Anniversary Barley Wine Ale - Uinta Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A new state. OK on color and aroma, but not much on taste. Low as a barleywine, a little too drying. Altogether doesn't work, with sweetness and medium mouthfeel but acidic, and too much alcohol in there. Maybe in a few years, but I won't look out for it. Radekfest #5

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2005 20:00:40 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tenth Anniversary Edition (bottled 2003). Dark crimson bleeding to orange and then gold at the bottom edge of the glass. The head is fantastic. It's pale tawny in color, looks like mousse and persists longer than the cap on a 10.0% beer has a right to. Sturdy pillars of foam appear on the glass as the foam slowly melts into a thick puddle on the surface of the beer.

All of the proper style elements are present and accounted for in the nose. Hops aren't overly prominent; not surprising given the three years that have passed since bottling. The aroma is nicely fruity with a fairly typical 'cherries soaked in Cherry Herring' vibe. There's quite a bit of caramel and brown sugar too, but almost nothing in the way of darker aromas. If it tastes like it smells, we're in business.

It does. The first thing that occurs to me (after, 'boy this is good') is that this beer is showing its age. That leads to a whole lot more positives than negatives in this particular case. The only negative is a lack of slap-you-silly power, in particular, that fresh hoppy bite that I love so much. Not a big deal; especially since I'm not sure that it was present immediately after bottling anyway.

The main positive is a mellowness that one doesn't often experience in a 10.0% ABV beer. I'll sacrifice a little tongue abuse (on occasion) for this degree of easy drinking civility. That's not to say that the double-digit ABV won't still sneak up and sucker punch those who aren't paying attention.

The flavor profile doesn't differ too much from the nasal profile. It's still cherry-dominant with only a little of that cough medicine character that some versions have in spades. There's also a citrus fruitiness (oranges more than lemons) that one doesn't often taste in beer of this style. This may not be the most complex barleywine on the block, but it is tastes good and that's all that matters.

I was hoping that the body would firm up a tad with warming... and it has. It's lightly creamy rather than heavily creamy and is inching into 'chewy' territory. I'd like a bit more fullness, but then I always do. This is a lovely little sipper and would be great to introduce any who are interested to the style. I can't believe that too many of the Tenth Anniversary bottles are still knocking about though.

Don't ever doubt the ability of Utah's brewers to overcome the limitations placed on them by the state legislature. This 2003 bottling of Uinta Anniversary Barley Wine is ripe for the picking if you have one (or more) stowed away and is a testament to the talent present at the best little brewery in the Beehive State.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2006 16:37:42 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had recieved this one as an extra from a kind trader before I realzed we now carry this locally. No matter though it was a solid beer all around. Used this one as a nightcap and served it at cellar temp. Consumed on 01/17/2009.

The pour was nice. Rich caramel in color with light reddish tints to it. Small head of white rises up from the bottom to cap off the top of it rather nicely, no active carbonation that I could see either.

The aroma was very sweet, with lots of carmael and hints of bready malts. SOme light diffused hoppiness in it as well, but nothing that was terribly overpowering. Light alcohol notes were hiding underneath as well. The flavor was more of the same, light alcohol, some light piney hops and a touch of carmel and toffee. Nothing really huge here at all, but on the same token nothing really bad either. Smooth, mellow carbonation and a full body, this was a very nice above average barley wine.

Overall while I have certainly had better, I have certainly had worse as well. I would have no problem at all with putting a couple bottles down in the cellar, and at 2 bucks a bottle not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2009 16:32:26 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from the XVII Anniversary release.

A: The beer pours almost mahogany in color with a nice big off-white head and sticky lacing.

S: A nice bit of citrus hop aroma, particularly grapefruit and grapefruit peel. There is a big floral note to it as well. Toffee, molasses, and brown sugar provide a nice sweetness to the beer.

T: Plenty of brown sugar, molasses, and toffee sweetness to provide this beer with a nice base. The hops are a very nice accent to it all and there is a solid bitterness and perfumey hop flavor.

M: Medium in body with a medium carbonation. Sort of creamy on the tongue.

O: This was a pretty solid barleywine. Really easy to drink and a solid flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 04:42:04 | More by womencantsail

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear, reddish-brown body with a tiny, off-white head.

Smell: Caramel malts with a handful of toasted breadcrusts and a pine resin hop scent. A bit of booze lurking in there as well.

Taste: Sweetish caramel malts arrives with a bitter, resinous hop hit of pine. Slight cherry fruitiness underneath. As with the aroma, the abv is apparent. Tangy, bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Not a top tier barleywine. I, for one, could use a heft of malt and body.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2008 01:17:52 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(11th Anniversary, brewed: 2004; tasted 8/23/08)

Appearance: Pours a cloudy dark amber color with very little head (but what would you expect from a four year old barleywine); leaves the tiniest dots and shards of lace I have ever seen, however

Smell: Rich bitter, caramel (almost like caramel with angostura bitters)

Taste: Opens with a big malt bill that grows increasingly bitter in the angostura direction by mid-palate; after the swallow, the flavors continue, with a slightly grassier edge, but linger for a lengthy finish

Mouthfeel: Full body with low to moderate carbonation

Drinkability: The beer has held up well over its four years and provides a nice, complex take on a barleywine; the hops have settled down and the alcohol has mellowed

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2008 21:32:39 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled on 3/22/11, so a little over 4 months on this one.

Pours a semi-clear dark copper-amber color with a 1 inch khaki head that fades to a thin cap. Thick foamy rings of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, caramel/toffee, brown sugar, and citrus zest hops. Taste is of toasty malt, caramelized brown sugar, and citrus zest. There is a mild hop bitterness on the tongue after each sip and a slight alcohol burn in the back of the throat. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a creamy and slightly thick mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good barleywine with a big hop flavor and my first beer from Uinta.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 05:26:26 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep clear burgundy color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of piney hops with some sweet malt. Taste is a very well balanced mix between some piney and somewhat citrus hops and a sweet malt base that is not overly sweet. Body is full with good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. Very well done with great balance and very good drinkability factor.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2009 01:50:27 | More by Phyl21ca

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

"XV"
The "XV" is noticably smoother and more rounded & focused than the previous "X" I'd tasted (see below). I find it a bit more citrusy in the hops, and less piney (which I personally prefer). It's not as malty, but it's also not as joltingly bitter; and although I'd cellared the "X" for two years, this actually seemed far more refined with just a half-year on it. The appearance is also better, and it leaves more lace, so I've bumped it a half-point there; and I think it also deserves another half-point in drinkability. REALLY NICELY DONE! Perhaps one of the best American barleywines on the market today. Superb!

"X" Tenth Anniversary.... cellared for 2 years. 10.0% abv.

The initial pour from a longstanding bottle delivers a clear ruby-mahogany body beneath a creamy tan head that holds well and leaves some very nice lace throughout almost the entire glass.

The nose is sweet with sugar-cookie dough, brown sugar, berries, and pine. The components work well together, but also stand out on their own quite readily. Very nice!

In the mouth it's quite creamy without being overly dextrinous or full bodied, and it passes so smoothly that you barely notice it.

The flavor delivers a combination of raspy pine, juicy fruitiness (sweet red berries, juicy dark skinned fruit, orange), sweet malts (caramel, brown sugar, cookie-dough, biscuit), and a delicate note of alcohol that appears at the swallow. A bold bitterness intervenes halfway, and in combination with its resiny, piney hops, leads to a long-lingering, dry and bitter finish.

Perhaps a bit more age may soften the intensity of the piney hops, but I think not. Otherwise it's a really well rounded, soft barleywine that's a joy to drink; and in fact, at times the contrast of the raspy hops to the rounded sweet malt is quite nice. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2005 04:38:58 | More by NeroFiddled

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is very dark reddish brown in color (black when viewed from afar) and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin but dense tan head that quickly died down leaving lacing on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of citrusy hops in the nose plus notes of caramel and toffee from the malts. These become more balanced as it warms up.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has a moderate amount of bitterness from the hops and especially lingers through the finish. The malty flavors become stronger as the beer warms up.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a very hoppy and bitter barleywine—something that hopheads could enjoy (especially if they drink it cold). If you are looking for something with more complexity you need to let this one fully warm up to let the malty flavors develop a little more. The alcohol isn't that noticeable in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 02:34:13 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

14th Anniversary Release, Bottled December 2007; Sampled July 2008
A vigorous pour into my New Belgium globe glass produces an almost three-finger thick, amber tinged, lightly browned, dark tan colored head. The beer is a very dark amber / brown color that shows a brilliantly clear, striking cranberry color when held up to the light. The aroma is sticky with hop notes of candied citrus, lychee, candied pine needles, some harder pine sap notes and a solid herbal backdrop. The dominant hop aromatics are supported by a sticky malt base that is quite caramelized, has some rich toasty notes and ample biscuit aromatics. The aroma is quite nice and I am definitely enjoying the sticky hop notes. While hop focused, this is not nearly as hop dominated as a Bigfoot of this age is, there is quite a bit more malt character here.

Spicy hop flavors mix with ample toasty malt notes. Seems a touch more malt focused than the aroma, but it is still leans more to the hop side of the spectrum at this point; this should get quite malty as it ages out. Lots of bitterness from the get go, towards the finish this even gets a little astringent in its bitterness with green, almost tannic, hop influences. Not quite as rich as one would expect from a beer of 10% abv; it has a medium thickness to it with a soft creamy viscousness; actually the sharp hop bitterness really cuts through the body quite a bit. In the end, somehow, this manages to seem a bit thin. This does have a nice malt character to it though; lots of toasty, almost brown malt flavors, dark bread notes and some caramelized berry flavors.

I really like the aroma of this beer and I think that it will age quite gracefully, but it is just too harshly bitter to be really enjoyable right now. Give this at least two years and this should be tasting quite nice (thankfully I was sent two bottles of this). This is definitely a beer to lay down, in fact I would guess the Brewer brewed this with that intent; so hold on to those Fourteens for a bit.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2008 04:43:08 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Acquired via trade from Wasatch, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass. Thirteenth Anniversary Barley Wine with bottled on date of 01/03/07 printed on the label.

A: The beer is a light reddish brown color with a thin off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is mostly of hops, almost to the degree of an IPA along with brown sugar, caramelized malt and some dark fruit.

T: The taste has a good complexity to it. It starts out with a decent hops bite and then some sweetness comes in with flavors of brown sugar & dark fruits. The malt character is on the thin side for the style, but it’s not a bad thing. There’s an alcoholic sting that comes in, but it’s not as strong as it could be given the fact that the beer isn’t as heavy as most beers with ABV pushing double figures. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and a little sweet.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, slightly sticky finish.

D: Very tasty, not very filling, strong kick, very good representation of style, when I first started drinking it, the beer seemed like a sipper, but as I continued to drink it, I found myself drinking it quicker and quicker, which is pretty dangerous for a beer with such a high ABV. Overall, I thought it was a very good beer and enjoyed it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2007 03:33:22 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Drank on 4-17-09. This brew poured out as a brown color with some light orange highlights. The head didn't really stick around too long here. The smell of the beer has is typical barley and malt aromas and possibly some subtle fig on the nose. The taste of the beer has a light sweetness to it. The mouthfeel was medium. Overall I wasn't getting too much from this that made it so special. It's a decent barley wine at best in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 02:22:59 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

2.93/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

XIII vintage. This bottle is courtesy of Ddarden. Bottled on 11/09/06

Pours walnut with 2 fingers of rocky sand colored head. Great head retention & good lacing

S: Breadyness & fruittyness (raisins & dates)

T: Breadyness, plums & booze up front. Dryness, hop tea, baker's chocolate & alcohol burn follow as this warms. Coarse piney hops, ddates, dryness & a persistent alcohol burn

MF: Medium bodied. oily, with low carbonation.

This 10.4 abv barley wine drinks like it, not exactly going down like water. Too much alcohol burn, had potential. My 2nd beer from utah, I won't give up on them yet. Maybe lay this down 18 months & try again if your sitting on some...

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2007 03:52:51 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle, bottled 3/22/11, Anniversary XVII,

A: Pours a deep mahogany with a long-lasting off-white head, good head retention, spotty lace.

S: Dominated by pine, cedar, a bit one-dimensional.

T: The flavour brings the malt out to play, strong dark bread, with a lot of hops. Pine dominated again with white grapefruit. Good flavour, but could mellow out a bit.

M: Full-bodied, smooth, never cloying which is a plus in a barleywine.

O: This isn't even a month old, super super young, it needs time to coalesce. Buy now, drink later.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 08:27:09 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: pours a cloudy brown color with a 1/4" head that breaks down quickly. No lace develops.

Smell: malt sweetness is soft and all you can detect.

Taste: malt sweetness, prunes, some earthy qualities, some citrus tones, and a decent bitterness make up a rather dull barleywine. Alcohol is warming.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Smooth throughout. Long aftertaste as alcohol and malt sweetness dominate.

Drinkability: so-so at best. There are better American versions on the market.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2010 19:47:08 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

13th Anniversary edition:

Pours dark mahogany with a thick, off-white foamy head that slowly descends.

The smell is of prunes, dates, and figs with sweet caramel. Slightly vinuous.

The taste is of dark fruits as listed in aroma and caramel. Very malty. As it progresses, some earthy hops offset some of the sweetness. Peppery alcohol is certainly present, but never overwhelms.

Thins a bit, but holds on. Alcohol kicks in in the aftertaste and lingers.

Well, it sure is a sipper. As it warmed to room temperature, it became a bit tough, but I put it back in the fridge for a just a bit, and that worked. Bottom line - a nice "sipping" brew.

My thanks go out to bitterbill for including this one! Thanks Bill!

Thanks to Wasatch for sending me the 14th Anniversary. I bumped up the scores half a notch for mouthfeel and drinkability because body seemed richer and alcohol was very restrained.

Complex maltiness of toffee/caramel turning towards chocolate with a nice hoppy, fruity backing. Good stuff - Thanks John!

Thanks again to Wasatch for sending me the XV Anniversary. As I remembered the XIV - a very nice Barleywine. Not quite as fruity, a bit more herbal. Thanks, John!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2007 14:10:36 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 12 oz bottle of the Thirteen Anniversary (XIII) courtesy of Wasatch.

A: The barleywine is a dark ruby red color, intensely dark and resembling mahogany. A small white band around the edge of the glass is all that remains from a finger of tan-white foam.

S: Lots of malts and, surprisingly, still a strong hop profile (I've had the beer for about a year). The thick grains has molasses and ripe fruits driving it.

T: Thick grainy malts drive this beer. Green ripe fruits and brown sugar create a semi-sweet taste that retains a strong bite. Hops are still intense, bitter even through all of the malts. The year plus in the cellar has taken some of the edge of the barleywine, settled down the hoppiness and rounded out the malts. The barleywine is not transcendant but it was a good drink nonetheless.

M: The barleywine is big, strong on flavor without blinding me with its strength. The result is an accessible barleywine with has the punch.

D: At just under 10%, this is no pounder. One bottle is not quite enough but it is all I've got. If you have some extras, lay a few down as they do nicely with a few years under their belt.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2008 23:31:25 | More by akorsak

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I do believe this makes it state #32 for me.

Brewed on 8/29/08. 15th anniversary edition.

Pours a clear but very dark brown that let's quite a bit of a ruby hue show. Airy alcohol nose with faint malts. Flavor delivers a slight touch of alcohol on a slight fruity malty base. Smooth overall but the alcohol bites a bit. Feel is a bit slick on liquid and the carbonation is low. Easy to drink, but not displaying any great complexities at this time.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2008 20:45:04 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a deep reddish amber with good carbonation and a tannish head. Nose is caramel, brown sugar, hop bitterness. Taste is caramel upfront with some sugar and hop bitterness coming on at the end. Malt body is good but good have bee a bit more. ABV is well hidden. Tasty for sure. Good bwine.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2009 04:17:02 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

XVI version: Pours deep brown amber, like dirty copper. Modest but thick light beige head. Leaves a continuous ring of lace after every sip.

From a distance, I smelled perfume. As I brought my nose closer, brown sugar and sweet malt came through. Up close, solid floral hop aroma. Great balance.

Could be a strong brown ale; could be a high-hopped barley wine; could even be a sweet porter. It has elements of all three. Again, superb balance with a multitude of flavors coming through--none of them dictating the flavor. Crystal malt up front, mild alcohol warmth, biting hop aftertaste. Heavy, almost buttery body with plenty of carbonation.

A superb beer that is worth seeking out. A complete surprise when compared to the other Uinta offerings.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2009 01:35:59 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

XVII 2010 Vintage
Bottled on 11/23/10

Poured into a chalice a very nice clean/clear dark grape color, nice carbonation, very nice little thick/creamy off-white head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing behind, and a big oil slick in the middle of the glass. The nose is malty, with some hop notes, some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet and malty with a nice hop/caramel bite in the finish. Medium body, warms the body nicely, a nice sipper. Very drinkable, again this brew is delicioius, a very nice barleywine.

Revisted: XII 2005 Vintage
Bottled 2005
Enjoyed 22 Nov 10

Pours a very nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, with a little fizzy off-white head, which leaves a very big oil slick. The nose is malty, with some hops still there, slight spiceyness, and caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, with some hop notes, some spice, and caramel. Medium body. Very Drinkable, WOW! with 5 years on this bottle it still is very nice.

Revisted: XV 2008 Vintage
Bottled on 05/16/08
Enjoyed 30 Jul 10

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, Not much of a head on this one, which only leaves some nice oil slicks behind. Scents of malts, hops, some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet and malty with some hop notes. Medium body, this one is kinda on the watery side. Drinkable, but not as tasty as other aged one's. I'm a bit disappointed.

Revisted: XIV 2007 Vintage
Bottled 12/12/07
Enjoyed 24 Jul 10

Pours a very nice dark brownish/grapy color, nice carbonation, with a nice little fizzy/creamy off-white head, with minimal sticky lacy left behind. The nose is malty, with some hops still there, grapy notes, slight spiceyness, and caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, with some hop notes, some spice, nice grape note, and caramel. Medium body. Very Drinkable, WOW! with about 2.5 years on this bottle it still is very nice.

Revisted: XIII 2006 Vintage
Bottled 11/09/06
Enjoyed 1 May 10

Pours a very nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, with a little fizzy off-white head, which leaves a very big oil slick. The nose is malty, with some hops still there, slight spiceyness, and caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, with some hop notes, some spice, and caramel. Medium body. Very Drinkable, WOW! with about 3.5 years on this bottle it still is very nice, definitely not as hot when fresh.

XVI 2009 Vintage
Bottled on 02/20/09

Pours a very nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, very nice little thick/creamy off-white head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, with some nice hop notes, some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet and malty with a nice hop/caramel bite in the finish. Medium body, warms the body nicely, a sipper for sure. Very drinkable, again this brew is delicioius, a very nice barleywine. I believe to date, this has got to be the best one I've had fresh, well with not a year or more of cellaring.

XV 2008 Vintage
Bottled on 05/16/08

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, Very nice little fizzy white head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing behind. Scents of malts, hops, some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet and malty with a nice hop/caramel bite in the finish. Medium body, warms the body nicely. Very drinkable, again this brew is delicioius, a very nice barleywine.

XIV 2007 Vintage
Bottled on 07/10/07

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, Very nice one-finger plus creamy/foamy off-white head, which leaves some very nice sticky lacing behind. Scents of malts, hops, some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet and malty with a nice hop/caramel bite in the finish. Medium body. Very drinkable, putting a year on this one made it very tasty and highly recommended.

XIII 2006 Vintage
Bottled on 11/09/06

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, head disappears quickly, not much lacing afterwards. Scents of malts, hops, some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet and malty with a nice hop/caramel bite in the finish. Medium body. Very drinkable.

XII 2005 Vintage

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, head disappears quickly, not much lacing afterwards. Scents of malts, hops, some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet and malty with a nice hop/caramel bite in the finish. Medium body. Very drinkable.

XI 2004 Vintage

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, head disappears quickly, not much lacing afterwards. Scents of malts, hops, some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet and malty with a nice hop/caramel bite in the finish. Medium body. Very drinkable, this is a pretty decent barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2006 22:07:47 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a one finger light brown head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Cloudy amber color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Caramel nose. Flavor is sweet but balanced, hops hit right at finish with hints of the high ABV. Lingering bitter after taste. $1.95 for 12th anniversary, 12oz bottle from Utah DABC Salt Lake City, UT.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2007 22:47:38 | More by jdhilt

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is their XV (Fifteenth) Anniversary edition at 10.4% ABV bottled on "8/29/08", so this little number (12 ounceer) has been in the bottle for a total of about 3 weeks! Yikes, FRESH barley wine, not sure how I should feel about that...anyway lightly cooled and into a tulip glass, this one pours a rich, glowing dark, dark shade of honey amber, clear, equally thick and rich dark tan head, that leaves plenty of coating and scattered lace. Nose of gobs of malt, bready sweetness and resiny hops in the rear. First impression of this fresh and young brew is "wow" big and bold, smooth on the tongue, goes down easy. Big smooth malts, nicely balanced by more resinous hops on the back of the mouth. This one is drinking great right now and I would assume it will only improve with some time in the bottle. My first try of any of the Uinta line (how does one pronounce that anyway?) which have just made on shore in the NYC area.I'm impressed, well worth a try now or in a few months on one of those cold winter nights.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2008 13:55:06 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 11/4/11 so nice and fresh

light fizzy head fades very quickly, over auburn molasses ruby colored beer with surprisingly clear ruby light coming through the dark beer.

nose is nice, loaded with caramel, toffee, light molasses and brown sugar, hints of cocoa, dark fruits like brandy soaked raisins, fig, lots of soft brown malts and semi sweet malty aromas with a hint of booze, then light earthy hops way in the background. A light brandy like fruity booze also present.

Taste comes semi sweet, complex barleywine. Earthy hops make their presence known right away, little salty earthy spicy hops bring a decent bitterness that grows. the hops and bitterness actually start to dominate. Aside from that soft brown malts, caramel, toffee, again dark fruits hint of fig juice and raisin, candy apple, light molasses and sweet brown sugar. Light sweetness and hint of warming booze. The flavors would be nice of the crazy astringent his didn't dominate this like a crazy triple ipa. Maybe some aging will help this. Finish is bitter and astringent, some sweet malts remain but mostly dry, and a bit sticky, and long lingering earthy salty spicy hops.

Mouth is a bit heavier bodied, decent carb, bit of warming booze.

Overall mixed, the nose is great, and the flavors would be great of they weren't drowned out by the crazy bitter astringent hops.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 03:53:21 | More by jlindros