Handmade auburn-hued San Franciscan hits frontal lobe quickly with honeyed fruit prevalence, succulent whiskey-cognac sweetness, and spice-hopped codicil. Roasted malt foundation anchors zesty bruised cherry surge and red grape-apricot-raisin dip. Flush barleywine finish provokes comparison to bolder French-Belgian ales with higher aspirations.
Tag Archives: barleywine
FULL SAIL OLD BOARDHEAD BARLEYWINE ALE
J.W. LEES HARVEST ALE (LAGAVULIN WHISKY CASK) 2004
Rich maltose underpins sweet bourbon-brandy-Grant Monet sinew, settling to oak-tinged barleywine finish. Smoked wood chip delusion picks up earthen peat satchel jacketing bruised orange and vanilla bean illusions. Heart throbbing after dinner seduction may lack rich creaminess of worthier Calvados-casked brethren, but not its sturdy radiance.
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.
WEYERBACHER BLITHERING IDIOT BARLEYWINE ALE
Silly-named barleywine with molasses-candied raisin-prune overtones and cherry brandy follow-up receives peppery hop spicing. Lively berry tartness, sugary butterscotch malting and boozy rum-bourbon niche engage dry mocha center as rich helles bock-like almond toasting ascends. Meager fig-plum din and teasing mint stint fade.
AVERY HOG HEAVEN BARLEYWINE-STYLED ALE
(GEORGE GALE) JUBILEE ALE
Viscous dark-bronzed fig-scented barleywine celebrates Queen of England’s Jubilee with well-disguised 12% alcohol strength, luxuriant pale-chocolate malt prevalence, creamy butterscotch elegance, penetrating prune souring, and beckoning hard-candied tartness. Tobacco leaf, cigar ash, and peat moss linger beneath brandy finish aided by dried raisin undertones.
J.W. LEES HARVEST ALE (PORT CASK) 2003
SCHLAFLY RESERVE BARLEYWINE
Sumptuous oak-aged barleywine laces sinewy molasses-like caramel-sugared Scotch malt creaminess with candied apple, bruised orange, overripe cherry, peach and melon fruiting. Ester-y grape, raisin and fig souring bedecks tertiary vanilla-soaked bourbon-cognac illusions as well as distant almond-chestnut wisp.
WEYERBACHER INSANITY
Sensational oak-barrel aged barleywine allows medicinal bourbon-cognac warmth to usurp syrupy caramel malting, brown chocolate creaming, chewy toffee sweetness and bourbon vanilla sway. Toasted pecan-almond nuttiness underlines orange-bruised cherry brandy soothe. Serpentine grapefruit rind bittering, musty date-fig-prune souring and juicy nectarine-melon conflux add to overall complexity.
(TWO BROTHERS) BARE TREE WEISS VINTAGE 2000
Luxurious barleywine entry given delicate floral hop bittering to form initial thrust of fabulous turbidly copper-hued ultra ‘weiss.’ Creamy vanilla-butterscotch splurge gets clove-coriander accent and distant raisin-fig-date splotch mid-palate. At illustrious finish, pear, nectar, and banana offer benevolent fructose rush. Well done!