Mayflower Barley Wine - Mayflower Brewing Company

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a orange golden color with a decent off white head. the smell is sweet bourbon hints of oak vanilla and toffee. the flavor is a nice bourbon sweetness, vanilla oak, the mouthfeel is a little thinner than i would like and slightly to much carbonation. overal this is a solid barrel aged barleywine. if you have the chance its worth trying

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 21:28:17 | More by rowingbrewer

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +3.1%

04-29-2013 06:29:00 | More by Kelp

Jeffo

Netherlands

2.73/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Got this from bring a while back. Cheers for hanging out man!

From a bomber into a snifter
Aged in bourbon barrels for several months

APPEARANCE: Pours a two finger, medium-thick looking, off-white head with great retention. Murky copper or dark burnt orange with higher levels of carbonation evident. Head fades to a full cap but only a slight wisp remains leaving touches of lacing down the glass. Good looking.

SMELL: Bourbon barrel with oak, vanilla and alcohol. Toffee and some leather on the nose as well. Some white wine and green grapes in there as well, which is a little odd. Quite aromatic, though a little different than expected.

TASTE: Alcoholic and boozy for sure. Booze, oak, and white wine qualities up front with toffee, caramel sweetness, and a big alcohol punch at the swallow. Bourbon barrel puts some oak and a touch of vanilla in there, then some leather, white wine and booze linger after the swallow. Quite flavorful, though quite odd as well, with the wine flavors giving it a slight tartness. Not bad, but not quite my take on bourbon barrel aged barleywines.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Not overly creamy, goes down with a huge burn at the swallow finishes somewhat sticky. Harsh and boozy at the swallow with a big burn as well.

OVERALL: This is flavorful and interesting, but not really typical for the style. The white wine flavors make it slightly tart, and the bourbon barrel aging doesn't really give it that typical bourbon barrel quality either. This is also harsh, boozy and a huge alcohol bomb, making it difficult to enjoy. A decent beer, but not quite for me. Thanks again bring!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 13:00:59 | More by Jeffo

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

10-25-2012 02:58:11 | More by t0rin0

koopa

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Don't remember where I acquired this bomber...might have been during a trip to Boston or as an extra from a generous BA.

Appearance: Pours a dull cloudy auburn with minimal head and minimal lace.

Smell: Lots of sugar, caramel, booze, and a bit of fruitiness from the english yeast.

Taste: Same as the nose.

Mouthfeel: Thick side of medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall: Pretty stock English Barleywine with no standout quality whatsoever.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 00:17:45 | More by koopa

phishfoolme

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

09-13-2012 20:41:32 | More by phishfoolme

BostonHops

Massachusetts

2.83/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

bomber served in on oversized wineglass. (which, incidentally, is fast becoming my go-to glass.)

pours a deep, hazy copper color with about a finger of head that lingers for a while before giving way to a decent amount of lacing.

nose is very sweet and fruity with a little tartness and booze evident; vinous, all i can think about is a white wine. in the first sip i get some grape, apple, alcohol, and a notes of caramel and molasses. i wonder if mine was spiked with chardonnay. (suddenly the wineglass seems very appropriate.) thick, chewy mouthfeel; moderately carbed. the vinous characters don't seem to be a recurring theme in other reviews which leads me to speculate whether i landed an off bottle. going to have trouble finishing the bomber.

original reviewed on: 08-12-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 01:28:40 | More by BostonHops

nas5755

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Copper with a decent head that lingers with solid retention for a big and old beer(just shy of 2 years)

S- Roasted caramel, raisins, some tannins and vanilla.

T-Very interesting and complex. I get alot of apple brandy and cider notes mixed with the traditional barley-wine flavors, caramel, raisins, some oxidized malts and hops. Very nice.

M- The only flaw with this beer is the fusel heat on the finish and depending on my mood I either love it or hate it with big beers. Tonight it is sorta clawing at me as it is a bit harsh. Carbonation is on the lower end of the specturm.

Overall- This is a tasty beer, nice bal characters are present. I get a very big apple brandy flavors and some Utopia flavors blended in. Very nice beer.

At or near the peak, I can only see more oxidation coming into play.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:01:38 | More by nas5755

Moose34

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +16%

01-10-2012 13:11:36 | More by Moose34

McLaughlin5350

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +3.1%

11-30-2011 23:45:26 | More by McLaughlin5350

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

11-29-2011 04:37:54 | More by imperialking

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +3.1%

11-26-2011 23:46:12 | More by Rochefort10nh

11millsown113

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -22.7%

11-26-2011 03:19:27 | More by 11millsown113

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.1%

11-14-2011 18:29:27 | More by Exiled

eclipse54

Idaho

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A 22 ounce bottle I received from FluffyMcTingle a while back; thank you! Opened on my birthday back in May, and this is from notes taken then.

Body appears a hazy copper with golden hues near the edges of the glass; there is little retention on the tan had that develops. Smells of hazelnut, caramel, brown sugar, plum, date, and bourbon in the front followed by a very woody scent from the barrel. Tastes of bourbon, hazelnut, caramel, malt, and brown sugar. There is a strong wood/straw flavor throughout. Mouth is rather sweet, yet smooth with a dry finish. Overall, a great beer that I’d love to have again, especially with the same amount of time on the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 04:03:23 | More by eclipse54

seeswo

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy copper color with a small head. Looks a bit lighter than what I am used to, but not in a bad way. The nose is limited caramel malt, a touch of oak and vanilla, and a fair amount of fruit, like apricot and apple. When I sipped it, I think I accused it of being an applewine. Really, apple, apricot, reserved bourbon and caramel. This is a strange flavor for a barleywine, but it actually tastes really good. Mouthfeel is reasonable medium-low carbonation and sweet but not overly so. Overall, this is good, but like no English Barleywine I have had before. If they took this and aged it in apple brandy barrels, there is a chance they would end up with an amazing concoction. As is, this was very interesting to try and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 04:36:56 | More by seeswo

BigMcLargeHuge

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Courtesy of an amazing trader I've been lucky enough to encounter. Bomber pours deep clear copper with off white head. The aroma has an initial modest pulse of dark fruity esters and molasses but then quickly heads into bourbon, some oak and mild heat at the end of the draw. The taste is smooth and sweet with esters like apricot, pear and prune and then picking up caramel moving into fairly smooth bourbon and faint wood like notes. Smooth yummy brew that will only improve with cellar time.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 21:27:34 | More by BigMcLargeHuge

Bendurgin

Maine

3.1/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks for cracking this one with me Andy! Poured into a tulip. The body is a hazy murky looking copper color with not much to show for head. The aroma is pretty much what I would expect from a barleywine. Plumbs, raisins, slight metal and just a touch of spicy vanilla to it. The taste follows pretty well, it's again a bit metallic but has decent characteristics. Sweet malty flavors with a bit of spice dominate the pallet with just a bit of fruitiness to the taste. The feel is decent, it's full and the carbonations is pretty good. Overall, this one is just average but not offensive.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 00:03:10 | More by Bendurgin

andrewinski1

Maine

3.13/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a tulip. Hazy copper color with large white bubbles. A bit of sticky lacing.

Aroma consists of plums, dried fruit, and a hint of vanilla.

The taste starts out with a sting of slightly metallic hop bite. There is a slightly sweet finish that delivers sweet malty flavor with hints of fruit and spice. The heat is a bit much still. In my opinion, this one is a bit too hoppy to enjoy the nice malt flavors that are there somewhere.

Decent mouthfeel, not overly carbonated but enough life is there to make this drinkable enough. Pretty enjoyable, but doesn't resonate among the best of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 23:50:34 | More by andrewinski1

baggio

Sweden

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle@Omhpers place.

Apperance: Deep red with a small, white, head. No lacing.

Smell: Caramel, Oak, Fruit, Malt.

Taste: Raspberry, Oak, Vanilla, Malt, Caramel and a wee bit of alcohol.

Palate: Feels balanced but the oak-flavors doesn't really help this one. Low carbonation.

A nice barrel-aged barleywine that i think would have been even nicer without the barrel-aging. Maybe i should have given it some more time in the cellar? Worth a try since it's widely available and not very expensive.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 20:01:02 | More by baggio

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.85/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a one finger off-white head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving a little lace. Good carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Hazy amber color. Nose is oak. Flavor is oak, dark fruit and some caramel with a slight oak/medicinal finish. $11.45 for a 22oz bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 23:16:48 | More by jdhilt

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to garlicfire for this brew.

22oz. Bomber

Poured into a chalice a nice cloudy light brown color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some hop notes, bourbon, grapes, and caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, malty, nice little hop note, very nice bourbon note, and some caramel. Medium body, ABV is hidden pretty well with this one. Drinkable, another very nice brew from Mayflower.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 23:37:29 | More by Wasatch

russpowell

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Got this one from LarryG, cheers Larry!

Pours an effervescent/chill-hazed caramel with a sliver of fast-fading cream colored head. Nice viscous look to this, moderate head retention & lacing, some floaties

S: Apricots, plums, breadyness & bourbon coming through once it warms up

T: Booze-soaked bread, reminds me Christmas pudding a bit with cherries & plums, leading the way. More of the same as this warms, along with dryness, a strong oaky/toffee/bourbon sweetness, plus some leafy hops. Finishes with some sour- wood honey, bourbon, & dryness

MF: A bit thin for the style, some boozey warmth, fairly lively carbonation that fades a little over time

Drink easy, but not enough malt backbone to push this to upper tier. Still, a nice barrel aged variant on the style...

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 02:07:29 | More by russpowell

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: This was a clear copper color with golden edges. It poured with a small whisp of a head that lingered for a long time.

s: Beautiful. The bourbon takes center stage, but it is an extremely mellow aroma. Not at all harsh, abrasive, or hot. While the bourbon if firmly in control, plenty of barleywine notes come through. I found dark fruits, molasses, vanilla, and maybe a hint of chocolate as well.

t: Starts off lightly sweet and amazingly complex. Lots of incredibly smooth bourbon backed nicely by musty fruit, brown sugar, and vanilla. That suggestion of chocolate can be found here as well. The finish is plenty warm, but not abrasive. I tasted some piny hops and a little oak at the end.

m: Big bodied and gently carbonated.

d: This ranks right up there with Central Waters BBBW as far as I'm concerned. Magnificent.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2010 15:48:19 | More by DIM

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an imperial glass. Color was a dark orange, light brow with a off white head. Constant stream of bubbles rising from the bottom. Aroma was sweet, started off slightly fruity, finished with a touch of syrup. Mellowed out as it sat. Taste was orangy, with a vanilla sweetness. Felt very good in the mouth. Coated very well, and was nicely carbonated. Went down very easily, but hit very hard and surprisingly fast.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 22:28:35 | More by mountdew1