Three Floyds Behemoth Barleywine

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Munster, Indiana USA

Vertical with 05, 07, 08 and 09. Well, this was a surprise. The color of the 05 is easily the darkest and most cloudy. It pours a cloudy dark brown with a surprisingly large tan head. The aroma is bannana bread, cloves, cinnamon, alcohol and brandy. The flavor is deep and rich: banana, cinnamon, caramel malt, notes of brandy and port. This one has really held up well, very little evidence of oxidation. The 07 poured deep cloudy brown (lighter than the 05) with a smaller tan head. Aroma is caramel malt, prunes, notes of hay and grass, cloves and alcohol. Flavor of this one is a bit more oxidized than the 05. Was better after I let it breathe for a while. Caramel, cinnamon, faint faint hop, and oxidation in the finish. The 08 is much lighter: copper with small tan head. Aroma is malty, butterscotch, pine hop background, clove, and raspberries. Flavor is true to nose with long hop, coffee, and caramel finish. The 09 is crystal clear brown with small tan head. Aroma is less robust than others: floral, pine hops and caramel malt. Flavor is true to nose with long pine hop finish and malt. For me: 05>08>09>07. The 05 really held up well; the 07 not as much. Rating is an overall compilation. 05-4.4/07-3.8/08-4.1/09-3.9

Green wax bottle (2009?)
On June 5, 2009
Hazy copper color, off-white head. Hoppy, citrus, apricots, apple scent. Swet, hoppy, alcohol, bitter taste. Smooth mouthfeel, high bitterness.
Very nice!

Bottle 2009. Dark orange/brown colour with an off-white head. Aroma: Hops up front, fruitiness, caramel, soup, pine, lightly floral, oranges/mandarines. Taste: Hops, grape, pine, fruitiness, caramel, sweetness, soup, pine, alcohol. Bitter finish. Creamy mouthfeel. Very american. Not very complex. I expected more considering the hype.

PPRBSG09. Bottle, Blue wax 09? Pours an amber body with an off white head. Grass y pear, chewy malts. SOME strong earth y hoppiness with a big raw sugar etoh warming. Not bad i remember enjoying the 2007 more.

Bottled from Bierkoning, Amsterdam. Orange/amber coloured, small but lasting head. Very hoppy nose, pine, nice. Very harsh flavour, alcoholic, bitter, complexity of the aroma is nowhere to be found. Fair, but lacking complexity considered its gravity. And pretty damn expensive for what you get.

Source: 2007, 22 oz bottle in a trade via illinismitty.
Glass: Gulden Drak Tulip.
Appearance: Ruddy orange/amber pour with a thin tan head that quickly dissipated.
Aroma: Fruit, sweet malt, sherry, a hint of brown sugar, and a lot of alcohol.
Flavor: Flavor was surprising simple...but good. Dark fruits, caramel malt and warming alcohol.
Palate: Full bodied with soft carbonation and a chewy mouthfeel.
Overall: I didn’t think this was great, but it was definitely above par.

bottle from Three Floyds on DLD. Pours a delicious fat golden amber with off white head. The aroma is complex with notes of caramel, apricot, apple, spicy hops, citrusy hops, and piney hops. The flavor is equally delicious, pummeling my tongue with caramels, fruits, alcohol, and hops. The mouthfeel is thick and sticky but great. Overall, this is very well balanced and delicious. Another win for the Floyds and Co.

2007 bottle in late 2008. pours a clear amber with minimum head. aroma is sweet and sugary almost. deep red fruits and some alcohol. flavor is sweet and rich of dried plums, raisins, caramel, and alcohol. really good stuff.