Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: Barley Wine
Newport, Oregon USA

Bottled in 2002! Was scared but curious to see what 7 years of aging would do to this beer. I have never seen a pour like this. It was thick, brown, in a sedimented, layered murkiness like mud water. The aging has actually pushed the alcohol aroma and flavor onto the back burner (because last time I had this there was too much booze flavor). Almost no carbonation. The alcohol burn is replaced by thick amounts of caramel malt, molasses, mild hops, prunes and a slight hint of booze in the both the nose and flavor. The finish was bitter sweet. Not bad but better barley wines out there.

On tap at Toronado for Barleywine fest ’09. Reddish-brown color with a small head. Aroma is dark fruits, sweet malt, and piney hops. Flavor is more of the same, hops characteristic of the Pacific Northwest. Full mouthfeel and alcohol on the finish.

Toronado Barleywine Fest. Pours dark reddish amber, malty, molasses, dark fruits, caramel.

Presentation was good, first in the ceramic bottle and then in the glass it poured a ruby red colour. At first all I could notice was the bitterness in the taste - wanted more malt coming through but as it warmed some chocolate notes present on the front palate then some dried fruit, don’t exactly notice the alcohol.

The look is cloudy, reddish murky color, ok light tan head. The smell is fruity, alcohol, molasses, malts, prunes, and raisans. The taste is dark and dried fruits, malts, molasses, alcohol, some vegtables.

Lightly hazed brown pour with light head and lace. Dried fruit and molasses on the nose. Almost a chocolate flavor, raisins, and a very good bitter. Mouthfeel thick and full with very light carbonation. A good BW with a bitter that surprised me.

Tasted 12/20/08, when I was having trouble accessing the site. Bottled in 2001, purchased in 2008. Hmm...is rich ruby red the same as murky brownish maroon? White, quickly dissipating head. Very strong aroma, just a million things going on. Smells of an antique shop (seriously), raspberries, blueberries, bread, red wine, fruity breakfast cereal, Flintstones vitamins. Flavor is complex, gentle (especially in comparison to nose) - cognac, cabernet, grape juice, and I’ll say cardboard too since I see someone said it below. Overall a massive chocolatey malt foundation. Uneven sparse lacing. If complexity equals quality, this is a great beer, the relative lack of carbonation notwithstanding. But for me the mutedness of the flavor, complex though it is, takes it down a notch. Not considered when rating: I left the glass on the table for awhile while I did other things, and over a few hours the smell really began to nauseate me. Next bottle I will pour in four cordial glasses to discuss with three friends for an hour.

This is a good barleywine with a lot going on, more so than some of the others I have tried. A good beer to relax with.