Easy-sipping whiskey-barreled Scottish barleywine with hearty 12% alcohol projectile needs a smidgen more up-front character for ‘big beer’ connoisseurs. Ripe black cherry overtones relinquished by candied apple, bruised orange, pear syrup, and spiced fig illusions gliding through chewy brown-sugared caramel malt creaminess and slim bourbon-sherry drift. Toasted marshmallow, fruitcake and vanilla nuances find tertiary solace.
Tag Archives: barleywine
LAGUNITAS GNARLYWINE
Glorious slow sipping 11% alcohol-fueled dessert treasure (limited ’09 release) dazzles the senses with well-balanced nature and fascinating complexity. Ripe cherry, bruised orange, and brown banana illusions enliven chewy brown chocolate-y molasses creaminess rising above cotton-candied dark-spiced floral-hopped midst. Medicinal cognac-bourbon warmth brings finish to fruition.
TROEGS FLYING MOUFLAN BARLEYWINE
Closer to a fruity IPA (or Troegs Nugget Nectar Red Ale) than its barleywine style indicates. Sturdy 9.3% alcohol surge has calming affect on nerves as ‘candi-sugared hops’ blend into bright cherry-peach-pear-apple tang and spiced raisin-date conflux. At midst, piney grapefruit rind bitterness counterbalances sweet melon-cantaloupe-mango melange, chewy rum-soaked caramel-toasted molasses malting, and syrupy spruce sash. On tap, mild hop-charred ice coffee bittering seeps into oats-toasted fruit-dried cherry-blueberry conflux.
ROCK ART THE VERMONSTER
Advertised as ‘Ridge Runner’s Big Brother,’ sharp spice-hopped brown-sugared mocha-bound barleywine betters lighter-bodied sibling. Viscously caramel malted and heavily dry-hopped, its black cherry-pureed buildup overwhelms coffee-stained cola nutttiness, fig-raisin latency and resinous pine sapping.
ANCHOR OLD FOGHORN BARLEYWINE STYLE ALE
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.
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.