Cincinnati Beer Week 2012 Barleywine Ale - Mt. Carmel Brewing Company

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +12%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter.

5.0 A: Tranluscent or opaque (can't really tell which) plum color. Two and a half fingers of creamy beige head with excellent retention and plenty of lacing.

4.5 S: Wow, this is hoppy as hell. Super floral, super dank, super citrus. Orange and mango predominate. Underneath there are notes of caramel and toffee. This is every bit a DIPA. Booze is well hidden.

4.5 T: Solid mix of hops and malts. Again floral and citrus with orange leading the way. Some notes of pine and grapefruit as well. Lots of hop flavor without a lot of hop bitterness. Caramel and toffee maltiness. Some light fruitiness as well. Solid.

4.0 M: Heavier medium body. Carbonation is on the higher end for the style, but it works pretty well here. Frothy creaminess abounds.

4.5 D: Really surprising. Mt. Carmel makes some damn mediocre beers, but this is a splendid treat. I think I may have to pick up some more. This is a lot like FFF Behemoth, only way better.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 04:54:42 | More by DavoleBomb

movingtrain

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very cool, interesting beer here. They brewer listed for this beer says Mt. Carmel, which I believe is where the beer was brewed. But, as the back of the bottle states, this is a "Collaboration of local breweries" including Moerlein, Listermann, Red Ear, Rivertown, Rock Bottom, and Mt. Carmel.

So...for the beer.

Pours a rich ruby-red color. Not much of a head to speak of, aside from a light, lingering film skimming the top. Overall, though, this is a good-looking beer in the glass.

Man...there is a lot going on in the aroma. Pears come to mind first, followed by tart cherry, oak, cinnamon, cranberry sauce, caramelized sugars, and a citrusy ester.

The taste here is, like the aroma, quite rich. It has a nice bitterness to it, with lingering notes of grapefruit, vanilla, and tart cherry. There is also a peppery element to the flavor. These rather potent bitter flavors are backed by an interesting breadiness, almost like warm biscuits.

In terms of alcohol, the heat is on here. This beer is very, very warming, and the ABV (which is not listed on the bottle, though through some searching, it seems this one clocks in at around 9.5%) is incredibly noticeable on the palate. The presence, though, does not take away from the flavors in the beer, and, in fact, is rather enjoyable.

Overall, this beer is good...but may, at this point in its life, be a bit young. I wonder what a bit of age on this beer will do for it. I would say...if you are thinking of picking up a six pack of this beer, it will be well worth it. Drink some now, and save some for a year or two from now. Nice work, Cincinnati brewers.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 23:59:51 | More by movingtrain

ColdPoncho

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - looks nice - a deep ruby body with a pillow of light tan head on top.

S - Very much hop forward, mostly citrus. Some sweet malty notes of caramel and brown sugar.

T - A bit hot and hoppy. The malt is subtle, but balances the bitter citrusy hop character fairly well with medium dark and lightly roasted character

M - thinnish, a bit drying, smooth

O - not bad at all. It's certainly one of the better beers I've had from any of the collaborating breweries, but I don't think it seems quite like the style is calling itself.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 03:58:38 | More by ColdPoncho