Tag Archives: barleywine

J.W. LEES HARVEST ALE (CALVADOS CASK) 2004

Uncompromising 11.5% alcohol-laden aged barleywine retains luscious creamy richness and chewy butterscotch center culminating sweet bourbon warmth. Thickest syrupy Scotch malting coats floral honeysuckle-dandelion dalliance and candy-sugared medicinal nuance bracing bruised cherry, ripe raisin, curacao orange, and purple grape illusions, gaining fulsome aggressive prominence to everlasting liqueur finish. Luxuriant slow sipping masterpiece provides awesome buzz.

ROCK ART RIDGE RUNNER BARLEYWINE ALE

Acrid ruby-hued, chestnut-highlighted British barleywine replete with dewy peat dankness, earthen minerality and leafy hops differs substantially from fruitier American versions. Chocolate-nosed cereal graining and resinous pine bittering drop off precipitously to off-dry cherry-grapefruit-orange souring. Inconspicuous light-bodied nature lessens effectiveness. More complete 2012 version retained milder seduction as pliable walnut-pecan husk seeped deeper into subsidiary apple-fig-grape desiccation.

FULLERS VINTAGE ALE – 2005

Enticing ruddy-hued ruby-highlighted Fuggle-hopped “mellow golden” retains heady barleywine thickness and edgy brandy tinge well suited for 8.5% alcohol rigidity. Chewy caramel malting centers dried prune-raisin influx, maraschino cherry seduction, sour apple tartness, meager pecan flurry and receding orange marmalade tinge. Sherry, Merlot, and port wine illusions bedeck dry finish.

ROGUE OLD CRUSTACEAN BARLEYWINE

In teensy 7-ounce bottle, rapturous well-aged crustacean meshes syrupy yeast sugaring, brown-sugared black molasses malts, and spiced hops for thick resilience closer to Ipswich Dark Ale than typical barleywine. Mouth-watering caramelized barley sweetness, musty port-like fruitiness and light vanilla creaming strengthen full-bodied alcoholic fervor. Delicate red grape, raisin, plum and date illusions fill the backdrop. On tap, kirsch-whiskeyed cherry jubilee finish emboldens perfect winter warmer nightcap.

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SANTA FE CHICKEN KILLER BARLEYWINE ALE

New Mexico’s first microbrewery succeeds with creamy garnet-hued eggshell-headed 10% alcohol barleywine. Abrupt candi-sugared orange bruise, glazed banana sweetness and dark cherry tang absorb dewy caramel-butterscotch malts as receptive peppery floral-hopped bittering increases. Overripe peach-apricot-pear-grape-apple nuances find a spot in sun-drenched rum-soaked molasses midst. Resinous fig, date, prune sway falters.