Stewarts Barleywine

Brewed by Stewarts Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Bear, Delaware USA

Serve in Snifter

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First thing that stood out to me was the aroma. The head was more than moderate for a barley wine but dissipated quickly dissipates leaving slight patchy lacing. Initial aroma is of caramel, banana and cherry tones, as the head fades the cherry becoming more prominant. The color is a nice amber. Stewart’s serves this too cold unfortunatley with the limitations of their setup and this was taken into consideration. I talked a bit with the brewer and it was mentioned that they went with a different barley (English) from last year. I let it warm gradually to roughly 10 degrees lower than what it was served. First impression was good. The texture was malty with slight hints on raisons, caramel warming over to a prominant orange citrus note. The finish is slightly bitter with emerging hints of chocolate. After warming closer to room temperature cherry became more prominant and the texture more honey like with faint hints of raisin and nutmeg, finishing with slightly less bitterness and the same chocolate notes. The alcohol content was noticable but not overpowering. Overall, this had the complexity I was hoping for. I’m hoping they cask condition age this. A great dessert beer!

[02, 03, 05 vintages sampled] Poured an amber brown color with off white bubbles that left no lacing on the glass. Aroma of sweet malts, dried fruits, cherries, wood, nuts, grassy hops, and alcohol. Taste of dried fruits, tart citrus, sweet sticky malts, with medium bitterness, and light alcohol. The 03 exhibited some cardboard with some green apple as well.