Stewarts Bourbon Barleywine

On draft at Stewarts. 2006 version. Nice amber color. Aroma of bourbon and vanilla, neither of them over-whelming. Taste was a very smooth balanced barley wine. Sweet candied sugar, bourbon, (but not to much) vanilla, followed by a malt backbone. Good medium texture. Overall an excellent barleywine that I would go back just to get!*****UPDATE**** I have been thinking about this beer so much since I had it, I had to come back to get another. Honestly I think this is the best barleywine I ever had or very close. In a blind tasting I think most would agee. AWESOME BEER!

Two year old 2006 version. Stewarts barrel aged beers tend to produce immensely strong bourbon flavors that tend to overwhelm most styles. This one worked better for me than most...still bourbon all over this one - aroma and flavor, yet the strength of the barleywine underneath made it tolerable. Little to no hop presence left in this one...some could have helped. Really sweet and difficult to drink, but still tasty.

Draft. Medium to deep brown pour wit ruby edges and minimal khaki head. Aroma is heavy dark fruit, brown sugar, oaky bourbon, and earthy, peat mossy malt. The flavor has a heavy oaky bourbony base, so this one may turn off those who don’t like the heavy sprity flavor for this style. For those who do, that oaky bourbon is matched by a bunch of fruit, hops, and malt, making it assertive, but fairly approachable for even the lightweight drinker.

On tap, KSBF 2007. Had this at the 2006 fest as well, same 2005 vintage. Pours a dark caramel amber body under a minimal beige head that retained as a very thin ring. The nose is heavy bourbon still, though less so than in 06, with vanilla, heavy toffee and caramel malts, moderate alcohol, and dark fruitiness trying to make it past the Jim. The flavor made it very clear that this was aged in Jim Beam. That distinct sugary almost candy like note carried over pretty heavily from the Jim. A little less bourbon dominated than a year ago, but still very prominant. Mouthfeel was full bodied and thick with nice soft carbonation. Overall, this mellowed out quite a bit with the extra years aging, but not being a huge fan of Jim (I’ll take Jack thank you) it doesn’t make me want to do flips.

KSBF07. Wow amazing need more of this one. Poured a dark brown with not much head. Aroma was of bourbon, vanilla and malts. Flavor was dead on oaky caramel bourbon vanilla man i need more of this one.