Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine

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

On tap for Gravity Head at Rich O’s in New Albany. Kegged in 2002. Arrives in what I think is a thistle glass. It is stemmed, not as wide or curvaceous as a tulip, and doesn’t flare out as much at the top. A nice head sits atop the beer, which was served nearly ice cold. My perception of the aroma was certainly affected by the few smokers, so I will only say that the smell wasn’t as good as my bottled samples of this vintage. Wow. Hoppy doesn’t even begin to describe this beer. After letting it warm a bit, the hops are still overwhelming. I detect a slight, ever so slight malty sweetness, a vinous quality. This part of the flavor is quickly emasculated by the hops. The mouthfeel is scalding. I would describe the drinkability as scathingly hoppy. In comparison to the 2002 bottled version, this draft Old Crusty has not mellowed nearly as much. I consider myself a hophead, but this needs more time. I wonder if I should even attempt to drink one of the younger, ceramic bottles. I think I’ll wait. Serving type: on-tap Reviewed on: 03-11-2006 09:15:25 --

2007 Ceramic bottle. Pours dark, dark brown with a very large head. Excellent lacing. Strong aroma of brown sugar and dark fruits. The hops come on a bit too strong, lending to a bitter taste. It is balanced out a bit on the back end.

Ceramic, XS bottle. Aroma has raisin malts, hops, sugar. hazy, brown coloured with not much head. Taste is sweet, grainy with rasin sugary caramel malts. Even some chocolate. Hoppy bitterness. Decent, but as Caesar said ’no fireworks’ .

Ceramic bottle. Hazy brownish color, short head. Aroma of a typical barley wine, hoppy, caramel malt, some sugar. Sweetish taste, very bitter. skortila took it this may from Olbutikken, so aged for almost a year. Decent stuff, no fireworks though.

2005 bottle of Phred’s Nightcap Barley Wine. Kind of oily mouthfeel, low carbonation. Extremely hoppy, with a really strange aftertaste. Kind of smoky or something, tastes kind of off. Dunno man, maybe a bit too old or something.

2006 Poured from a 750ml ceramic into a pint glass. A good inch of thick, tan head that just would not quit--half way through and I still have a small layer of foam. Winter has robbed me of all my olfactory skills, but the rich aromas of citrus and caramel comes through. Taste is just stunning; by far my favorite BW. Lots of hops and the associated bitterness balance perfectly a tremendously malty beer that clings to the palate with a viscosity that is out of this world. This beer has a definite beginning, middle, and end: bitter spruce , creamy caramel with some grapefruit, and then a final, lingering, but oh-so-satisfying warm burn. Not for the tame of heart, but I must say after drinking many draft glasses of the 2007 Crusty, the recommended year yields a much smoother beer.

on tap at Summits in Cumming, GA. This is an excellent American BW.... one of my new favorites... I’m glad I have a ceramic bottle of this stuff in my cellar. Full of hops! A very dark reddish color... huge thick body, quite chewy.... excellent over the tongue... really strong and lasting bitter finish.

2007 from ceramic bottle. Pours a deep mahogony which glows a rich red through the light. The lacing is really amazing on this beer. There is a ring for every sip I took lined up down the glass. Nose is sweet and piney. Taste is heavy pine with notes of molases to smooth it out. Flavor ends with a nice lingering pine bitterness. Time will do this one well for balance.