 Sledge Jr (2720), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
May 14, 2004 Updated: Feb 10, 2007
Vintage 1995. Tasted at my own Barleywine tasting of May 2004. The cork broke, even though it has been stored on its side these many years in my basement. The ale is disturbingly dark. An opaque ruby glow in incandescent light. Dominant nose is chocolate. WOW!!! This is a fine port! When I exhale into the glass, the breath blows into my eyes and burns them. This is like drinking virgin’s blood. It tastes way better than it smells. I would compare it not to beer, but to chocholate cherry kijafa of Denmark. It burns not only the tongue, but also the duodenum. I tasted this for the first time in 1995 and found it to be an aggressive little bitch. Today, she’s quite the seasoned lover. I would like to think that if I were ever incarcerated, as a homebrewer, I would make an ale like this out of raisins and hide it in my toilet. Then, I would rule the cell block and be no one’s bitch. The tasting glasses were tobacco-stained and had to be not just rinsed, but thrown away. EVERYONE at the tasting loved this potion. I understand that half the Ratebeerians love it and half hate it, so I don’t think it would be appropriate to score this anything other than 0.5 or 5. For those of you who do not love this one, as Eric Cartman would say: "Screw you hippies, I’m going home."
UPDATE: In the bottle at my 2006 Barleywine tasting. 1997 vintage. Heavy Worscheshire sause. Soy, soy, I’m your boy. This is beer port with long long legs. There’s no discernable ethanol to this deceitful demon. Chocolate prune juice.
UPDATE 2/2007: At the 2007 Big Beer, Belgians, & Barleywines Festival in Vail. Tasted a batch that was labelled "Vintage 2003." All I have to say is "OUCH," the old girl still has it. My Five still stands.
dchmela (772), Orlando, Florida, USA
Oct 7, 2008 1995 bottle courtesy Eithcubes. I had to try this after reading so many different views on the beer. Pours black and chunky with absolutely no carbonation. Aroma is chocolate malt, maple syrup and the dreaded soy sauce. Rolling around in the glass gives a really nasty looking yellowish film with little bits of disintegrating malt that look like coffee grounds. Taste is burnt maple syrup, chocolate malt, slightly boozy (although not bad for an 18% brew) and a cloying sweetness. I can kind of see where they were going with this, but this bottle didn’t age as it was suppose to and became a gloppy chunky mess. Until I get a better bottle, thumbs down.
neo_hippie2 (128), Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Oct 1, 2008 I saw this in the store and couldn’t believe my eyes. Needless to say I bought a few. What a legendary brew. Very dark thick pour into the snifter. No carbonation and no head. Has more of a fine cognac or brandy feel to it than beer. Lots of chocolate on the nose with hints of raisin and oak. Warm sweet flavor, perfect for sipping. Delicious. Amazing. Worth trying if you can find it. Mr. Koch, you’ve done it again.
bdigi66 (456), Ft Wayne, Indiana, USA
Sep 30, 2008 1995 Bottle: Finally I got to try this...uh masterpiece. Dark amber, viscous pour with no head. Nose had notes of alcohol soaked raisins, oak, chocolate malt and teriyaki. Very sticky/syrupy sweet body...flavor had a much stronger dark fruit tone to it but even it couldn’t overpower the teriyaki and soy sauce base. There also were some chocolate notes present...very hot.
blutt59 (777), Dallas, Texas, USA
Sep 28, 2008 bottle, 2005, black pour with no head, aroma of preserved plum and prune, flavor of teriyaki, soy, leather, licorice and burnt meat, finish is viscous and lasting
borgination (78), Lee, Massachusetts, USA
Sep 28, 2008 This beer was disgusting. The only good thing that it gots going for it is that it get you polluted quickly. This is a waste of beer.
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