XS Old Crustacean - Rogue Ales

pezoids

Pennsylvania

1.75/5  rDev -56.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1

Bottled in 2001.

Poured a murky and mysterious burgundy brown color. A thin filmy head of tan cream topped the beer off. The aroma is strong with sticky fruit and heavy with malt sweetness. The heavy and rich aromas that emanate from this beer almost come full circle and almost cabbage-like. The taste – well now, how to say this… it’s like chewing on a grapefruit seed. Intensely bitter throughout and seems highly unbalanced, even with the heavy malt. I know this is an “American Style” barleywine, and it is from the West Coast, but Jesus! Gimme a break here! This might be just the thing if you want to strip the paint off dads’ old Studebaker. A few more sips and I’m breathing fire. It’s like sucking on a green acorn. Tannic, acidic and bitter as hell. Body of malt is heavy, but gets completely overwhelmed by the bitter qualities. It reminds me of accidentally drinking seawater, and it back washes up through your sinus cavity. It stings and numbs. I really can’t see anyone enjoying this… I did manage to finish it, but just barely. Maybe this is just too young... but, until it (or my palate) matures - Gag…

This is just craft beer gone wrong, IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2004 02:11:16 | More by pezoids

IanSpindler

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +6%

06-15-2013 21:59:27 | More by IanSpindler

Brew33

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -37.7%

06-12-2013 16:46:57 | More by Brew33

mungus

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

06-12-2013 03:02:23 | More by mungus

goblin7704

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

06-11-2013 22:01:04 | More by goblin7704

OregonGrown7

Nebraska

4.75/5  rDev +18.5%

06-11-2013 05:36:32 | More by OregonGrown7

TKEbeerman

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -19%

06-11-2013 01:24:12 | More by TKEbeerman

GrindFatherBob

New York

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

06-10-2013 22:16:35 | More by GrindFatherBob

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

2/5  rDev -50.1%

06-07-2013 21:20:26 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

DeutschesBier

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-07-2013 20:03:44 | More by DeutschesBier

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-07-2013 04:56:37 | More by megamass

mwz5021

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

06-06-2013 17:52:56 | More by mwz5021

DemoniChris

Nebraska

4.25/5  rDev +6%

06-04-2013 11:41:04 | More by DemoniChris

davey101

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

1997 vintage. 7 oz bottle into a taster glass. From a vertical purchased from Bottleworks and muled thanks to FalconA. This vintage is 26º plato, 120 IBU, 38º L, and 73.1 AA with a different ingredient list than listed. Opens with a faint fizz. Best after one year, this has 16...

A - Pours a surprisingly clear burnt red body. The bottom of the bottle has a 1-2mm layer of sediment which I avoided. No head or lacing to speak of. Swirling leaves behind a faint alcoholic trace.

S - The aroma is fantastic. Rich caramel, roasted malts, raisins, and just a faint nod of oxidation. Sort of a sweet raisin soda like smell. Light fusel heat. This honestly does not smell like a 16 year old beer. I've had 1-2 year old beers in the style that were less composed.

T - Starts off well with muted caramel, toffee, burnt sugar and raisins. Some alcohol heat mixes with a high level bitterness.Things take a turn for the worse on the aftertaste with an odd mineral water flavor. Decent given its age, but 7 oz feels like overkill here. Mouth feel is obviously flat but still drinks pretty well.

O - For a 16 year old barleywine I don't see it faring any better. Short of the mineral water bitterness this was a really impressive science experiment in aging. Me thinks the absurd IBU level does not help after all of the hop flavors have faded away.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 02:53:39 | More by davey101

powerss13

Kansas

4.51/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

ST: Bottle into a glass

A: Dark hazy brown; with some head. Nice lacing on glass.

S: Small hints of hop aroma, with a nice malty smell. Has a good bread smell to it.

T: Definitely get a good hop taste to it that you don't get in the smell. Get a good doughy yeast taste.

MF: Nice slight heavy body, but not overbearing to the mouth giving it a nice finish

O: Exceptional beer. This would be a wonderful beer to age. If you find this, get it.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 00:29:21 | More by powerss13

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

05-29-2013 03:16:05 | More by outoffocus

bmur112

Maryland

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-28-2013 23:24:15 | More by bmur112

Rdc67

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

05-22-2013 19:11:38 | More by Rdc67

josephwa

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -25.2%

05-21-2013 21:48:47 | More by josephwa

JMBSH

Colorado

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-20-2013 03:19:22 | More by JMBSH

NastyNate11

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 19:38:09 | More by NastyNate11

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 13:21:24 | More by Photekut

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6%

05-15-2013 11:22:12 | More by Slatetank

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +18.5%

05-13-2013 22:43:11 | More by AmandaSchaefer

sommersb

Tennessee

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Tasted On: 05-07-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 750ml colored bottle, swing-top
Glassware: Signature glass
Purchased: Single from The Bottle Shop, Franklin

I like the format on this beer, a ceramic-feeling bottle with a swing-top lid.

A: The hazy, orange-brown beer starts of with big off-white bubbles in the head, probably from the glugging of the first pour due to the narrow neck opening.

S: Aromas have a fruit sweetness, as in dark fruits first off, followed by pine and evergreen hops. Very clean and pleasant smelling.

T: The taste starts off with hop bitterness, in a way I can't easily classify, which is then followed by malty and fruity notes, making a nice contrast between the bitter and sweet. However there is some sort of unpleasant taste I can't put my finger on.

M: Full-bodied brew, with carbonation in the medium to high range. The finish is bitter and has some astringency to it.

O: Overall a good beer, but it seemed to be lacking in terms of others I've had in the style. It smelled better than it tasted...

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 04:31:49 | More by sommersb