Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine

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

’02 bottle pours dark caramel with no head. The nose is sweet fruit and caramel malt, along with the flavor. Looking forward to this aged bottle was a let down as it was pretty oxidized. Need to try a newer bottle.

Sweet fruit on the nose, at least early, and well done at that. Sweet again to taste, but the beer certainly firms up through the palate considerably as the high abv kicks in and drives a heavy aniseed finish. A bit out of balance for mine.

From a 6oz Bottle, Vintage 1998. Pours a hazy dark, coppery amber color with a thin head of fleeting off-white. Fruity aroma with notes of raspberry and pale chocolate. Light caramel sweetness and some fading plum. Full bodied, lightly carbonated mouthfeel with a rich malty texture. There’s plenty to chew on, but it’s certainly not a sugar bomb. Caramel malt sweetness and faint notes of toast up front on the palate. Flavors of chocolate, cherry, and toasted pecan. There’s still a remarkable amount of hop bitterness left in this beer, helping to dry up the finish.

Big baeutiful bottle with a swing stopper that Paul generously poured from. Tried this on druaght as well. Deep ruby pour with faint head retention. Heavy malts and and alcohol warmth. This is one of the best BW’s I’ve tried. Really well done and balanced. Light on hops and full of sweet malt complexity and warmth. The finish was pitted fruits, brandy soaked raisins, maple syrup, roasted malts, and general goodness.

2002 vinatge 12oz’r. Poured burgandy color with off white head. Taste was maple and malt. The hops were completely gone and turned into a malt bomb. Drinkable, but nothing to get excited about. Just an "ok" beer.

Draught at El Bait Shop in Des Moines, IA. Murky ruddy brown with a moderate tan head, nice creamy lacing. Aroma is sweet and fruity hops which follows in to a very sweet hoppy flavor that finishes bitter with floral notes. Full bodied. Nice hoppy barleywine, though a bit sticky sweet.

Tiny little bottle from ’93 shared by Thickfreakness. Thanks!
Pours a maroon color with no head. Smell is soy sauce and caramel and smooth aged malt. Slightly triple bock like. Taste is creamy, nutty and a bit fruity with some soy sauce. Tastes very old indeed. Certainly entirely different from a fresh bottle, although I’ve yet to try this fresh.

7/5/08 2006 vintage, on draught at the Seattle International Beerfest. Aroma is all rich dark fruit with some caramel, but almost no roast character. Appearance is hazy brown with a well maintained cream colored head. Flavor is rich and roasty with lots of caramel andmoderate alcohol. Mouthfeel is full bodied with moderate carb texture and a lingering resin feel. Overall, great and big, a lot of beer that will lay down for a while.