Old Ruffian Barley Wine - Great Divide Brewing Company

StoneTSR

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a nice, homogeneous looking reddish brown with a thick white head on top.  It looks rich and sweet.

S: The nose is not terribly strong, but what is there tells the story of a malty and hoppy beverage to come.  

T: The Old Ruffian is surprisingly hoppy.  The malt is certainly there to balance it out, but the big, bitter hops push through and dominate.  I would almost prefer to classify this one as a triple IPA.  The malt, however, does push back one last time before the end of the sip, but as it heads down the hatch it gives way to a bitter aftertaste.  As the glass emptied and warmed the malt became more and more prominant, but this is still a hop show.

M: Unlike many other Barleywines I've had this is a nicely carbonated beer.  It is not oily, rather it has a little more sparkle to it.

O: As I mentioned above, the Old Ruffian seems more like a triple IPA than a Barleywine. Maybe there should be a small category in between the DIPA and the Barleywine for beer like this although I don't know what else would fit into it. Either way, this is a Barleywine for an IPA fan. I liked it, but I expect more bold flavor from the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 06:05:58 | More by StoneTSR

JJWIGHT

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-25-2013 13:19:27 | More by JJWIGHT

NickThePyro

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-25-2013 00:15:01 | More by NickThePyro

diehl07

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-24-2013 00:09:12 | More by diehl07

csfcmitchell

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-23-2013 15:51:31 | More by csfcmitchell

Callmecoon

California

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

05-23-2013 02:29:11 | More by Callmecoon

Yosefus

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-23-2013 01:20:07 | More by Yosefus

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-22-2013 01:21:59 | More by mikeincharleston

Burt

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-21-2013 22:41:25 | More by Burt

Busker

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-21-2013 18:11:25 | More by Busker

ericwa1154

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-20-2013 21:58:06 | More by ericwa1154

Gotti311

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-20-2013 21:19:46 | More by Gotti311

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-19-2013 17:05:52 | More by Whiskeydeez

cosmonick

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

05-19-2013 01:51:35 | More by cosmonick

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-18-2013 20:44:00 | More by Photekut

carlosega

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-17-2013 19:19:34 | More by carlosega

leftstagebrew

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-16-2013 14:57:58 | More by leftstagebrew

TheRuss9585

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

05-14-2013 00:35:46 | More by TheRuss9585

RWNay

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-13-2013 19:20:43 | More by RWNay

DCgolfpro

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -17.5%

05-13-2013 15:40:48 | More by DCgolfpro

FranzBC

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-13-2013 02:07:59 | More by FranzBC

IpaSipa

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-12-2013 22:49:04 | More by IpaSipa

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-12-2013 16:03:04 | More by ipas-for-life

HopHeadCnK

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

First time trying it having a 2012, 6 months old, next to a 2010. A sipper with only a few months on it, still has a significant hop profile, but once the IBU's diminish over time this stuff goes down real easy. Grab a few bottles and hide them for a few years. Great brew, cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:09:59 | More by HopHeadCnK

Rogorama

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-09-2013 00:44:43 | More by Rogorama