Barley's Barleywine! - Barley's Brewing Company

tat2dhllblly

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

In a tulip glass from the bar. They had the cask version and the regular on tap. I went for the cask.

A: A burnt sienna and clear as could be. Toasted orange on the edges when held to the light. A tight laced head with small bubbles that is barely tan brown. The head subsides to a thick layer arcoss the top of the beer that lasts for the duration of this beer.

S: Dark figs, over ripe fruit and some musty vanilla tones mixed with oak and wet grass.

T: The smell tells it all. Deep over ripe fruit tones, vanilla and oak that is very balanced by spicy notes from heavy hopping that leaves tones of hay and slight pine notes. Warn leather is also noted. There is alot going on here.

M: Heavy and sticky. Perfect for a big barleywine

O: This is a beautiful representation of a barleywine. There is great balance in this. I would love to see Barley's bottle this and see what happens to this in 6 months to a year. This has a great balance between an American Barleywine and a English Barleywine. Well done guys!!!

Serving type: cask

11-21-2011 22:51:40 | More by tat2dhllblly

misfit1034

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap from tulip at brewpub... Was a beautiful amber in color with a nice little head that left some of the prettiest lacing around the upper of the glass that I have seen with any beer... For a 12% brew this was not as overwhelming or strong as I have experienced with some other similar Barleywines but it was a sleeper and left me feeling it after just one glass... I am a huge fan of this and sadly didn't get to try anthing else except a sample of the Firkin "Cask" Auld Curiosity Ale... Will definitely be going back for more...

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 03:54:04 | More by misfit1034

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap in a tulip at Alehouse No. 1 on 12/28/10

Deep amber color with vague hues of copper. Thin skim of a head remains from the pour but some good lacing so far. No retention by the end but lacing is quite good, especially during the first half.

The aroma is rather tame, considering. Notes of candied fruit, raisins, caramel, toasty sugars, earthy hops, oily citric notions & a faint hint of bread. The taste isn't quite as hoppy as the nose would imply; well, at least not particularly bitter (there is a nice hop presence, though). Granular sugars aplenty - caramel, toffee, brown sugar. However, none are all that sweet; fine by me. Hop juiciness bleeds into fruit overtones. Toasted grains, too. Basically full bodied with a simultaneously slick & grainy feel. Carbonation is appropriately low; it fits the feel of the beer perfectly. The finish is surprisingly dry (though it does sweeten with warmth) with lingering notions of toasted sugars, bread & hops.

Quite tasty & reasonably crafted all around, Barley's Barleywine is certainly enjoyable. It's a sipper but is easy enough to drink. Alcohol is well-hidden. Good stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2010 02:37:41 | More by Ryan011235

MbpBugeye

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask at the Ale House today with dinner. Served in a tulip.
A- A nice, moderately hazed caramelly orange beer with a small but sticky head. Plenty of lacing forms until the head finally fades away.

S- Sweet smell mostly comprised of caramelized malts and raisins. Hops are there and are pretty piney.

T- Lots more caramel malts and raisins. Its sweet with brown sugar as well. Hops make an attempt to balance but overall this beer is pretty caramelly. The hops do lend a floral and piney bitterness though. Alcohol is perceived but not over the top.

M- The cask makes it super super smooth. Very little carbonation and full body.

D- This is a very good barleywine but I found myself slowing down by the end of the glass.

So far this is among the best beers by Barley's Ive had.

Serving type: cask

06-13-2010 06:13:26 | More by MbpBugeye

2Stout4u

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm having this beer in the bar by myself on a Friday night,I'm a loser baby why don't you shoot me, no wait don't shoot yet let me finish this beer first. Smell is kinda mild but pleasantly hoppy and sweet malts follow. Taste follows, very sweet with a nice duel between the hops and malts. The finish leaves a nice bitterness to the pallet. Drinkability is scary I could put this beer down while still enjoying the taste. If your a native of C-Bus or a vistor I recommend this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2009 05:51:48 | More by 2Stout4u

BigMcLargeHuge

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Courtesy of moejuck. Thanks buddy. Pours with copper core and gold edges with off white head. The aroma is full of hard orange candy, pine resin and a hint of dark fruity esters in the background. The taste is smooth and yummy with citrus orange to pine resiny goodness. It quickly moves toward mildly sweet grape jam, a hint of raisins and prunes. The dark fruity esters are much lighter in flavor than are the bittering hops. Very nice American style barleywine. Yum.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2009 14:08:36 | More by BigMcLargeHuge

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Snifter from the cask at Barley's.
Pours a deep copper color with a small beige colored head. Foam quickly fades, no lace but nice alcohol legs. Aroma is sweet caramel malts, some brown sugar and lots of floral hops. Flavor is sweet as well, brown sugar and raisin, and lots of piney hoppiness. Full bodied, low carbonation, a bit sticky. Bold flavor keeps the alcohol hidden alcohol. Strong, but very drinkable.

Serving type: cask

01-13-2009 19:12:09 | More by BigBry

ndekke39

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've tried this beer before, but never on cask at the brewpub itself. Tried some of the 2007 batch. Served in a tulip glass. Pours a cloudy reddish-copper with a small white head. Decent retention. Smells and tastes center around a very sweet caramel flavor. Lots a prickily, piney hops. Interesting complexity. Medium mouthfeel, lighly creamy, complements the flavors well. Some fizz that goes well with the hops. Higher alcohol, so this is a sipping beer, but a fun and tasty one to sip. Recommended!

Serving type: cask

07-08-2007 14:30:07 | More by ndekke39

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Growler straight away from the brewpub, courtesy of Sliffy at the Ohio International gathering. Dark Orange colour with C aroma, too hoppy for my preferred English barleywine palate. White head. Bitter and very hoppy, with sugar and toffee and carmel thrown in. Doesn't all go together for the style.

Serving type: growler

11-12-2006 04:21:28 | More by northyorksammy

aquatonex

New York

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow. This one is packs a punch.

Pours dark copper with a thick head, good retention. Its 12% ABV is present a bit in the nose along with heavy malts. Bready sweetness, very heavy malt flavor, and the alcohol dominate the taste. I was in a rush to catch a cab and couldn't down it fast enough. Too heavy for that! If I had more time I would have enjoyed it more slowly. Very good barleywine.

Serving type: cask

11-06-2005 01:03:25 | More by aquatonex

Ahhdball

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep amber with a thin slice of lace around the edge covering small hints of red along the top. Slick residue indicates some heaviness. Smell great hints of malt, alcohol, and sweet fruit. Great taste, heavy sweet malt, some fruits - maybe dates, and a warming alcohol bite. Thick mouth feel that leaves a nice residual presence. Great to drink but caution must be taken with it's 12% ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2004 02:26:49 | More by Ahhdball

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served as a sample at Barley's #1. The color was amber, with no head to speak of. The smell was of malt and alcohol. The taste was a heavy, sweet malt, with a bit of a warming alcohol presence; the cask version seemed to be a lot less alcohol overpowering than the draft. Mouthfeel was fairly smooth. As for drinkability, could have a few, but with barleywine's sweetness catching up, would be tough to session with.

Another good beer from Barley's. With Ohio's new 12% ABV law, it's nice to see beers like this coming out, taking the shackles off of some creative brewers to do their thing. Certainly another one I'd have again!

Serving type: cask

11-04-2003 02:36:21 | More by beergeek279

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Powerful and warming, this little beauty could put you in trouble in double time. The great looking dark amber body has a small cream colored head and light lacing. The nose is huge and full of malt - very nice.

The taste is of malt with nice caramel hints and just a bit of fruitiness in the end. It is almost a chewy feel with plenty of body and a lasting sense. The alcohol here is not really masked so much as overwhelmed by the malt presence. Drinkability is what you'd expect from a beer of this content and presence.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2003 13:08:57 | More by AtLagerHeads

blkknight02

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I must have sampled a different barley wine than the previous reviewers. It poured a nice, dark copper color with a persistent tan head. Carbonation was medium-high as it should be. Aroma of malt and a touch of candy. Slight hop presence in the nose. The hop flavor is a bit harsh and lingering - maybe chinook or galena? The malt profile is very nice/complex. Not overly sweet or cloying. Alcohol content seems to be on the low side - but I like it that way anyway.
Overall impression is very drinkable for a barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2003 07:28:12 | More by blkknight02

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted at Barley's 10th Anniversary Party on November 21st. Cask-conditioned version. Poured a light chestnut color with a thin tan head. Strong malty/oat aroma. Very powerful flavor and alcohol content was very evident. Very malty with a little caramel, and it actually had a slightly bitter finish. Overall a very interesting brew.

Serving type: cask

12-04-2002 12:39:45 | More by Dogbrick

Wildman

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer was a very dark amber brown color with a small off white bubbly head that left some trace lace. The aroma was of malt and caramel with a small hint of alcohol. The flavor was of malt and caramel and it had a medium body. The finish was a touch sweet with a slight reflection of the alcohol present. Another winner from Barley's.

Serving type: cask

10-12-2002 06:01:00 | More by Wildman