Sixpoint Express

Tap at Barcade. I never thought I’d see these old Sixpoint beers, but here one is. hazy deep orange-brown coloured brew. Very thick creamy persistent head. Aroma is immediately very rich and sweet. Toffee and caramel aroma, dried apricots, plums and a rich cherryish fruitiness. Some nice spicy hops are there in flavour and aroma, but the rich malts are what is really on display. Flavour is quite rich and fruity with some lovely figgy and lightly plummy fruitiness and a soft leathery character. There is a fairly fruity grapey/vineous component on the back of the beer. Fruity and spicy yeast, but not overly so. This treads the line between barleywine and quadrupel, but does so in such an elegant and understated way that it works. The years have been kind to this beer and I hope to see it again.

[2005 Draft @ Barcade] Poured a murky purple brown color with a small, off white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of raisins, cocoa, roasted malts, caramel, and a bit of alcohol. Taste of dark fruits, raisins, roast, chocolate, sweet toffee, and a bit more alcohol in the finish.

Draft of 2005 version at Barcade. Orange amber color with pretty much no head. Aroma is hard alcohol, I guess from the maltiness, and some caramel. I thought this was either a barleywine or a whiskey aged beer of some sort. Flavor was the same, not too good.

On tap at the Barcade, 2005 vintage. Color was a little unusal for the style; orange-amber color with smallish head. Aroma was very malty; some fruit and caramel. Flavor was pretty similar. Didn’t pick up on too much spice. Liked it a bit better than the Bolshoi.

BA BBF 06. A bit light in color for a quad, reddish amber as opposed to a very dark brown. Aroma was dark malts, spices, yeast, some fruit. Taste was the same. spices and yeast in the finish.