30th Anniversary - Jack & Ken's Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

beergoot

Colorado

4.64/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Deep brown body topped with a very thick, creamy, tan-colored head. Roasted grains and cocoa scented smells with hints of vanilla and raisins; a subdued alcohol presence in the background. Taste and feel is rich and warm, infused with dark chocolate and malt flavors; alcohol heat pops up and combines with an intense hop bitterness to create a very nice complement to the malt sweetness. Medium-heavy mouthfeel with a deep smoothness on the tongue.

A great beer that comes across better than the sum of its parts. A powerhouse beer across the board with the malt components taking center stage with outstanding dark malt characteristics and does an excellent job of keeping the high ABV tamed and very approachable. An outstanding offering that, with fingers-crossed, may see the light of day again...!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:05:18 | More by beergoot

Strix

Wisconsin

4.6/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured black with brown edges, frothy initial head that sticks around well.

Dark roasty malt, caramel, citrus hops in the nose.

Roasted malt, caramel, dark chocolate, toffee, melds into a medium-level cascade hop finish. Is this not a Black IPA? Black DIPA? It's got that flavor profile nailed and dialed. Super flavorful, complex, and delicious.

Smooth, fairly full mouthfeel.

Best beer I've had so far this year, hands down. Has aged wonderfully. This was fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 04:50:58 | More by Strix

blackie

Virginia

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

cellared bottle consumed awhile back

a: poured into a tulip glass, el barleywine negro is essentially black in color - some brown hues show in the edges, topped with a persistent, healthy ring of carbonation

s: the nose features deep roasted malts and dark pine needle hops at the forefront, digging a little deeper brings out burnt toffee, dark cocoa dusted espresso, charred earth and wood, and booze marinated tree fruits, like the nose here - assertive and highly aromatic, but the roast and pine are a little dominant for my preference - there's some real complexity in there, but it takes work to find

m: carbonation a lighter moderate, bubbly, with a medium-full body

t: deep flavors of dark roasted barley and strong pine hops with bittersweet chocolate and burnt toffee underneath, powerful pine needle hops with loads of acid pushing through after the swallow - the acid more than balancing - it's dominant, with a searing bitterness and deep charred flavors lingering long

o: an interesting take on the style that's not totally unlike all the black (d)ipa's out there these days, some features of the roast/hop combination I enjoy and some I don't, and it's so assertive as to be problematic to drinkability, but as an early winter slow-sipper, it does just fine

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 00:05:17 | More by blackie

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours dark as night and thick, with only hints of light getting through the edges. Big, creamy, frothy head forms from the volatile pour out of the corked and caged bottle. Great retention and lacing period, let alone for a beer that's been in the bottle for almost three years.

S- Large booze and hop profile is dominant on the nose. Dark malts are next, with mostly burnt flavors coming through. Booze is strong and persistent throughout.

T- Almost exactly like the scent. Starts with a big bang of hops bitterness paired with burnt malt flavors. Combination gives a taste similar to a black IPA. The hops bitterness returns and dominates with the boozey burn throughout. Really complex with the intermingling of citrusy hops and bitter dark malts.

M- Smooth and creamy with low carbonation. Thick and boozey weight makes it a sipper. Really a warming beer with the alcohol level.

Overall, a very complex beer. Probably mellowed out with the time in the bottle. The alcohol heat is still fairly present, but blends with the other flavors better now. I think this one could be great another year or two in the bottle still.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:12:04 | More by boilermakerbrew

brewskifan55

Mississippi

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter. Corked and caged. Thanks, Cliff, for sharing.

A: Blackish brown (cola colored) with a tan half finger head that slowly recedes. Great lacing.

S: Big malts, raisins. Smoky, woody.

T: Sweet, smooth, robust. Terrifically malty. Toffee and dark fruits. Cocoa comes through. A fine sipper.

M: Medium to heavy with great carbonation. Thick, chewy. Just lovely.

O: We served this just under room temperature, which brought out all the flavors. The aging brought this one to full taste fruition.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 16:56:03 | More by brewskifan55

Nugganooch

California

4.41/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750ml corked & caged bottle – aged approx. 3 years.
Consumed on 02/08/13 – with my Sierra Nevada Leuttich balloon glass (naturally)

A: Pours a dark cola brown body that collects to more of a black walnut once in the glass. Completely opaque and topped with a dense taupe color head that is stubborn as all get out. Succumbs to some large Swiss cheese size holes but never fully recedes leaving thick cakey remnants upon the glass. Quite the looker.

S: Smells of deep rich toffees with fig and sweet plum sauce. A bit of underlying chocolate and molasses round out the nose quite nicely. Getting some light pine and spiced citrus mixed in as well. Pretty nice aromas with a good influence of caramelized dark pit fruit.

T: Taste is just a delicious ensemble of flavors, laden with dark toffees and sugared dates. Almost like a fig pudding or plum jam with some nice roast character in there. Treacle and a good dose of chocolates. A tame nutty bread note meets with a bit of alcohol spice mid way. I get black cherry and grape with some light sherry-like qualities. The hops still have some life to them with a moderate bitterness that brings damp pines and earthy bark like flavors to the brew. There is some fleeting citrus as well with a faint smoky charcoal hit towards the backend. Overall balance is damn fine and oh so smooth. This is surprisingly good.

M: Silky smooth feel with some moderate weight but no substantial chew. In fact, a touch on the thinner side which actually makes this barley wine much more manageable in my opinion . Finishes on the dryer side with a nice frothy consistency with ome light lingering bitterness and a touch of warming alcohol.

D: Drinking fantastic at 3 years. The flavors have melded quite nicely. In fact, I don’t get the sense this one will develop much beyond what it is today. Which is a great balanced brew rich with caramels, dark fruits, and chocolate. Big fan of the Black Barley Wine. The addition of darker roasts to a big burly wine seems to work well here and especially after a few years of mellowing. Would love to see more of this style blender.

Great stuff!

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 20:15:27 | More by Nugganooch

chugalug06

Colorado

4.41/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Whoa. Cork opens with a nice, bang! Brew is deep dark brown, head lies foamy tan. Lacing is mixed.

Very unique. Quite the aroma! Nice blend of caramel, west coast hops, grapes, roasty malt, and vanilla.

Phew! This brew will take your head off... It's great, not much heat, but smooth sweetness kicked with a bittering amount of prevalent hops. Carbonation is medium and feel is near perfect. Super dark chocolate, roasty caramel malt, smooth, biting, chalky, wet, crushing hop value.

It could still take 3-5 years in the cellar, imo. Hops are ever dominate in this awesome brew! Highly recommended, but if you can, keep waiting for perfection to come.. Flavors are melding wonderfully.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:56:07 | More by chugalug06

Beerandboards

New Mexico

3.86/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tall wine glass

Cork comes out with a nice pop

A - an aggressive pour produces a two inch head that sits there for a good while. Looks about like a glass full of medium brewed coffee. Lots of lacing left on the glass.

S - lots of toasty caramel and vanilla along with some alcohol in the background. There are some malt and rich grain type notes as well. Smells pretty nice.

T - very mellow and smooth caramel, vanilla and some dark bakers chocolate bitterness at the end. Really smooth and easy to drink, boozy enough to remind you it's a big beer and take it slow, but the booze is integrated very well into the presentation.

M - spot on. Just on the thicker side of medium, low carbonation. Really presented the flavors well.

O - this is the second 30th Anniversary collab that I've really liked. This one came together really well. I have no idea what this was like fresh, but at the beginning of 2013, it's great!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 06:04:59 | More by Beerandboards

MadScientist

New York

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A beautiful beer to look at that is very dark brown and deep garnet with good clarity, without a flash light it looks black. The persistent, light brown head is made of compact mousse-like bubbles

S: The alcohol seems to have mellowed and unsurprisingly the hops have died down over the year. A moderately-light citrus hops aroma that quickly fade giving way to bittersweet chocolate and a rich malt aroma backed by a light, floral alcohol aroma and light dark cherry aroma.

T: The initial impression is flavors of bakers chocolate flavor with a firm hops bitterness and a sweet alcohol. There is light dark stone fruit flavor, mainly dark cherries. The balance is fairly bitter, having only a light malt sweetness against a moderately-strong hops bitterness. The finish is medium and the aftertaste is of hops bitterness and chocolate.

M: A medium-full bodied beer with moderate carbonation and a light alcohol warmth.

O: I loved this bee when it was you and fresh for the rich malt, firm hops bitterness and strong hops flavor. A year or so later and this it's still a great beer, a little mellowed and with the aroma and flavor hops substantially muted. I've got another bottle I check on in a year or two and if I find a magic lamp I wish that this beer be brewed on annually.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 01:30:44 | More by MadScientist

kojevergas

California

3.58/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1 pint 9.4 fl oz brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are merely above average given the brewery, which I've yet to have anything great from. 10.20% ABV confirmed.

Served after a brief period of rest after removing it from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired intermittently with chow fun noodles (an odd choice, I know - but I'm hungry and all my money goes to beer, okay?)

A: Pours a two finger khaki colour head of lovely cream and thickness, and great retention considering the high ABV. Lacing is good. Body colour is a solid nontransparent black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. I'm rather impressed. Could this be the beer that changes my mind about Sierra Nevada?

Sm: Caramel, dark malts, cream, floral hop notes, and hints of roast. Some biscuity yeast. And biscuit malt, for that matter. No alcohol is detectable. Maltiness is dominant. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Cream up front, and a quite malty body - definitely nicely layered. Floral hops, hints of roast. Sure, some booziness - but it's well hidden for 10.2%. Some dark malts. Biscuit malt. No real yeasty notes, through. Caramel. Mild spice. It's a tasty little beer, actually. The balance is imperfect but it's a tasty brew. Some middling fruit notes - maybe a hint of fig. Quite the malt bomb, but in a good way. Very pleasant and enjoyable. I like it.

Mf: Smooth, wet, and creamy. Slight overcarbonation. Good thickness and presence. suits the flavours quite well.

Dr: I have to say, I expected worse given the brewery. Sure, it's boozy - but it's also a nice barleywine. I'm glad to have tried it - and while it isn't changing my mind about Sierra Nevada since it's a glorified collaboration, I do fancy it. I'll try to open my mind a bit more to Sierra Nevada, but I've yet to have a truly fantastic beer from them. This is worth a go for barleywine fans, but it's not incredible.

B

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 03:36:44 | More by kojevergas

vfgccp

New York

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2010 bottle opened in Nov 2012.

A - Towering head of khaki foam. Great retention and lace. Coca-Cola black with cherry highlights. Lives up to it's billing as a black barleywine. A great looking brew, I couldn't ask for much more.

S - Thick nose; rum cake, raisin, prune, caramel malt, and dark chocolate. Pleasant sweetness without being cloying.

T - Super smooth. Thick chocolate syrup, dried blueberries, warm booze, plum cordial, and a dry semi-bitter cocoa finish.

M - Thick, full body. Shade syrupy. Low carbonation, but par for the style.

O - A chocolate barleywine, i.e. delicious. A few years did this brew well.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 17:26:58 | More by vfgccp

The3rdbeer

California

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cellared and well taken care of, poured into Bruery tulip glass. Initial 1 1/2 fingers of thick dark tan head that fades after a minute or so but sticks around as a very thin but completely full lacing that remains even after 6 minutes.

A- very dark brown black, cannot shine a iPhone light through to pick up any light through the other side of glass heavy Lacing remains even 10 minutes in.

S- still has a huge nose of Carmel and toffee with the smell of piney sweet hops almost a lacquer essence, also some spice in the background and a hint of booze.

T- WOW all flavors have mellowed out perfectly. Thankfully no traces of oxidation. Leaves you with perfect harmony. The malt has taken a step back but still present in form of toffee right after malt subsides the piney hop flavor picks up, the sweetness in the hop aroma in the nose has not translated to the hop flavor so it's not cloying at all. Finishing up back with the toasted malt flavor which brings nutty flavors and finally hop resin. A lot of substance at the perfect volume after having all this time to mellow out.

M- carbonation died very quickly but you don't need it. On the fuller side of medium it's lightly mouth coating very nice for the aged profile of flavors

O- I am very glad I sat on this for as long as I did. Although I don't think it would get any better with anymore age. Fantastic barleywine and really taught me what a difference a few years makes for a big beer

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 03:33:07 | More by The3rdbeer

fields336

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Chimay chalice. On tap @ city beverage

A: amazing looking head that stays around. The lacing coats the entire side of the chalice an the bubbly thick head stays around

S: brown sugar, pine, caramel, toasted bread, some citrus and touch of fruitiness.

T: a real piney citrus hoppy wave up front with a huge wave of brown sugar and raisin bread, burnt sugar, and toasted bread. Real tasty, don't really even notice the alcohol at all.

M: creamy and full bodied. Somehow not a sipper, and the alcohol isn't blatant

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 21:30:09 | More by fields336

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

this beer pours a dark brown to almost black color with a 1-2 finger tan head. the head recedes slowly but leaves minimal lacing on the glass.

the smell is malty and chocolatey and honestly a lot more stout like than barleywine like.

the taste is again more roasty and almost chocolatey with a hint of caramel than i would expect from an american barleywine

the mouthfeel is full to medium body with an appropriate level of carbonation for the style.

overall this beer is deliscious and i enjoyed it, but does not stick to the style very well

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 19:16:55 | More by rowingbrewer

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle split into a snifter

A: Pours pitch black with a finger of head on a vigorous pour. Retention is good for a 2+ year old beer.

S: Very complex - starts out with strong toffee and malted milk balls. Milk chocolate and light roast is just behind this. This smells like a mixture of a Barleywine and a porter in a very good way.

T: Milk chocolate and malted milk balls are upfront, this tastes like an aged porter with some booze. There really is a lot of milk chocolate. No hops are detectable, but some bitter dark chocolate keeps from making this beer too sweet. Age is apparent, but the character it brings is pleasant.

M: On the thick side with low, creamy carbonation.

O: This is an odd, but great beer. A mixture between a porter and a Barleywine, with the age quite noticeable. Roasted malts, malted milk balls, and toffee are what male up the profile of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 02:13:02 | More by coreyfmcdonald

baseballrock

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - This magnificent beer pours the darkest shade of brown into my Chimay chalace. The beer rushes out in an effortless rolling flood of the god's nectar. A thick head of mahogany color leaves a considerable amout of fluffy lace along the edges of my glass.

S - The scent of a beer nearly three years old is quite crisp and clean for the aromas of been waiting far too long to escape the the walls of it caspule. A fair bit of anticipated Sierra Nevada hop aroma strike my nose as well as the sweet malt flavors of cocoa and molasses.

T - Beers that have aged and matured as this bottle of 30th anniversary ale really make one appreciate the world of beer. I wish we could all enjoy this once in a lifetime experience. For I have sat on this limited release for too long but I am glad to have finally pulled the cork from its air tight resting place. Finally able to enjoy the smoothness and balnce of complex malt flavors. The flavors slide across my taste buds allowing me to taste the sweet molasses flavor back by a fruity finish. The beer is full of hidden flavors that may or may not be identifiable. A bit nutty with a buttery finish in one sip, and then on to the next sip. This time the subtle hop flavor lashes out.

M - Each sip from my glass flows over my toung with a thick buttery texture. The bitterness still perks up the taste buds on the back of my toung even after many months of mellowing.

I am truely blown away by this beer and as the person with the review just before mine I too have a Bigfoot Barleywine waiting for me. Im not sure what vintage his is, but I have 6 of the 2010 vintage in my cellar and I have decided to pull on up. I think I will have it tomorrow. This was a real treat and I raise my glass to beer enthuistist around the world and say cheers.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 02:36:34 | More by baseballrock

davey101

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into a tulip glass. Julian date code puts this at 2/1/2010.

A - Quite dark for a barley wine...granted its a "Black Barley Wine". Kind of a pitch black body with a red tinge. Lets zero light through. Large light tan head forms and settles down a bit. Super thick foam clings to the glass. Looks great, but it also looks like a stout.

S - That unique Sierra Nevada hop profile. Very piney with a touch of bitter grapefruit juice. Chewy and malty with some dark fruit and brown sugar notes.

T - The nose seemed pretty close to Bigfoot. The taste does not. Starts off with bitter citrus and pine which leads into some burnt and roasty malts. Caramel, brown sugar, and a toffee. Theres a really unique dry cocoa powder finish. Tasty, but there is a large alcohol presence.

M - Medium to thin bodied. Plenty of carbonation. Alcohol hurts drinkability.

O - I was curious how this would differ from Bigfoot, seeing as I just had a 2010 vintage recently. It has the same hop profile (even with two and half years of age) but it takes a slightly different route. Its malty with some dark fruit elements, but the cocoa powder I was getting in the flavor made it really unique. Its a shame the alcohol is so present, because this is a really nice take on the American style barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 03:38:08 | More by davey101

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 Ml poured into a snifter

A- Pours black brown but is completely black in the glass. Red hues around the edges. A large two finger of an off tan colored head. Dense bubbles and surprising retention. Very visible alcohol legs.

S- I get a good hop bitterness up front. This beer isn't quite fresh anymore so the hop aromas have faded and changed. I get a bit of a cocoa. A lot of roasted malts. Tiny bit of alcohol. Good caramel and toffee as well.

T- I get a big bitterness up front, An intense and tart feel and flavor from this beer. It comes over with a lot of roasted malts. The roasty flavor leaves behind a slight smokiness as well as an unsuspected mokah flavor. There's a slight hop aroma left over the age that seems almost gone but adds SN's signature bitter citrus flavors. There is a slight chocolate malt flavor in here but this beer is quite toasty.

M- Well carbonated. Alcohol feel is noticeable. Bitter. Leaves behind a milky sour bitterness, strange but tolerable. Good size beer but quite drinkable.

O- This is an interesting take on a Barleywine, Not as good as good ol' bigfoot but an entirely different beer and worth trying. Something different is always something good in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 00:27:10 | More by TwelveOunces

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

3.68/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance – Pours a super dark, almost black ruby red. Has a huge light brown head that lasts a long time. Leaves lots of spotted lacing on the glass.

Smell – A classic barleywine scent with a bitter hoppiness, malt, raisin, figs, and a rum-like booze.

Taste – Bitter hops and a rum-like booze.

Mouthfeel – Very thick and creamy. Lightly carbonated and boozey, with a bitter aftertaste. Alcohol is not hidden.

Drinkability – I’m not a fan of the bitterness. The bitter aftertaste takes away from the drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 05:53:36 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a solid dark brown color with faint ruby highlights when held to light and a creamy beige head that shows remarkable retention. Smells of caramel and roast with lots of dark fruits and hints of earthy hops with a touch of sherry. The flavor holds lots of roast and chocolate up front followed by some caramel, burnt sugar, and resinous earthy hops. There's some dark fruit flavor but not like the aroma suggested. A hint of alcohol and a bit of ash towards the finish. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet slick mouthfeel. I'm surprised I hadn't rated this before because I bought a few of these. This is a nice barleywine that seems like its starting to hit its stride.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 23:28:33 | More by johnnnniee

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.88/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Review from 8/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark ruby amber, black in the glass, with a nice persistent dark tan head and lacing. Delicious dark fruits, coffee, chocolate and malts with a few other unidentifiable but pleasant flavors. Piney, malty middle with hops and a hop finish. Nice medium barley wine-like body. Very well done and fun to drink. A cross between Bigfoot and a imperial stout. Whoa! I look forward to drinking this over the next 10 years.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 18:37:21 | More by LiquidAmber

Dope

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very very dark brown with a big and dense light brown head. Fades extremely slowly, almost imperceptibly so. Eventually leaves behind an almost solid wall of lacing. Constant island of foam remains in the center.

S: Very fruity with lots of raisin primilary - a bit of fig and prunes as well. Lots of caramel, molasses and toffee. Maybe a hint of brown sugar? Even a touch of cocoa in there. Very nice.

T: Up front, some nice caramel, toffee and some char from the roasted malt. Dusting of cocoa. Fruitiness is still here but not as strong as in the nose. Raisin primarily in the middle and into the finish. Finishes dry and a little bitter, some earthiness mixes in nicely.

M: Fairly heavy, a touch astringent.

O: Not a bad barleywine. Seems to have a little roasted malt character to it but fairly minimal. Just enough to add a small new dimension to the brew. Nothing earthshattering but a nice tasty and balanced barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 04:33:12 | More by Dope

superspak

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle into snifter, bottled 7/12/2010(exactly 2 years old now). Pours fairly pitch black color with an impressive 1-2 finger fairly dense khaki head with great retention that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Some nice fairly dense lacing clings tightly to the glass and slowly cascades down the side. Aromas of huge caramel, raisin, earth, molasses, pine, toast, cocoa, herbal, biscuit, roasted malt, and herbal spiciness. Hugely complex aromas with fantastic balance and strength. Taste of big caramel, chocolate, toast, nuttiness, molasses, biscuit, toffee, roasted malt, pine, earth, raisin, and herbal spiciness. Fair amount of spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, chocolate, toffee, toast, biscuit, nuttiness, roasted malt, earth, pine, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a while. Outstanding flavor complexity and balance; still has a good amount of spicy hop character after 2 years. Medium carbonation and full bodied; with a very creamy, slick, and slightly chalky mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Very smooth to sip on as well. Overall this is a world class barleywine! Huge complexity and flavor balance; and very smooth. Easily one of the best barelywines I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 03:52:18 | More by superspak

MatthewWilde

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sample: 1 bottle 2010

A: Pitch black, pours a strong medium brown head that lasts, heavy internal carbonation, clearly not translucent

S: Moderately fragrant, very heavy dried fruit notes as well as citrus, quite sweet, touch of alcohol

T: Reminiscent of the nose but certainly more complex, dried fruits, chocolate, roasted malt, light alcohol, very nice

M: Extremely smooth, alcohol is hardly noticeable, a bit drying, though, with a mild fruity malt aftertaste

O: A great example of the style all-around, has aged perfectly, not sure what a few more years would do but superb right now

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 22:32:57 | More by MatthewWilde

CHickman

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours opaque brown that shows some chestnut color when held up to light with a huge fluffy 3 finger foamy to creamy tan head that faded slowly and didn’t really move for at least a minute; that head looked like a sponge of bubbles and bounced up and down as I swirled the glass. It left good lacing and foamy rings, also a creamy layer on top. The second half of the bomber poured the same except with a smaller head.

Smells of raisin, plum, booze like rum or bourbon, brown sugar, roasted grains, burnt coffee, cocoa powder, charcoal or burnt wood, piney hops, herbs, wheat bread, candied sugar, mild spices and some floral notes. A strong and sweet nose that you can smell a foot away from the glass, with the booze showing and the sweet complex arrangement inviting more exploration.

Tastes very sweet, with caramel, molasses, maple syrup, roasted malt, raisin, plum, dark fruit, booze like rum or bourbon, brown sugar, candied sugar, toasted grains, light yeast, floral notes like herbs and/or floral hops, burnt coffee, cocoa powder, vanilla, burnt wood, peat moss, smoked malts, licorice, yeast and piney hops; wow, this was complex and sweet with so many flavors in the mix. To sum it up, it’s sweet, boozy and thick, letting the alcohol come through and add to the sensation in a good way. Each sip is a little different, but the sweetness is the main attraction throughout this brew.

Mouthfeel is thick, heavy and chewy, with a densely heavy body, very mild carbonation and an almost chalky bitter flavor at the end which allows the booze to show through yet again. This beer has been aged for 2 years and still has alcohol bite, but not in an offensive heat way.

This was an extremely enjoyable slow sipper that was rich, malty, sweet and boozy with really great flavor that showcased roasted malts, light hop bitterness, booze, coffee and vanilla, and so many other flavors that it leads me to the conclusion that I want to get another bottle since this one was so enjoyable; this is not a style I normally drink, but this beer was so complex and delicious that each sip was like a new adventure. A very high recommendation if you can get your hands on this beer, as I will seek out another bottle in hopes of replicating this experience. It’s an over the top boozy beer experiment, and is taste and sensory bombardment, but man is it a hell of a good ride. A great beer experience from the second the cork pops and lets out a little mist.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 05:04:17 | More by CHickman