Youngs Old Nick

Formerly brewed at Wells & Youngs
Style: Barley Wine
Bedford, England

Serve in Snifter

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Bottled. Amber-brown with off-white head. Aroma of malt and alcohol. Flavor is caramel, alcohol and spices.

Bottle. Someone suggested to try a few more English Barleywines, so here it is. This may be one of the best looking barleywines I’ve seen in a long time. Deep dark ruby red, borderline brown, with a perfectly formed, thick off-white head. It almost looks like a Belgian strong ale or Abt. The aroma is sweet and fruity... and I’ve never claimed to pick up on any smell of "dust" in a beer before, but that’s something that definitely came to mind in this one. Not an offensive aroma though. The flavor is an extremely smooth balance of malt, dark fruits, caramel. I couldn’t find much hops at all. It was not bitter in the least. I think this was a 2007 bottle. I would like to try a fresh one.

I am a little undecided about this beer though. Something about it really impressed me, and something kind of turned me off. Definitely interesting though, and more complex than some give it credit for. I will probably try this one again.

Poured amber brown, simple, caramel, malty, little dark fruit, little alcohol, slight hops.

This one is from the old Youngs Ram Brewery that was in London and has been aging in my cellar for four year and was a year past the "drink me" date on the bottle. Poured dark brown tending toward black with a fat tan head and thick gluey lacing rings. Nose of ripe fruit and floral hops. Rich and creamy mouthfeel. Flavor is caramel malts with good hop bitterness. This one aged well and was a delight to drink.

Very nice. A strong, bitter flavor followed by a warm, pretty long finish. A bit more carbonated than I like, though, and the alcohol content seems a bit low for a barleywine.

Crushed with Jakebra. Sweet and poopy on the nose. The nice outweighs the nast slightly. Flavor and mouthfeel are rough and scratchy. Dont recommend it. Them limeys dont know barley wines apparently.

Bottle from Vrown. Brown pour, very small head. Aroma is syrupy and sweet wtih some dried fruit and booze. Flavor is sweet and fruity with a syrupy quality that is a bit over the top...but still good.

Decent barleywine with a candy like flavor and a nice smell of fruit and flowers. Very low alcohol for the style and goes down mighty easy.

From bottle bought at Bob’s Liquors in CT, part of beer tasting. Appears a dark brown with little head or lacing. Aroma of dark fruit (prunes), bourbon, nuts, and light hops. Flavor was an interesting mixture of malt, dark fruit, and chocolate. Finish is long and palate is smooth. Overall, a nice, solid brew. Alcohol was not as high as other BW I’ve had, but this managed to hold its own in terms of flavor.

500ml, i’ve had in the cellar for something like 2 years. Pours dark brown with a tan ring. Nose is sweet and ok. Taste is sweet with nice caramel notes. Decent.