Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine

Had at a tasting. Has a very dark red/brown color. Almost no aroma...it may have been because this was about my 15th brew...but still, very dissapointing. Flavor was very good though...really well balanced bitterness and sweetness. Mouthfeel is a bit too sticky. A pretty good brew from rogue...whose majority of beers suck balls.

2002 edition blast of citrus hops, big body/mouthfeel somewhat thick and syrup like. thin tan head quickly disappeared. Big bitterness with malt body to back it up. The alcohol hides itself well. Definitely a US style barley wine. I’d prefer a little less bitterness to let more of the malt goodness to come out.

Bomber bottle at 55* in a snifter. Pours a beautiful garnet brown with a tight, but thin tan head which fades to a whisp. Massive northwest hop aromas revealing lots of juicy, crisp citrus and pine needles complemented by some faint caramel/brown sugar and malt in the background. Palate is fairly smooth and creamy which I personally really enjoy in a big beer. Flavors are well balanced between the crisp, somewhat dry citrus/piney hops and the restrained sweetness of the caramel malts. The 10.5% seems just right to amp up the aromas and flavors a bit and give a warm glow to the whole experience. I still prefer Bigfoot, but OC certainly is right up there.

West coast barleywine at its finest. SN Bigfoot might be the prototype, but Rogue Old Crusty can stand shoulder to shoulder with that beer. This beer has big hops, big malt, and big alcohol. A classic example of American barleywine, and one that should not be missed. Old Crusty pours to a beautiful, deep caramel color, with a slight tan head that fades, and a soft carbonation. The nose on this beer is fantastic, with lots of big piney and citrus hops, paried with big sweet and caramel malt aroma, and peppery alcohol. The palate is soft and fat on the toungue, with a lots of sweet and caramel malt flavor, and hints of estery fruit. Old Crusty finishes with more big sweet and caramel malt flavor, then ends with big pine and grape fruit bitterenss, and a soothing burn that lingers. The perfect after dinner drink or night cap, Old Crusty is a legendary brew, and an American classic.

2004 Old Crusty is a nice burnt caramel color with a creamy light tan head. Nose of hops, a little sweet malt, and I swear there’s a hint of minty chocolate too, odd... Wow! this blows away the bigfoot I had last night. Immediately a strong taste of burnt caramel and toffee is present, very similar to J.W. Lees. This fades quickly to a brutal piney hoppy finnish and that minty chocolate too. If you’re feeling like a bad boy, let Old Crustacean be your dominatrix and spank you with its hops. The high alcohol hides well in this smooth bitter brew. Must be getting to me already. This barleywine is Underrated.

Vintage 2004: Huge in your face alcohol slap. Needless to say, very warming and relaxing. Intensely vinous and syrupy. Very prominent fruits...raisins/dates/figs. Burnt brown sugar and molasses. Maybe some espresso in the finish. Obviously a top-quality brew. Some tart astringency in the finish knocked a couple points off.

Bottled in 2003. Cracked this one open and the sweet malty aroma hit me right away. Dark red, good head, very murky. Smell is sweet and slightly resinous. Bubblegum and alcohol. The palate is creamy and smooth, slightly sticky, just perfect. The flavor is incredibly complex. I tasted everything from sweet bubble gum and bittersweet chocolate in the first taste to molasses and roasted coffee in later sips. A very solid sipping drink.

Aroma is the best part, its just like caramel apple. A little sweet. Palate is great, light and creamy, foams up on tongue. Taste is complex, a lot going on- banana, coffee, caramel, alcohol, licorice. Would be nice if I could taste the alcohol a bit less. (This was bottled in 2003, drinking it 2006)