Olde School Barleywine - Dogfish Head Brewery

Todd

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle. Packaging date is unreadable. Beer pours bright copper-ish, initially, topped with a very tight white foam head that settles to an even lace with stick along the glass. Appearance quickly becomes cloudy due to unfiltered dregs in the bottle.

Candied fruits, toffee, diacetyl and apples in the nose.

Extremely smooth as the first sip coats the palate with a near syrup-like texture. Bold ripe dark and candied fruits punch out with notes of apricot and raisin. Notes of orange, too. Spicy alcohol stings the palate with an immediate warming effect and vodka-like presence. Sweet with toffee and a sugar-like presence. Loads of apple-ish flavors and feel on the palate with pear and pear skin beneath. Finish dries up a bit.

Alcohol is a bit over-the-top and assertive, but other than that it's a fairly solid Barley Wine. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2004 04:31:22 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ml brown champagne magnum with a “Packaged On” date on the side of the label,

Appearance: Dull and hazy orange amber colour, haze is from both chill haze and very loose sediment in the bottle. Light carbonation creates a thin off white lace.

Smell: Herbal veggie hop aroma with an orangey backing, a touch buttery and alcoholic in the nose as well.

Taste & Mouthfeel : Creamy slick mouth feel with a light to moderate carbonation the provides a little smoothness amongst the semi-dense body. Big maltiness laced with ripe fruit and earthy yeast. A hidden alcohol lays under a twang of fruitiness and earthy yeast. A little buttery and the hops drop a spike of bitterness. Alcoholic warmth comes soon after with a spicy kick.

Drinkability & Notes: Big flavours are bursting with aleish ripeness, where is the 15% abv? There is alcohol there but I have had smaller barleywines that can’t hide the alcohol like this. Watch out on this one as it catches up with you.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2003 20:33:44 | More by Jason

jakeox

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

05-18-2013 23:55:09 | More by jakeox

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-18-2013 04:10:23 | More by megamass

mverity

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-16-2013 21:27:12 | More by mverity

smithj4

New York

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

05-16-2013 01:56:13 | More by smithj4

e30todamax

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-15-2013 22:01:13 | More by e30todamax

maxcoinage

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

05-15-2013 19:43:02 | More by maxcoinage

jlwelsh

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-14-2013 01:16:56 | More by jlwelsh

aLenwell

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

05-13-2013 23:21:40 | More by aLenwell

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +20.3%

05-13-2013 05:13:20 | More by Bonko_the_sane

jokulhaps

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-13-2013 02:37:49 | More by jokulhaps

Tom-Peters

California

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-12-2013 19:07:22 | More by Tom-Peters

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-12-2013 16:13:53 | More by ipas-for-life

Scott1970

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

05-11-2013 00:51:13 | More by Scott1970

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-10-2013 17:46:18 | More by twenty5

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-10-2013 13:09:44 | More by DarthGuitarHero

BMan33

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-10-2013 03:37:14 | More by BMan33

ravot

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

05-09-2013 23:40:16 | More by ravot

2378GCGTG

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-09-2013 16:26:52 | More by 2378GCGTG

alaimoa

Connecticut

4.84/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

The barleywine that all should be compared to in my opinion. Poors a nice reddish/copper color. Can really smell the fruit (dates/figs) and initial taste can be slightly harsh but smooths out after a few sips. I have been drinking these for about 6 years and upset that this will actually be the first year I'm making myself age them. Will followup on smell/alcohol/taste next year.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 19:07:55 | More by alaimoa

dalepryor

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-08-2013 04:44:59 | More by dalepryor

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

05-08-2013 02:53:59 | More by tommyguz

ESeab

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-07-2013 15:12:02 | More by ESeab

toneigh

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

05-05-2013 23:47:37 | More by toneigh