Olde School Barleywine - Dogfish Head Brewery

tectactoe

Michigan

3.89/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a dark-amber, almost maroon-like color, a bit hazy and cloudy; small off-white head reduced to a ring around the glass quickly and didn't leave any notable lacing. Smell was strong and very in-your-face - dried, dark fruits; figs, plums, raisins soaked in alcohol. Boozy, but not quite leading you to think it's a 15%-er. Some sweetness and caramelized sugar notes abound as well. Taste is full of caramel and toffee malts all around; fruity and sweet with figs and plums and some other fruits that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe a hint of licorice. Alcohol is warming and apparent; doesn't quite feel like 15%, but it's certain strong and induces sipping rather than gulping. Some hops here and there, may be hard to detect at first over the abundance of malt, but they are a dry, ashy, slightly floral in flavor. Aftertaste is full of burnt sugar, date sweetness, and a touch of toffee and alcohol. Medium-thick body, almost syrupy; sticky, abrasive, low carbonation.

Pretty good American barleywine from DFH. Certainly not anything groundbreaking here, but at 15$ a 4-pack, it's certainly not a bad choice.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 15:46:22 | More by tectactoe

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

captainbearcat

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-04-2013 02:22:15 | More by captainbearcat