Bligh's Barleywine Ale - Dry Dock Brewing Co.

kojevergas

California

3.75/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2012 vintage. Acquired a few weeks ago at a liquor store in Parker, Colorado. Reviewed live. 10% ABV confirmed. 1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with an elegant label and a foilved over pressure cap served into an EKU 28 snifter in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Expectations are high given its current rating.

Served after a brief period of rest following its removal from the refrigerator, and allowed to warm further over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with honey pretzel braids.

A: Pours a half finger beige colour head of fair cream, decent thickness, and bad retention (~40 seconds) - though it's excusable for the 10% ABV. A ring floater remains for about a minute after the head fully recedes. Body colour is a very dark caramel-brown; it's understated but I wouldn't call it dull. Its lack of transparency coupled with its opaqueness prevents it from being vibrant. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Overall a spot-on appearance for the style.

Sm: Whiskey is definitely the first thing I get, followed by oak. Caramel and toffee make an appearance. Hints of vanilla lend it more of a bourbon feel than a whiskey. Toffee. Biscuit malts. It's actually surprisingly restrained in terms of its malt character for a barleywine. Buried fruit. I search for coconut but don't find it. Rich in fermented sugars. I don't detect any substantial hop character - a positive attribute in terms of my personal preferences for the style. An understated, subtle aroma of above average strength. No real yeasty character is detectable, but there may be a hint of alcohol heat.

T: Oak and coconut hit me first and last throughout. Some bourbon-esque vanilla, again feeling more like bourbon than whiskey. Caramelized malts comprise the unobtrusive foundation, but never feel out of place. Subtle hints of toffee throughout. Some dark fruit on the climax combines with the vanilla for a satisfying effect. A bit of alcohol heat right on the finish, to its detriment. No yeast character at all. A bit imbalanced, but well put together for the most part. It's certainly a sipper. A good build for a barleywine. The taste is certainly more rich and malty than the aroma. I like it, but admittedly I expected better.

Mf: Undercarbonated, bordering on flat. Smooth and wet. Good thickness. Lacks sufficient palate presence to adequately support the flavour profile. A beer this refined in taste demands a better executed mouthfeel.

Dr: She's a sipper, alright. I'll have trouble killing this bottle by myself, but I reckon I'll enjoy doing so for the most part. Still, I do wish I had a friend about to help me put her down. The ABV needs to be hidden far better than this. Overall, it's a solid barleywine from one of Colorado's best breweries, but I expected far better given its current ratings. I'm hoping this will pick up with age, and I'm not unhappy to have a couple more bottles on hand, but I have to admit I'm disappointed. Worth picking up if you haven't tried it, but I won't be grabbing any in future years unless I hear it's gotten better.

High B

It does pick up slightly as it warms, but not substantially. I recommend serving it slightly chilled.

I wouldn't pair this with anything fancy. Pretzels did me just fine.

Seems like a good candidate for aging.

*I had to tweak the appearance rating to give this the letter grade I needed to. This helps keep my reviews fair and consistent. Please see my profile page for more information.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 05:16:27 | More by kojevergas

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-22-2013 13:27:04 | More by SpdKilz

robwater

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-20-2013 22:20:33 | More by robwater

mookihouse

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-20-2013 18:34:30 | More by mookihouse

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.56/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Big ups to SteveO for this...

2012 offering pours an effervescent hazel color with a sliver of cream colored head. Zero head retention & lacing, some viscosity to this. This beer's only short coming is no real big deal

S: Plums, raisins, vanilla & nice boozey notes

T: Follows the nose, woody hops, dryness & raisins, marcino cherry, a bit of brown sugar & treacle up front. Hints of oakyness, vanilla & a kiss of whiskey booze mix with the cherry & plum as this warms. Finshes with caramel, vanilla, black cherry & an iota of chocolate

MF: Chewy, modest carbonation with much warming sensation, superbly balanced, a bit sticky

True to form, with a very subtle barrel-aged twist. I really enjoyed this one. Get it if you can!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 03:02:38 | More by russpowell

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-18-2013 22:03:29 | More by Photekut

brentk56

North Carolina

4.26/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2011 bottling

Appearance: Pours a clear russet, the head being a vague formation of bubbles; somewhat leggy, with dotty dribbles streaming down

Smell: Caramel, Bourbon, vanilla, fig and coconut

Taste: Caramel, fig and date notes, up front, with the Bourbon and vanilla bringing a punch to the middle; after the swallow, earthy bitterness adds balance and there is a hint of coconut in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: A very nice English style barleywine that is drinking magnificently almost two years in

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 18:54:56 | More by brentk56

TheRuss9585

Vermont

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-14-2013 00:39:30 | More by TheRuss9585

injuredreserve

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-13-2013 02:28:38 | More by injuredreserve

lemongelo

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-11-2013 15:46:42 | More by lemongelo

mdaschaf

Washington

4.24/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2011 Vintage.

A: Pours a slightly hazy brown color with a small tan head that reduces quickly leaving a ring on top. Not much lacing.

S: Nice caramel and bourbon aroma mixed with some brown sugar, toffee, and a little wood.

T: Lots of caramel and toffee mixed with bourbon and brown sugar. A bit of oak and vanilla, faint dark fruit in the middle.

M: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: Pretty good for a barleywine, barrel does a nice job. Was better when I had it alone than at a barleywine tasting, but I think that was simply due some of the other beers in the line up.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 21:11:43 | More by mdaschaf

Pete27lax

New York

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-06-2013 08:39:12 | More by Pete27lax

tjmodica

Texas

4.26/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage

Great Barleywine's take me back to somewhere very primitive and cool.

Dry dock copied Anchor Old foghorn on the color, just perfect for the style. Ok when you look up malt bomb in your text books this is what you will see. Sweet sweet sugar plums with a hint of pancake syrup, really nice nose this is an English Barleywine. Taste just like the nose with minimal alcohol burn. I will save an ounce and half for pancakes in the morning . Outstanding job and I hope the 2012 version holds up to these standards. My Dad would be proud of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 00:25:01 | More by tjmodica

chippo33

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-02-2013 00:32:48 | More by chippo33

aasher

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -15.2%

04-29-2013 01:05:39 | More by aasher

gueuzedreg

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

04-20-2013 18:35:46 | More by gueuzedreg

juliusseizure

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

04-15-2013 01:14:42 | More by juliusseizure

JRod1969

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

04-15-2013 01:07:02 | More by JRod1969

ewhugh

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

04-13-2013 01:09:53 | More by ewhugh

GilGarp

Colorado

4.63/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

2011 vintage served slightly chilled into a goblet.

Bligh's is a dark redish brown color with good clarity seen through the edges. The head is thin but that doesn't seem out of style for a strong barrel aged beer.

Aroma is very strong and rich with whiskey and oak character. It has a mellowed booziness and pleasant sweetness like an old ale.

Flavor is really quite surprisingly well balanced and just perfectly blended. It has great sweetness up front that follows with mild whiskey flavor. It finishes with mellow barrel aged vanilla and caramel. Dark fruits come through like a nice dark Belgian ale.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and perfectly carbonated. Balanced but full of depth and character.

What a fantastic beer. Barrel aged beers are becoming more and more prevalent but it's still very rare to find one as well done as this. One of the best beers of this style.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 01:46:44 | More by GilGarp

bulldogg915

Wyoming

4/5  rDev -9.5%

04-03-2013 14:56:38 | More by bulldogg915

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

03-31-2013 13:45:23 | More by Retail1LO

StubFaceJoe

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

03-31-2013 02:33:18 | More by StubFaceJoe

MEW

New York

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

03-30-2013 02:37:24 | More by MEW

Quackus

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

03-25-2013 03:12:35 | More by Quackus