Emelisse Barley Wine Ale - Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse

ChadQuest

Illinois

1.8/5  rDev -49.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Found this on a shelf at my local Binny's and had to pick one up, odd that for something this easily available it only has 5 reviews. Lets get into this one.
First off it has a large head for the style, retention is good too, way more then i was expecting. The color however is rather pale considering the style, looks like an amber ale color wise.
The aroma is pretty dull, not much going on and i really have to dig deep to get some caramel malts, no hops, and some medicinal aroma.
The flavors have a coarse medicinal note that isn't so subtle, a little bit of heat, and some sweet sugary under attenuated malts, a great combo if your making a bad beer.
Sticky and under attenuated, though medium bodied.

Stay away, this is bad, though i hear the RIS from them is pretty decent...i'll have to see for myself.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 04:15:04 | More by ChadQuest

SolomonGrundy

California

2.88/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Only one more after today...holy cow!!!

Man, TGIF...Pours kinda neon orange amber ish in color...It's kinda, like, far out man...psychedelic...A very short head rims the glass. Bottle conditioned and I poured most of the dregs in without noticing...oops...oh well, man, I'm just gonna go with the flow, dude...No real lacing and it poured pretty thick and syrupy...

Strong, sweet caramel malt aromas as to be expected...I get some applesauce too, that's kinda cool. Maybe some pear butter, also...Very nice and smooth smelling...

Flavor is very boozy...Lots of alcohol apparent...

Almost forgot: The Basics: $4.99/12 oz. bottle (YIKES!!!) and 10.5% ABV (NICE!!)

OK, where was I? Oh yeah: Alcohol plays a very important part of the overall flavor profile, and that particular bitterness is not very likeable, in my opinion...The mouth could use a touch more carbonation so that the flavors burst a little more, but the alcohol is still too prevalent to really help much, I think. Too bad, 'cause this looked like it was going to be a winner, but at the price I think you can find better...

What I like most: The compelling and psychedelic pour...

What I like least: The strong alcohol component in the flavor profile...

verdict: You will be able to find much better in the style for the price so look elsewhere...

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 01:40:30 | More by SolomonGrundy

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

(Served in a snifter) tenmiinste hou dbaar tot einde 06 11 lot A A- Dense caramel body with a soapy off-white head that sticks to the glass. There are big bubbles that glide up the glass and support the head for a bit.
S- The pungent hop aroma gives way to a soft fresh wort aroma that takes on a wet clay note as it opens up.
T- The light slightly sweet pale malt flavor has a watery taste to it with a big pungent bite that lingers after each sip and stains the tongue. The malt gives the perception of sweetness but the rest of the beer is very dry.
M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with no alcohol heat noticed.
D- The only real flavor was the pungent bitterness of the hops. Not really offensive just nothing else to support it. No malt or hop flavor. I don't know where the alcohol is hiding but it is just not there.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2010 20:51:19 | More by rhoadsrage

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.23/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured alight copper color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some light lacing. Aroma consists of light residual sugar notes and dry caramel malt notes. Taste is quite simple with light residual notes of sugar with dry caramel malt and little else to report. Body is about average with OK carbonation and no apparent alcohol. A bit of a disappointment with no real complexity.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 03:13:29 | More by Phyl21ca

homebrewhawk

Kansas

3.28/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11.16 oz bottle served in a snifter. Poured a hazy amber with a quickly dissipating head. Bottle conditioned. Lots of malt in aroma, caramel. Very sweet, not much hop bitterness to balance. Medium to full bodied. Not much carbonation. Didn't do much for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 02:26:23 | More by homebrewhawk

metter98

New York

3.3/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: It poured cloudy light brown in color with lacey patterns of bubbles covering the surface. There are lots of yeast particles floating near the bottom of my snifter glass.
S: There is an aroma of caramel malts, toffee and alcohol in the nose, which intensifies as the beer warms up.
T: The initial taste is somewhat sweet and gradually transitions over some bitterness in the finish. Like the smell, there are flavors of caramel and toffee. The taste becomes more balanced between sweetness and bitterness as it warms up.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate, smooth and very thick. There is definitely a warming sensation from the alcohol.
D: It isn't that difficult to drink this beer, but the overall flavor doesn't stand out as being very interesting.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 00:22:28 | More by metter98

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.33/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

10.14 fl oz bottle.

It pours a deep red with a foamy off-white head.

The smell is a bit subdued with a clean barleywine scent (caramel/hops) along with the scent of the glass (that is how weak it seems).

The flavor is stronger with a nice hop bitterness and layers of caramel and sugar.

The mouthfeel isn't as full-bodied as you would like in a 10.5% barleywine but it makes it easier to drink.

A good but not great barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 05:38:48 | More by crossovert

DIM

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a: This was a clear, coppery color with golden edges. It poured with a long lived, stiff, sticky head.

s: Fairly mild overall, but definitely pleasant. muted aromas of cotton candy, simple syrup, caramel, and some faint perfumed heat. Subtle and sweet pretty well sums this one up I think.

t: Tasty enough, but this lacks the depth I think a barleywine should have. Starts off on the sweet side. Not much to it, just a sugary maltiness. The finish has some relatively harsh bitterness that adds a sharp toffee like dimension that doesn't quite gel with the rest of the beer.

m: Probably a little thin for the style.

d: Kind of simplistic for the style, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 09:46:57 | More by DIM

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle. Snifter glass. Enjoyed on dec´11. Orangish copper in color. Off-white, medium size bubbled, froth. Thin layer & brief crown. Collars on sides. Caramel malt, sugar, alcohol & subtle chocolate aromas. Ripe fruit hues. Tasting shows sugar & bitterness all over. Dry palate.Full body, soft carbonation. Spicy & fruity finish. Gentle warming alcohol sensation.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 18:12:14 | More by GONZALOYANNA

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle picked up at Whole Foods Bowery in NYC, split with Steve. 12oz bottle into a couple snifters.

Poured a rusty red with some burgundy highlights, thin offwhite head falls to a thin film and a collar. Nose has sort of a honey/honeycomb-esque malt, sweet caramel notes, booze, green (almost leafy) & vinous grape notes as well. Taste has caramel, more grapey notes, and is relatively rich altogether. Mouthfeel is sweet, sticky and boozy, as the first few sips come up through the nostrils to sting. Medium-full feel and a lower-medium carbonation. Average really.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 15:44:58 | More by liamt07

Thickfreakness

New York

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Ruddy pumpkin/brown with lots of sediment. a one finger tangerine head that fades away and leaves a touch of oily lacing.

S- Caramel, candy corn, licorice, fig jam, dried cherries and leather couch. Has a touch of earthiness and yeasty funk! Really nice dessert sweetness! Just a fade of hop presence.

T- Caramel apple and toffee. Tart and sweet!!! WOW! No real hop fruitiness or bite at all at first, but it comes thru with the warming of the alcohol. Nice dried fruit, brown sugar and spice... not overwhelming. The caramel and booze really blast thru on this one leaving your mouth a touch hot.

M- A bit on the sweet and alcoholic side. The hops come in at the end and dry your mouth a little bit, but sweetness is the overlying theme here. A touch sour and tart, a little sweet, and overall a decent blend of both.

O- Nothing to sing about here. It's decent at best. The smell is really nice, the taste is ok... I've never really had a "BAD" Barleywine, they always have something a bit interesting to offer.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 23:14:11 | More by Thickfreakness

DARIVA

Netherlands

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Red brown clear beer with minimal head.

S: A little sour, some strawberries, and grapefruit.

T: Slightly bitter taste, slightly sour and some green pepper. Many grapefruit.

M: Good tongue feeling , bitter aftertaste and light foam feeling.

O: Very nice beer where the grapefruit dominates.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 08:26:55 | More by DARIVA

Offa

California

3.6/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a pretty good barleywine.

Cloudy pale red-brown with a small off-white head slowly shrinking to foamy ring, wisps.

Aroma is nice toasty caramelly bread, rich, with some dried fruits and wood, toasty barley. There is a fleeting hint of chocolate that soon vanishes. It is a nice English barleywine character but a bit simple.

Taste is simple, boozy whiskyish dried fruits and caramelised grain and wood. It has light sweetness, spicy alcoholic warmth and bitterness coming on at the finish and lingering. Aftertaste is sweet white bread. It's good, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 23:55:25 | More by Offa

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.63/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a cloudy brownish orange color with good carbonation and a small white cap.

S: Caramel, toffee, English malts

T: Pretty sweet upfront, toffee, caramel, English malts, some faded hops and dark fruit with a nice booze feel.

M: Medium body, easy to drink, sweet, booze is pretty light, goes down well

O: I know others did not enjoy this as well as I did but I thought it was pretty good overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 00:44:00 | More by barleywinefiend

100floods

California

3.65/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy burnt orange hue with no head. Hop freshness in the aroma with some sweet maltiness, too. Pretty standard smell, nothing wild. Slight hop, singed malt with a sugar finish. Warmth from the alcohol lingers after each sip. Citrus, namely orange rinds. Malty, but surprisingly not sugary. Not

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 18:53:33 | More by 100floods

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Copper-amber, thin soapy head, minimal lacing.

S - Perfumy, grapeskin, light funk, alcohol.

T - Lager yeast, malty, candi sugar, raison, hint of olive, mixed berries, little alcohol.

M - Medium-full bodied, low carbonation, bitter/sugary/chalky semi-dry finish.

O - Strange take on a barleywine, middle of the pack.

best before 03/13 Lot A

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 20:29:08 | More by Rickythejeweler

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle received in trade with Phyl21ca - thanks!

Appearance - Murky brownish copper colour with small size beige coloured head.It's hard to make out the amount of carbonation and there isn't much lacing. The head lasted for only 2 minutes.

Smell - Malts, anise, caramel/butterscotch, dark fruits

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation.. almost none. I can taste hops and malts mixed with buttery caramel. There is also some anise and some raisins. It ends with a malty sweet and buttery aftertaste.

Overall - It needs a boost in carbonation but the alcohol is well hidden and the beer has a nice taste. Even thought the bottle says best before end of 2012 this seems a bit past its prime. Still glad to have tried.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 00:48:30 | More by spinrsx

kvnstfrd

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 10.14 oz. bottle into a 16 oz. glass goblet.
Deep copper-red color with a foamy off-white head.
Sweet aromas of caramel with notes of freshly baked cake.
Flavor is strong and sweet with a light hop bitterness and a slight alcohol burn after the swallow.
Not as much body as I expected, but not too thin, either.
Overall, a nice non-English, English barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 14:48:34 | More by kvnstfrd

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The tastes are citrus bitterness and sugar. Light brown with significant off white retained head and some lace. A nice hoppyness. Bang on an American version of a barleywine, without over the top bitterness. Some spicyness in the aroma and in the taste.Thanks for saving for my birthday, Radek.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 14:25:16 | More by northyorksammy

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep orange, slight white head, traces of lace are present. Malty nose, caramel and slight sweet notes, citrus fruit, hoppy in the nose, light grapefruit. Taste is malty, big hop profile, caramel notes come through, lightly sweet, sugary, quite well balanced, grapefruit comes in the finish. Good feel, full body wirth light carbonation. I would classify this as american barleywine and as that it is quite nice, very pleasant and approachable. Thanks to Radek for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 02:10:59 | More by peensteen

Mar02x

Netherlands

3.98/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Every time when I drink this beer I forget to review it. Finally I nailed it.

A - A dark orange poor and hardly no head.

S - A strong smell of malt syrup and some piny hops.

T - This is a good brew and it ages pretty good. I had it fresh and this one is about a year old. Man what an excellent taste. The bitter hops are still there and just a little reduced. The malt syrup is noticeable and some of the alcohol content as well.

M - The soft to medium carbonation makes it a pleasure to drink.

O - A good barley wine and would love to see what some more aging will do.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 19:52:34 | More by Mar02x

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Maudite snifter. Pours a dark coppery caramel amber. Thin fine off-white head that slowly dissipates to a ring around the glass. Aroma of caramel malt, caramel, orange, fruit and alcohol with a slight sourness. Flavor dominated by caramel and alcohol, which transitions into pleasant caramel malt, dark and light fruit, brown sugar with a slight hop kick in the finish. Immediately warming. The initial booze is a bit overwhelming, but as the flavor transitions, this has very pleasant and well integrated flavors. A tasty barley wine that is a little unbalanced at first, but settles in to traditional English barley wine territory and finishes nicely. Medium bodied with some creaminess.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 03:14:57 | More by LiquidAmber