Rock Bottom Warrenville Blitzen Barleywine

Brewed by Rock Bottom Warrenville
Style: Barley Wine
Warrenville, Illinois USA

On tap in Warrenville. Pours a light, nut-brown amber with a see through body. Small, quickly dissipating, dirty white head that leaves no lacing. Decent, but light aroma of candy sugar, toffee malts, sweet bitter hops, and a bit of booze. Flavor is very similar. Light to medium bodied with a small amount of strawberry bitter linger. Overall, not a bad barleywine, just kind of bland.

On tap at Warrenville. Light walnut color, with an off white, diminishing to a small ring head, and light lacing. The nose had a floral hint at first, which dissipated quickly, malt sweetness, along with some vinous notes. The flavor had mild caramel notes with a light hop bitterness and noticeable alcohol presence. Not too complex, but a decent warmer.

on tap RB Warrenville, pours murky caramel color with off white head. nose of toffee. flavor has good bitterness but a rather simple toffee and caramel malt profile. full body and mouthfeel.

On tap at the brewpub - This poured a clear copper body highlighted in gold and capped with a bubbly ecru head. The aroma was fairly light, sweet and malty with touches of orchard fruit. It had a smooth toffee flavor, lightly fruity, with the alcohol showing itself near the finish. Not a bad sipping barley wine in the English style.

Draught from the brewpub. Pours a dark reddish amber with a moderate creamy light tan head. Good lacing. Aroma is sweet malty with a slightly vegetive malt character. At first a bit boozy, malt dominates in the English style. Some sweet hops in the finish. Slightly warming, full and foamy in the mouth with a bitter lasting finish. Okay, but overall the flavors are just not that compelling.