Victory Old Horizontal

Simply stunning. Lovely mahogany color with a minimal head. Beautiful aroma of plums, toffee, and port. Flavors are exceptional, a mix of raisins, plums, berries, and an incredible richness. Hopped just enough to give a nice, drying finish. Mouthfeel is perfect, a lush, creamy fermentation. One of the singly most amazing brews I’ve ever encountered.

This is truly the best barley wine I have tasted yet. It was smoother than Immort. I definitely need to get a some of this and age it. Good hop flavor and excellent fruit flavor that hides well in this brew. The alcohol was hidden well enough that a few of these in a row and you"d be in trouble. ;)

Every year this beer knocks me off my feet. I have yet to find a better Barleywine. Fruity, malty, hoppy, sweet...this beer has it all. I can't say enough about it.

UPDATE: last review wasn’t accurate. Got another batch. Pours a dark red-copper with thick, creamy head that lasts for minutes. Aroma is of alcohol, malt , caramel and hops. Full-bodied but smooth yet thick, very thick. Can taste malt and alcohol little hops. Very great stuff from a damn great brewery. When aged for a while, it gets even better. Well worth the money.

ReRate, Bottled in 2001: A fantastic barleywine in every way! Pours a deep dark reddish/brown with an off-white head. Beautiful aroma of cherries, dark fruit and a hint of alcohol. Taste is very sweet and malty with some spice. A significant amount of hops along with notes of caramel, dark fruits, honey, pipe tobacco, toasty malts, cherries and alcohol. Very complex, gets better as it gets warmer. Extremely well-balanced and the alcohol content is amazingly well-hidden. Slightly bitter aftertaste with a warming finish. Mouthfeel is full, round and creamy ; just glorious on the palate. Everything just comes together so beautifully with this brew. Perfect.