Shifty garnet-coppered barleywine never fully integrates bourbon barrel influence. Buttery smooth groove develops as oncoming sherry wining deepens black cherry-pureed fig, raisin and plum fruiting alongside sappy molasses sugaring. Astringent hop bittering lingers thru vanilla-fudged dark chocolate finish. On tap at NY Wing Factory, sweet bourbon luster drops off precipitously and casual dried fruiting lacks pertinence.
On tap at Blue Point, 2013 version boasted India Pale Ale-like tendencies such as tangy fruit zest and brisk hop bittering. Peach, pear, apple and tangerine sweetness overrides citric-peeled bittering. Sugar plum, rum raisin and honey nut illusions caress creamy brown-sugared Vienna malt backend.
Tenacious strong ale reaches rich dried fruited pinnacle, though boozy sherry-brandy whir and listerine-like ethanol burn may turn off lighter thirsts. Ripe red cherry, dried prune, raisin, fig and grape illusions enhance caramelized molasses malting. Resinous piney hops contrastively enhance syrupy maple-sugared chocolate cake sweetness.
On tap at Copper Mine, glorious bourbon-aged version of standard barleywine (14% alcohol volume) perfect as slow sipping nightcap. Creamy Belgian chocolate-spiced entry enjoins brown-sugared vanilla, butterscotch, toffee and coconut sweetness as well as rum-soaked cherry, fig, prune and banana niche. Oaken remnant seeps into mocha influence. A terrific step up from original ‘back burner.’
Multi-dimensional British barleywine aged in apple brandy barrels picks up candied coughdrop sweetness over rich cherry pureed whiskey boozing and chewy caramel malting. Candied apple finish gains sugary overload.
Iffy ruddy-browned barleywine stylistically closer to an Imperial IPA with its aggressive hop-oiled fruiting. A delicate sherry insistence coats ripe pineapple, grapefruit, apricot and peach illusions above creamy cocoa-sugared crystal malting. Caramelized vanilla buttering pleats ancillary raisin-breaded niche and dainty floral bouquet.
On tap at Peekskill Brewery, savory barleywine allows sweet bourbon whiskey boozing to affect creamy brown chocolate spicing and chewy overripe fruiting. Black cherry-pureed banana taffy, red grape, raisin and fig engage brown-sugared malting and ancillary butterscotch-vanilla conflux. Well disguised 10.5% alcohol fusion pervades luxurious candied center.
Impeccable oaken bourbon-barreled strong ale (a.k.a. Abacus) is a decadent British-styled barleywine. Chewy caramel nuttiness, rum-soaked crème brulee creaminess and syrupy maple molasses deepen bourbon whiskey theme. On second passing, rich raisin-pureed plum, prune and black cherry tartness seeps into surging chocolate-y toffee sweetness as ancillary burgundy, port and sherry ease into calm alcohol-burnt backdrop. Toasted coconut, vanilla extract, marshmallow and almond illusions further sweeten slow sipping heavy dessert treat.
Boozy English-styled winter warmer (with bracing 10% alcohol volume) gets labeled as an unfiltered barleywine but seems closer to a nebulous strong ale. Seasonal cinnamon, gingerbread and sugar plum spicing loses out to phenol-hopped orange peel bittering. Ancillary molasses honeyed sweetness, caramelized apple stickiness, tangy peach ripeness and dried cherry pureeing waver through solvent alcohol burn.
