Ringneck AlltMonster Barleywine

Tried this very last while tasting a few of the remaining brews from Ogre Fest (barley wine festival). This was apparently brewed by their brew master in 2001 at a different facility. I feel fortunate to have gotten a taste and I wish I would have had more time to taste and, more importantly, help myself to a full glass. This had a very nice raison and honey aroma. Tasted dried raisons, grapes, malt, molasses, cinnamon, faint smoke and hops. It’s all in there for your taste buds to savor! Warm and full body. Very well balanced. I was most pleasantly surprised by this beverage. Dessert heaven.

draft, ogrefest - Very dark reddish brown, tiny tan head. Aroma is full of roasted raisens, slightly smokey. Flavor is strong with alcohol, caramel, raisens, moderately bitter finish.

Pours a cloudy dark brown with no head. Comes in the same little snifter that the Imperial Stout did. Low carbonation. There’s a big buttery, oakiness in this that’s quite nice with the creamy caramel malt. This is a great barleywine. I didn’t realize it had been aged so long, but they pulled it out at the right time. This is excellent.

On draft after aging for about 4 years. 10oz snifter. Dark red/gold, 1/4 inch tan head, excellent lacing. Sweet malty aroma w/ citrus pine hop. Big sweet fat caramel malts and a more than generous amount of hops considering that this has already been aged for years and the hops have most likely mellowed. I’d think if they mellowed much more this would be one of those sweet cloying barleywines. As it is, it’s got an excellent balance of flavor - and not a trace of alcohol at it’s 16% abv! Finishes with a roasty burning hoppyness and stickyness on the lips. A very smooth brew with enough carbonation to help clear the palate for the next onslaught of flavors. Leaves you feeling warm from the scalp down to the bottom of your stomache. Very well done.

Draft: Light copper w/ no head but laces well. Malty w/ some lightly citrusy hops and moderate diacetyl. There is a little caramel malt, but is sort of overshadowed by the diacetyl which lingers as it warms, also hints of dried apricot fruitiness & roast. This is malty and well balanced, but doesn’t start that way. Starts with a slightly cloying caramel sweetness, but it grows on you as it warms and is more well balance than the FOTB. Diacetyl is in the flavor as well, light citrusy fruit, finishes malty and moderately hop flavored with hints of roast. Very full bodied, smooth, low carbonation and again extremely well hidden alcohol. Starts a little cloying at first but is very well balanced, a very very, good beer. I think for a bigger beer, this might be their best output yet.