 jhumphries69 (656), Tyrone, Georgia, USA
Jan 16, 2008
22oz. bomber, 2005 (pink wax), courtesy of CaptainCougar. Pours a very cloudy, thick, deep, red with brown and orange highlights. The yeast that make it into the bottle look like flakes of cork. A head is stirred up - medium in size and tan in color - but quickly subsides to nearly nothing. The aroma is hoppy and malty with tons of caramel. The grassy hops and caramel are primary smells, and dark fruit and alcohol are secondary. There is a slight medicinal quality to its strong alcoholic character. Tertiary smells are a light dustiness and a subtle hint of smoke. The flavor starts quite lovely and complex: thick and malty with lots of toffee and caramel and hints of honey and chocolate. There is also a very firm hop note that is very piney. As the beer goes back towards mid-palate, the bitter hops strengthen - piney and resiny (with a growing astringency that is reminiscent of nail polish). The malt character continues to balance and overcome the hops - loads of caramel and a growing level of chocolate. By mid-tongue, the malt profile gets more and more like fruit-cake. The finish is surprisingly somewhat dry from the bitterness and from a subtle smoke flavor. It finishes quite bittersweet with the astringency lessening, but the warmth/heat of alcohol growing. The back of the throat is quite warm from alcohol after swallowing. The mouthfeel is very full and carbonation is low. It isn’t quite syrupy, but it is thick. Overall, a very interesting barley wine.
finol (340), Nacka (Stockholm), Sweden
Jul 2, 2009 2009 bottle from Cracked kettle.
Smells of sweet citrusy hops, figs, congac, oak barrels and candy.
Taste of grape seeds, malt, citrus.
Big body.
oteyj (549), Canterbury, New Hampshire, USA
Jun 30, 2009 2008. Dark reddish amber pour with small white head. Lacing is phenomenal, some wandering legs are present as well. Fruity esters and piney, grapefruit hops dominate the aroma with caramel and toffee malt coming through secondarily. Flavor is primarily sweet malt- caramel toffee, fruit, and molasses. Hop backbone is quite evident with grapefruit notes culminating with a woody almost earthy note. Palate is smooth and soft, finishing fiery in the bottom of the throat. Extremely quaffable and well balanced. A lovely example of the style.
craftycarl21 (403), South Hero, Vermont, USA
Jun 30, 2009 2008 vintage. Red mahogany pour with a small, white bubbly head. Aroma is very nice; caramel, apricot, and plum mix with a nice citrusy hop aspect. Seems to be not too aggressive, more mellow despite the 12% ABV. Flavor definitely conveys more of an American than English barleywine style; rich citrus hop presence combines with the fruity malt character, and the alcohol burn at the end is extraordinary. Immensely smooth in the palate, slides down the throat gracefully. Excellent brew.
Jblauvs (295), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Jun 30, 2009 2008bottle, purple wax. dark reddish pour. Hoppy, caramelized malt, a little bit of wood. Mellow aroma. Smooth mouthfeel, nice booziness, some wood and some great caramel malt. Some toffee as well, and the hops come through with some bitterness that offsets the sweetness nicely. Not especially complex but agressive and the burn of alcohol in the finish is welcomed. Very tastey
Habanero (569), Tranbjerg, Denmark
Jun 28, 2009 2008 Bottle. Pours with a large off-white head and a amber body. Nose of pine hops and malt. Sweet flavour with hops, pine, malt and caramel. Full bodied. Pleasant bitter finish.
Petrucci914 (562), Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Jun 26, 2009 $18 bottle from Steve’s Liquor new location in Madison. Pours a copper color with a medium off-white head which leaves a few streaks of sticky lacing. Aroma is apricot, toffee, caramel malts, piney hops, and alcohol. Taste has a base of caramel and toffee and finishes with a piney bitterness, with some apricot and sherry in there as well. Meh. Didn’t satisfy my expectations. Seems to be the norm when it comes to Three Floyds.
Juelze (865), Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Jun 26, 2009 Thanks to my brother for sharing this. Pours a rich deep copper color with thin whispy white head. Aroma is rich hop profile with some caramel malt and light alcohol notes. Taste is pretty hoppy with some notes of apricot, pear and caramel all mixing up quite well. This beer finishes smooth with just a bit of alcohol warmth. Good stuff. However, at $18 a bomber, there are more barleywines to be had at a better price.
bobbypaulson (100), , Minnesota, USA
Jun 26, 2009 on tap at fff brewpub and purchesed a couple bombers. it pours a golden red color with a tiny white head. The smell is of dried fruits and citrus. the taste is is a nice bitter hoppiness along with a sweet and fruity taste. This will be good on a cold winter night to warm you an a loed one up.
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