Interestingly, half-pint barleywine was packaged in a cardboard cylinder encasing the glass bottle. Cloudy sediment-imbued foam clumps can’t hide undeniably rich éclair froth. Sharp floral hops underscore red wine aroma, gunk-y caramel malt absorption, and dry burgundy lick providing moderate sweetness. Despite strong alcoholic flow, well-rounded mocha-grain finish maintains uncommonly smooth moderation.
Perhaps closer to extremely sweet brandy or raisin-dried porter since terrific syrupy malt sinew and thick prune depth offer full-bodied richness. Inviting caramel, cocoa, chocolate, and molasses creaminess increases mighty complexity. Spiced hop bitterness underpins milky malted flow to further accent fabulous Irish-styled champion.
Luxurious brandy-sherry opening spreads across medicinal Courvoisier spell, cherry jubilee swell, and candied apple quell. Spruce-sapped tangerine-pear-pineapple-watermelon fruiting and floral bouquet settle above honeyed wheat base. May lack some warmth, strength, and endurance of more tempting barleywines, but not far removed from Unibroue’s excellent Quelque.
Sluggish prune-hued barleywine with warm fruit essence quickly dissolving into acidic oak-dried cherry depletion and woody scorched earth astringency. Candied sugar nuance amplifies caustic fig-raisin-plum parch when mild creaminess dwindles.
Rust-clouded taupe-headed Belgian-styled barleywine places innate moldy yeast dankness above hefty chocolate malting and stewed prune swoon. Chewy butterscotch midst upends baked apple, bing cherry, and blackberry sweetness countering sun-dried raisin and grapefruit rind sourness. Tertiary cinnamon-gingerbread spicing latently crests.
Stirring Norwegian full body penetrates deeply as creamy chocolate-roasted burnt caramel malting sweetens dark-spiced cookie dough richness and dried-fruited anise-currant-sarsaparilla illusions. Sherry finish allows candied apple, bruised cherry, and vinous grape undertones to peak above raisin-plum souring and peanut-shelled hazelnut-walnut barb. Creme de cocoa, ice coffee, smoked molasses, and oaken vanilla nuances waver.
Aggressive glowing amber winter 2004 release scores big. Rum-soaked candi-sugared malting surges above honeyed wheat sweetness, settling to ripe tangerine-grapefruit-apricot tang. Supplemental herbal hops rejuvenate lively fruited template as whiskey malt foray and syrupy cognac snip raid creamy caramel cupboard.
Retaining mighty 10% alcohol kick but lacking stylistic warmth, smoothly thin chestnut-cleared barleywine finds abrupt orange tang plus red apple, cherry, and pear illusions overwhelmed by oncoming metallic astringency. Indecisive floral hop spicing depletes fruity margin as well as chewy caramel malting.
Spectacular 11.5% alcohol content bodes well for absolutely perfect 9.6-ounce crimson-hued barleywine. Blood-thick malt extract and choice English hops provide rich luster to mocha creaminess. Sharp barleywine sweetness, rum raisin remnant, and raspy floral spiced bouquet soften dried fruit finish. Compares favorably to robust European Double Bocks and first-rate French Ales in both presentation and attention to detail.
Supine cocoa-soured orange-molded frontage deepens English-styled barleywine, climaxing with sweet chocolate-raisin deluge before smooth hop finish softens.
Awesome ruby amber ’06 version covers harsh boozy malting with sherry warmth, bruised orange sensation, and delectable butterscotch twist. Further investigation reveals clinging cherry-apricot tang engaging prune-raisin wisp and candi-sugared whim. Mysteriously, debris-like earthen mushroom musk heightens (instead of ruins), sweet Scotch nucleus.
Incredible 15% alcohol wallop, sweet sticky Scotch malt kick, and peach brandy warmth provide unmistakable complexity for fig-fermented barleywine. Cereal grains enhance lingered caramel-butterscotch permanence as seductively juicy mandarin orange, red grape, black cherry, and mango medley overlay earthy evergreen dryness and roasted nut bottom. On tap, tangy grapefruit bitterness and candied sugar splendor detected.