Highly complex barleywine aged in Ximinez and Amantillado sherry barrels (with hidden 11.3 ABV) loads tannic red wine goodness upon caramelized dried fruited sweetness. Muscat grape, dried cherry, sugared fig, stewed prune and currant illusions gather strength alongside rich chocolate malting for awesome velvety cocktail.
Sweet bourbon overtones glaze maple molasses-sapped brown chocolate spicing and caramelized dried fruiting. Gooey anise viscosity drapes bourbon vanilla midst plus red and black cherry illusions as well as raisin, prune and fig snips.
On tap at Poor Henry’s, lusciously caramelized barleywine/quadrupel blend aged for a year in bourbon barrels proves immediately profound. Lovely bourbon vanilla sweetness gains chocolate-spiced frisk at dried fruited midst. Chocolate-covered cherry, pureed raisin and sugared fig illusions synch with rummy quad intensity to elevate barleywinish toffee-candied caramel finish. Resilient!
On tap at Ambulance, easygoing English-styled barleywine brings mildly dry-spiced brown chocolate sugaring and subtle whiskey daub to herbal Kent Golding hop astringency in casual manner that lacks stylish intensity and robust flavor profile.
On tap at Beef Trust, sturdy rum-barreled English-styled barleywine brings black cherry pureed tartness and sweet bourbon vanilla spicing to rummy molasses sapping. Tertiary red-wined brandy, port and merlot sweetness adds further warmth to fruit-spiced rum finish.
Richly complex barleywine aged eleven months in bourbon barrels retains bold ethyl-burnt 12% ABV. Beautiful bourbon whiskey luster picks up heavily spiced brown chocolate and vanilla sweetness that nearly drowns out the citrus-derived Citra-Cascade hop briskness – but never to the detriment of its dewy peat whiskey expressiveness.
On tap at Poor Henry’s, highly complex Imperial Stout/ barleywine blend soaked with maple bourbon syrup then aged in brandied marsala wine barrels lets spiced wine licks receive dark cherry, plum and raisin subtleties as well as oaken vanilla tannins above its bittersweet chocolate malt base. Champagne-wined cuvee influence is minimal.
On tap at Ambulance, supersized bourbon-barreled barleywine segues syrupy caramelized bourbon vanilla warmth into molasses-sapped chocolate dalliance, leaving tingly cognac, brandy, burgundy, port and sherry tones in the deep recess. Spruce-hopped mineral graining and leathery dried fruiting of original Third Coast base hidden far beneath the surefire cherry-bruised bourbon vanilla resonance.
Botanical sloe gin-fizzed cocktail spirit too low in the mix to perk up stylishly underwhelming barleywine. From the limited edition “Irish Punch Up Series,” caramelized citrus fruiting glides above biscuity cereal grained base, leaving subliminal orange, tangerine, peach and pineapple illusions to undermine any initial juniper berry bittering. Interesting, but inessential.
On tap at Poor Henry’s, luxurious barleywine glazes whiskeyed red cherry tartness with mildly sweet white chocolate spicing as well as wispily serene cacao nibs and vanilla adjuncts. Strong 15% ABV brings loud liquor lead-in to mocha cherry continuance, boasting bustling brandy, bourbon and burgundy profusion. Tertiary bruised orange, grilled pineapple, tannic red grape and dried fig illusions seep into busy mix.
Subtle Grand Marnier barrel aging provides light orange-candied liqueur syruping for buttery oak-toasted barleywine (with incredibly unassuming 13.1% ABV). Delicate white wine esters and cognac brandy sweetening penetrate the pilsner malted bottom.
On tap at Morris Tap & Grill, serene bourbon molasses syruping saddles brown-sugared black cherry, raisin, date and fig opulence that seeps into vanilla-spiced toasted coconut adjunct. A fine English-styled Chicago barleywine nearing perfection.
