Barrel Aged Old Ruffian - Great Divide Brewing Company

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Review #2000! The last of the surviving beers from my accident! Bottle #592 of 1188! Served from bottle into New Belgium globe. Poured a deep red brown with a minimal off-white head. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, caramel, vanilla, sweet alcohol, and wood. The flavor was of sweet malt, vanilla, wood, earth, caramel, brown sugar, and sweet alcohol. It had a light feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. Still a nice touch of booze going on in this one with a nice touch of vanilla to bring the barrel to life. The touch of vanilla really helped this beer out as without it, it could have been a complete disaster without it. Worth your time trying if you get the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 03:08:35 | More by thagr81us

spicelab

Australia

4.19/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Reviewed from dodgy tasting notes 28 Jan.

Deep mahogany with a decent beige head of good retention.

Abundant sharp woody toffee notes, mild dark fruits and good strawberry presence

Rich strawberry milk, earthy toffee and cherry ripe with edgy whisky notes booze and plastic muscle in hard, not quite to the extent of rendering it undrinkable.

Velevty, thick, smooth.

Great beer, only wish it'd been cracked earlier in the tasting.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 06:01:38 | More by spicelab

Treebs

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

750 ml bottle served in a Southern Tier tulip. 2012 vintage.

A: Pours a murky sienna color with a khaki head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thick ring that leaves some splotchy lace down the glass.

S: Whiskey barrel upfront with some caramel and dark fruits. Chocolate covered raisins with a sweet malt bill.

T: More dark fruits with a whiskey barrel sweetness. Oak barrel, brown sugar with a nice roasted malt backing. The whiskey comes back with a sharp zing on the finish, but there's enough sweetness to balance it out.

M: Medium heavy bodied with a smooth mouthfeel. Medium low carbonation level.

O: I definitely enjoyed this one. The whiskey bite is sharp, but the booze is well hidden and it isn't hot at all.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 15:26:21 | More by Treebs

sweemzander

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 3

750mL bottle poured into a snifter. 2009 vintage. Bottle #535/1188

(A)- Pours quite flat sadly. Some tan bubbles, but kind of murky too overall. Poured a murky and muddy mahogany color.

(S)- Subtle hints at booze soaked raisin and caramel. Bits of oak and subtle spice, but otherwise is very muted due to how flat this really is.

(T)- Disappointing due to its complete lack of carbonation, but its saving grace is that it does have some nice oak and caramel in the aftertaste.

(M)- Flat as a pancake carbonation-wise. It does have some nice oak and sweetness to it, but overall becomes so muted due to its lack of carbonation. I have had my share of flat beers, but in this instance, it really killed this beer; needed it badly.

(O)- A rather large disappointment for me especially since I was looking forward to trying this one for quite a few years now since its base beer was one of my first favorite barleywines as I was getting into the beer scene.
Again, there are some nice qualities about it that are just unfortunately lost in is flat, murky depths.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 21:51:34 | More by sweemzander

tectactoe

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark, burnt brown and tan color with a nicely crafted tan head, fine-bubbled and lasting for half the pour. Boozy and sweet aroma up front, full of big-time oak notes. Luckily, this one doesn't smell infected like the batches of BA Yeti... Some more sweetness is apparent on the nose, vanilla-ish and warm, alcoholic molasses. I haven't had the original Old Ruffian to compare to (I have a 2010 release in my cellar, no idea when I'll finally drink it). Some dark fruits on the nose as well, typically barleywine aromas abound.

Taste follows right along, starting off with a caramel, molasses, and toffee under-body, moderately sweet and delicate. Along comes a powerful and very sweet, toasted brown sugar flavor, hitting the taste buds pretty hard. Dark fruits become more noticeable eventually; grapes, raisins, prunes, black cherries - all soaked in booze and coated in sugar. The booze is a little heavier in the aroma than it is on the palate, and it doesn't carry as strong of a bourbon feel as it did before, either. The oak is as powerful as ever, however, along with a mild vanilla and cinnamon spice. The finish is full of more boozy raisins and dates atop a sturdy, oak filled platform. A touch syrupy, silky and smooth on the palate with a lower-end amount of carbonation.

Definitely very drinkable for 12.7% ABV - sweet but not too sweet, with nice oak components, apparent from the barrel aging. I'll have pop the Old Ruffian soon to see how it compares.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 19:10:07 | More by tectactoe

oline73

Maryland

3.18/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2009 bottle poured into a tasting snifter.

Pours a red amber color with hardly any head at all. The smell is sweet and malty with just a touch of hops and alcohol. This definitely tastes like it has some age on it. The barrel characteristics have smoothed, but the bitterness level is still quite high. The sweet malt overtakes the bitter in the beginning of the sip, but the bitterness crushes the finish. The body is too thin with no carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 14:02:37 | More by oline73

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.58/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. 2011, I think. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Murky red. Cloudy with a few bubbles. Not an attractive beer.

Smell - Awesome oak bourbon flavor. Still has a hop presence. A ton of brown sugar and a little oxidation.

Taste - Incredibly strong brown sugar. Bourbon and oak. Rich caramel and raisins. Minimal hop presence in the flavor. Superb.

Mouthfeel - Delicious, but heavy. Just enough hop to keep it on the American side of barleywines.

Overall - Incredible. I'd like more barrel, but this is one immense barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 22:38:16 | More by Alieniloquium

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into snifter

A-Cloudy ruby hue with a small amount of head and little to no lacing

S-As with the other BA Great Divide Brews this one is really barrel forward. Boozy vanilla and oak with some dark fruits, toffee, caramel and maybe a hint of deep roasted barley.

T-Whiskey forward, vanilla and toffee with a nice cereal sweetness, caramel, oak and light raisins. Really well integrated and polished for a big BA beer.

M-Viscous and coating in all the right ways

O-This is my favorite of the BA Great Divide beers (having not had the BA Claymore). It comes across like Stranahan's and Old Ruffian have enough common flavors in their profile to really mesh well, accentuating the toffee and caramell with an oaky vanilla hint. Really well done, worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 17:22:56 | More by MinorThreat

CruisaC

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011, bottle 2428

750 ml bottle poured into my Newport Storm tulip

Out of the gate a dark brown with an inch of khaki head. Initially probably a little cold so the first smell is some sharp oak, whiskey and raisins. As it warms the aromas blend into a better combination. Taste is similar, with raisin, sweet malt, some hops, whiskey and oak. I wonder how bourbon barrels would work with the base beer? Good amount of carbonation, not too sticky, not much alcohol burn. Overall, an above average BBal barleywine. Glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 02:36:38 | More by CruisaC

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml, 2011 #1943
Hill Farmstead wine glass

A: Pours out a nice, clean deep amber color. Not getting tons of light through, but some. Still get good carbonation, even at that high ABV. Definitely seeing some alcohol feet.

S: Pulling lots of that bourbon still, even after a year. Lots of vanilla and oak from the booze. Sticky toffee pudding. Caramel. Dark booze soaked fruits. Some leather.

T: Flavor follows the nose, getting delicious toffee flavors. Really nice blend of booze, barrel, and beer. Getting that vanilla and oak for sure. Not overpowering, so the year helped. As it warms, you really get more of that caramel and toffee and dark fruit. Long finish on this one. Like others have said, easy to drink but certainly one to savor over time as it changes with warmth.

M: Full bodied. But not overly thick.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 16:33:57 | More by inlimbo77

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 25.4oz bottle split with some friends.

Into the glass, BA Ruffian comes out a pretty dark shade of brown with some lighter shades towards the sides. A nice half inch of tan foam that dwindles very quick, still looking beer after a bit.

This is a str8 up Barleywine with the hop scent from fresh bottles faded in this BA version. Still, a decent amount of hop scent that I normally don't find in BA'ed beers. Under that, brilliant caramel malt, toffee, plum, dark fruit and a pleasant whiskey scent. Nice hits of oak and vanilla, Smells like a winner.

BA Old Ruffian is much more complex in taste than smell The hops are nice and there but not as resinous as a fresh bottle, I cant imagine what this was fresh. Caramel, Toffee, plum, dark fruit, chocolate, whiskey tones, these all integrate with grace as it warms up.

Feel is above medium, sticky, coating, and pretty well carbed. Alcohol seeps on the tounge a bit, that's the only downfall but that's something a few years can handle.

I drank a healthy amount of the bottle and wanted more. Very drinkable now with age, but a few more years cant hurt, sans a little oxidation. A slow sipper, something to read a book by the fire with.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 10:35:06 | More by onix1agr

Jeffo

Netherlands

3/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Got this one from BOLTZ9555 in a trade a while back. Cheers for the fun box of beer man!

From a 750ml into a snifter
Vintage: 2011
Bottle 1,574
IBU: 85-90
Aged 9 months in Stranahan whisky barrels

Note: Drank this one right after the base beer. Comparisons drawn.

APPEARANCE: Pours a looser, two finger, off-white or cream colored head with decent retention. A little too loose really, much like the base beer. Body is darker in color, looking more deep mahogony or maroon red, and is clear with higher levels of carbonation. Head slowsly fades to a good foam cap and sticks to the sides, but only a splotchy wisp remains until the end and leaves no real lacing down the glass. Darker in color than the base.

SMELL: Lots of whisky, toffee and caramel on the nose intially, with plenty of oak, vanilla and whisky barrel for sure. Light milk chocolate and a slight tatness with dark fruits actually. This is quite big and barrel heavy, though the barrel is quite nice.

TASTE: Very flavorful for sure. Toffee and caramel with dark fruits up front. Lots of whisky and oak, with a hefty dose of alcohol at the swallow. Huge, boozy and lingering finish of barrel and oak, toffee sweetness, milk chocolate notes and a touch of bitterness as well. Barrel flavors are pretty big, but the toffee and light bitter notes from the base beer still show through. The booze is a little much, however.

PALATE: Lighter and thinner body, especially when compared to the base beer. Light on the palate, somewhat fizzy and not creamy enough either. Goes down with a burn and finishes slightly sticky. Lots of heat lingers. This is quite challenging and much harsher than the base beer. Disappointing here.

OVERALL: This is big, complex and interesting, though the heavy booze quality and the thin, harsh feel make it quite challengind. Although Great Divide is an excellent brewery and their regular Old Ruffian is good stuff, I'd seek a different barrel aged barleywine if I were looking for this style. I'd gladly try an older bottle or a new vintage of this when it comes out, but I didn't find the 2011 is not enjoyable enough at this point to go looking for another one. Cheers again for the trade BOLTZ9555. Always a pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 13:46:39 | More by Jeffo

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: part of a Nov. '12 bottle share.
Thanks to the BAer who brought this one out!

Dark amber-garnet pour, cloudy, with a thin foamy ringlet. Nice aroma of caramel and toffee, notes of dark fruit, bourbon barrel, and earthy hops. Mostly the same in the taste, malty, sweet, caramel, toffee, molasses, touches of plum, bourbon and some hop bitterness in the finish. Full-medium body, pretty smooth...I think this was a 2011 vintage, and any heavy booziness had definitely mellowed by the time of the tasting, making this quite good overall. Second best barleywine of the night I'd say (behind MoAS, which is still one of my favorite beers).

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 02:06:37 | More by Rifugium

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Quite a remarkable barrel aged barleywine

Presentation: 750 ml brown capped bottle with a black top foil. Recurrent retro, if somewhat simpler even maybe more elegant than the regular line up label design around over a burgundy background. Short descriptive narrative noting the main ingredients, and intent of the ale. Displays bottling number 0682, recommended food pairings, and 11.8% Alc. by Vol. Poured into a Great Divide snifter.

A - Clear deep amber-crimson pour, rich 1/2" creamy head, medium retention, good surface memory and lacing.

S - Fruity whiskey nose with plenty of wood. Caramel and grapefruit…Complex notes of vanilla and grains linger. Quite the nose.

T - The palate follows with dexterity, if maybe with a tad less subtlety which it makes for in assertive character. Barrel and whiskey with complex malty notes, plenty of caramel, fruity notes, dash of resin... Boozy dash.

M - Medium to medium-full body with soft carbonation, and a nice syrupy smoothness in the finish. Alcohol a bit prominent although with a nice sense of self. Great flow for a couple of servings… Borderline cloying but never quite making it there.

O - Delightful sipper, it surely makes for a memorable drinking experience.

Notes: Where Old Ruffian made for a good US Barley Wine the barrel aged version makes for an outstanding experience. Bottle with 8 or 9 months on it, and it feels assertive with some nice roundness.. It could do with some extra aging. Bottle picked up on my visit to Denver, and wishing I had traveled back with two more. Whiny about the distribution pulling out of DC a year or two ago...

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 18:35:43 | More by Daniellobo

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.58/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle #2374. 2012 vintage. 750ml bottle poured into a Founders snifter.

.5 finger fine, light brown head with little retention. Beer is a cloudy, dark brown. Lacing is stringy and spotty with good cling. Thin oily legs round this one out nicely.

Nose is boozy. Hints of caramel, brown sugar, molasses, and green raisins. Solid.

Opens sweet, boozy and sappy. Caramel, brown sugar, anise, and green raisins. Warm boozy overtones throughout. End is brown sugar and molasses with a very sweet aftertaste. Still a bit hot at this point, hiding some nice nuances in this one. Still decent though.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and warm in the mouth and goes down boozy and hot. Finishes messy with a long, lingering finish. Very good.

A decent beer overall but at this point, this one still needs a bit of time. Nice complexities lurk underneath the booze but the barrel presence covers a lot right now. I'd love to revisit this one in a year or so.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 20:38:38 | More by SpeedwayJim

SaintBenedict

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage. 750ml bottle, #1538.

After peeling back the foil wrap from the cap, it looked as though the ol' man had grown a little anxious and began seeping out. There was also a fair amount of sticky residue, and what appeared to be a little rust on the cap. Alas, I feared that the bottle had likely gone flat—not a particularly encouraging prospect, especially considering the $26 price tag. However, instead of returning it, I decided to forge ahead.

Luckily, the risk proved well worth it as I was greeted by a reassuring release of CO2 and a thick, tall foamy off-white head. The beer pours a deep chestnut brown with a heart of vermillion and burnt tangerine edges.

The bready sweet malt-laden nose is predictably complex for the style, with plenty of dark juicy stone (think cherry and plum), as well as dried fruits like plump raisins, sticky dates and ripe figs. The barrel aging reveals notes of whiskey, wood, faint chocolate, molasses, black licorice, touches of star anise and notes of herbal black tea leaf.

On the palate, BA Ruffian is tangy, sweet and malty, with boozy flavors of macerated spice-studded orange citrus rind (or is that tangerine?), along with hints of dark chocolate liqueur, more black strap molasses, fleshy ripe dark stone fruit and moist rum-soaked fruitcake. The finish exhibits a final zesty touch of dry bitterness.

This particular variant of Old Ruffian is medium-bodied with a fair amount of fine, prickly carbonation—which is surprising considering the style and size, not to mention the aforementioned suspicious-looking cap.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more rich and flavorful barleywine than Barrel Aged Old Ruffian. Despite its earthy wood aroma and molasses-dominated stone fruit flavor, the beer's whiskey barrel-aging remains evident—if a little distant.

Overall, Barrel Aged Old Ruffian is clearly an outstanding rendition of the style, perhaps even exceptional. However, for my tastes, it would need a touch more complexity, a fuller synthesis of flavors and clearly notable bourbon to truly put it over the top. Nevertheless, despite the steep price tag, I might be tempted to grab this one again.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 03:09:34 | More by SaintBenedict

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Treebs for this beauty!

A: cloudy brown to tan with varying thickness and a small layer of foam after the pour that stays well.

S: dominated by sweet malt and barrel character along with some fruity smells.

T: very interesting combination of barrel character along with a hefty amount of dark fruits. It's almost tart there is so much fruit flavor.

M: thick but well carbonated to create a feel that is heavy but never too heavy.

O: very good beer, but it's just a bit too dominated by the dark fruits in the taste. It also looks a bit gross, but overall it's really delicious. Happy I shared the bottle, but it's drinkable enough to want more immediately when you're done.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 00:19:35 | More by Holland

Duff27

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage, bottle #2686

Thin beige head on a murky copper body. Collar and cap. Sticky lacing, a swirl of the snifter leaves a cool effect.

Subdued but present whiskey notes. Juicy fruits...movin' me mayne.

Well balanced overall, everything about it...citrus-tinged hops, caramelly malts, boozy barrel aged finish. Fruitiness is off the chainz.

Medium-thick mouthfeel, medium carbonation.

Giving a bump for the great balance. Thanks for the share 4DAloveofSTOUT.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 02:04:29 | More by Duff27

merc7186

New York

3.43/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer poured from a bomber into a snifter glass.

A: Dark Amber Hue, Passes Mild Light, Off White Head Ring, Minimal Lacing

S: Mild Butterscotch, Mild Caramel, Mild Toffee

T: Caramel, Mild Butterscotch

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Sweet, Mildly Boozy

Overall, definitely not worth the price of admission for 35/bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 01:02:57 | More by merc7186

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml Bottle from 2011 - Thanks to pushkinwow

Appearance - Hazy copper/brown colour with a below average size fizzy/frothy off-white coloured head. Hard to make out the level of carbonation and there is some great lacing. The head lasted for only a short while.

Smell - Malts, dark fruits, butterscotch/caramel, whiskey, wood

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts mixed with some caramel/butterscotch. There is also a bit of a dark fruit taste and a woodiness mixed with whiskey. It ends with a malty dark fruit aftertaste with a lingering booziness.

Overall - A beer with some big bold flavours that is perfect for sharing. I think the bottle might have benefited from a bit more age to take the edge off the booze, but it was still quite smooth. A great beer that is well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 16:47:46 | More by spinrsx

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: Poured a bright copper color ale with a medium size head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of whiskey is nice end very enticing with nice balanced sweet malt notes. Taste is a great balance between some whiskey notes with dry grain notes and a solid malt backbone with sweet caramel and light toffee notes. Body is quite full with medium carbonation and no apparent alcohol. I really enjoyed this one which I find had great balance between whisky and malt.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 20:10:46 | More by Phyl21ca

joefuzz

New York

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours deep muddy brown with a decent sized mocha head. smells very sweet and malty with a little bit of the barrel. the malt bill is very apparent on the first sip with huge amounts of brown sugar and a maple syrup like taste that fades to a very nice chard whiskey barrel. mouthfeel is a little light and carbonation is on the higher side but in this case it works. overall i am very impressed with that way this beer turned out, just enough barrel presence to complement a already impressive beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 03:06:49 | More by joefuzz

sukwonee

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage, bottle# 2498

A: Dark brown body with 1 finger head with lots of lacing

S: Bourbon, vanilla,, caramel, brown sugar, malt

T: Bourbon does not overpower, but it certainly adds complexity. Oak, vanilla, caramel malt, brown sugar, some dark fruits, very nicely balanced. Not much hops noted. Not too sweet but alcohol is pretty well hidden.

M: Perfect amount of carbonation, medium-to-thick body, not too syrupy. Slight alcohol burn.

O: This beer is amazing and yet quite underrated, imo. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 00:17:20 | More by sukwonee

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to daniloknezic for trading me this bottle! Thanks Don!!!

reviewed from noted taken 8/15/12.

2011 vintage poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: copper hued brownish colored beer with a 2 fingers of off white colored head. Beer leaves a curtain of lace on the side of the glass. Very nice!

Smell: This is a really balanced nose. Big malt profile and hops that balance the beer quite nicely. Barrel notes are quite noticable, but they are mellow. Whiskey, oak, and vanilla. Malt profile is dark fruits, caramel, and toffee. Hops are grass, pine and grapefruit.

Taste: This beer has the perfect amount of sweetness. Not too sweet, but just right. Caramel, sweet bread, toffee, vanilla, oak, whiskey, grapefruits, earth and some dark fruits. Surprisingly, I get a touch of spiciness like cinnamin or all spice. Finishes with a whiskey note that is just stellar.

Mouthfeel: at the high end of a medium bodied beer. Moderate carbonation. This beer fantastic carbonation levels, really well done. This beer is creamy, smooth, and rediculiously drinkable for a beer aged in whiskey barrels for 9 months. Not a hint of booze just a little warming sensation.

Overall: Old ruffian was my first American barleywine that I liked. When that beer goes into barrels amazing things happen. It a fantastic base beer for barrel aging. This beer is the best American Barleywine that I have drank and reviewed in almost 500 beer reviews. There is nothing to dislike about this beer it is just so good. Its a nice complex beer with very well integrated barrel aging. Whats not too like? I honestly could drink a whole 750 myself... its just that fricking good. The boooze will sneek up on you so be careful, dangerously drinkable at almost 13%. Dont age this beer is drinking perfectly right now!

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 15:35:46 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

chugalug06

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Lovely, huge, four-finger, straw colored, head pours into my Duvel Tulip. Brew is Very clear deep blood red, lots of purples. Missing any lacing.

Tons of roasted vanilla and deep sugary caramel malts.

Smooth, buttery, and roasty. Nice light carbonation brings out the sugary flavors. Not overly sweet and zero bitterness. Slight acidic flavor came out at the very end. The flavors are spot on for a B-wine, the barrel just made them more enjoyable.

Highly recommended for many years to come! Age will do amazing things to this awesome brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 01:22:41 | More by chugalug06