitter hop finish. Smooth on the palate, with a nice drying finish. Thanks Deniz, you rule.
rustychiles (480), Mesa, Arizona, USA
Oct 11, 2008 Pours a light brown with a nice small white head. Aroma of malt, hops. Flavor is malt, hops, caramel. Hides the abv rather well, ok barleywine but a bit odd.
illinismitty (1456), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Oct 11, 2008 Updated: Oct 12, 2008Obtained via trade through my friend Brian, except that he accidentally opened MY beer at a tailgate party thinking it was his homebrew. Thanks Brian- I love barley wines in 80 degree weather. Pours a hazy orange amber with not much of a head. Aroma of sugary malts and fruity ale esters. Full bodied with soft carbonation. Rich flavor of caramel, toffee, and vanilla with a decent amount of residual sweetness. Could use a little more bitterness for me. Alcohol not overdone for an 11.5%. If you are into British style barley wines, give this one a try. 480 calories? Yikes!
GodOfThunder (30), Orlando, Florida, USA
Sep 30, 2008 It pours out an opaque burnt orange, like a roasted pumpkin, with no head and leaves little lacing. The smell is of aged hops, burnt sugar, a little orange peel and just a hint of the alcohol. The mouthfeel is thick like syrup with just a little carbonation tingling on the tongue. The hops come through in the taste, but they are sweet and mellow. There is some vanilla and a hint of figs. Overall, I really enjoy this beer. The alcohol is hidden well and there is a bit of complexity to the taste. A great beer.
masonjer (469), Holt, Michigan, USA
Sep 29, 2008 Updated: Sep 30, 2008Thanks to lb4lb for the chance. poured a dirty blonde color with a cream head. Aroma was orange peel, fruit, banana. Taste is cookie, sharp citrus, banana and a resinous dry finish. Also a flavor I can’t quite place that I don’t particularly enjoy. Different for the style.
DrHomolka (606), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Sep 29, 2008 12oz bottle. 2007. Pours a bright, firey orange color with a small white head. Head recedes to just a thin layer of bubbles around the rim. Aroma is intense barley wine aroma. Candy, dried fruits, intense maltiness/caramel. Sweet smelling, not much hops detected in aroma. This smells nice. Taste is not as intense as aroma would indicate. Neither sweet nor hoppy/bitter, the first thing that jumps to mind is how smooth this is. I am inclined to believe that the 11.5%ABV listed here is a lie. Someone is lying. This is very drinkable, almost a little bland or watery. Medium/light bodied. This looks and smells the part but the flavor and mouthfeel are a big letdow. Below average.
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