Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine

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

A bit harsh on the palate, but overall a fantastic beer. I also agree with many on here that it could use a little more aging. I had mine on tap from the Rogue Public House in Portland.

Very deep, almost ruby in color. Much more towards the "dry" end of the barleywine spectrum. I personally can’t deal with the other, thick-’n-sweet, end, so I liked this one very much. Right along the lines of an <!-- a href="http://ratebeer.com/Beer/great-divide-o -->Old Ruffian<!-- /a -->.

I found this in Rome, GA. Bottled in 2004, so it is at least 1.5 years old. I love it when out of the way beer stores cellar my beer for me. Pours a dark brown/amber. Little head. Smells of malt, fruits and caramel. First taste is of malts. The beginning is pretty mild with some hints of bitter fruitiness. The finish lasts forever, and is incredibly bitter and hoppy. Great beer.

Dark amber hue- no head-nose alcohol, raisins, and molasses - bitter plumb, raisin, cassis, and anise taste - harsh mouth feel like a port opened too soon – aftertaste bitter hops and alcohol I agree that it could do better with time

Poured a ruby brown color with a small initial head that turned to nothing. The lacing was quite low, as is the norm for this style and the high abv. The aroma was of rich malts, caramel, some rum and strong alcohol, light fruits. The flavor was comparable to the aroma with a definite pine-like hop finish. Actually this one was well-hopped and quite bitter, but welcomed with that strong malty base. Mouthfeel was full-bodied for the style. Re-rate, September ’06 tasting of a 6.4oz Old Crustacean bottled in 1995 (thanks to Bert for this one!). Surprisingly, the hops were still there. Pour lacked any head (obviously), was dark brown with some light touches of burgundy, but more dark deep brown than anything. The aroma was maple, raisins, and vinous notes. Flavor added some light caramel, almost chocolate notes, wood, and a touch of herbal hop tastes to the aroma qualities. Mouthfeel was somewhat thin. See, Rogue does make an English style barleywine, just put a bottle of Old Crusty away for 11 years. September side by side ’06 tasting of Old Crusty from a ceramic bottle (somewhat fresh): comparable to the original review above, which was from draft, although grapefruits were mixed into the hop profile with a little bit of a dry finish. Drastically different from the 11 year old bottle!!!

2003 Bottle. Poured brown in color with a thin tan head. Very enjoyable aroma of chocolate, molasses, and dark fruits. The flavor gave out milk chocolate, licorice, dark fruits, and light alcohol. As it warmed some roastiness as detected also. Medium to full body that was thick and warming. A very nice sipper.

Bottle sampled with Stegosaurus .Pours brown with a deep beige head. Aroma of alcohol, citrus, roast, and hops. Flavor is alcohol, bitterness, and citrus. I expected more from a style i love, but it is good.

Ceramic bomber, courtesy after4ever. Pours dark amber with a slight tan head . Aroma of roasty malt and hops. Full body, light carbonation, and a creamy taste that is everything I’m looking for in a barleywine: a sweet toffee start and a lingering, hoppy finish, with a little bit of dried fruit/port/raisin in the middle. I need to get another bottle of this an put it down for a couple of years. The taste of this one is vastly different from the 7oz. bottle, which had no carbonation and a lot less to taste.