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Old Prospector Barleywine
Auburn Alehouse Brewery & Restaurant
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Auburn Alehouse Brewery & Restaurant
- California, United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.6 | pDev: 16.94%
- Reviews:
- 20
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 04, 2017
- Added:
- Apr 13, 2009
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 5
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by wethorseblanket from California
3.75/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from notes. Pours a reddish-brown with a beige head that leaves spotty lace, Mostly caramel, toffee, and some woody notes. Taste follows the nose. Medium body.
Aug 28, 2016Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Ruddy brown, lots of dirt/sediment running at the bottom. Boozy aroma.
Taste had plenty of bitterness, caramel could have been sweeter to try and keep the peace. Too much dark fruit bitterness on this one. Wouldn't recommend unless someone likes their barleywines a little weird.
Dec 20, 2015Taste had plenty of bitterness, caramel could have been sweeter to try and keep the peace. Too much dark fruit bitterness on this one. Wouldn't recommend unless someone likes their barleywines a little weird.
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
3.76/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to drewone for sharing this one at GRG1313's tasting.
2014 vintage. Bottled 11/12/14.
Pours a clear reddish-brown with a foamy beige head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with caramel, toffee, brown sugar, red wine, and wood flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of wood bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a low level of carbonation with an almost flat and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with solid red wine barrel aged aspects that are slightly better in the smell.
Serving type: bottle.
Dec 02, 20142014 vintage. Bottled 11/12/14.
Pours a clear reddish-brown with a foamy beige head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with caramel, toffee, brown sugar, red wine, and wood flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of wood bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a low level of carbonation with an almost flat and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with solid red wine barrel aged aspects that are slightly better in the smell.
Serving type: bottle.
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
2.65/5 rDev -26.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.65/5 rDev -26.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
650 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Reddish brown body. No real head. Thin collar.
Smell - Caramel. Vinous notes. Vanilla. Kinda oaky.
Taste - Starts off nice. Oaky. Caramel. A little fruity. The finish is what kills it. Vigorous off flavor manifests itself as an intense bitterness.
Mouthfeel - Extremely bitter woody flavor. Medium carbonation. Astringent.
Overall - Started off ok, but ugh, it's rough in the back.
Mar 25, 2014Appearance - Reddish brown body. No real head. Thin collar.
Smell - Caramel. Vinous notes. Vanilla. Kinda oaky.
Taste - Starts off nice. Oaky. Caramel. A little fruity. The finish is what kills it. Vigorous off flavor manifests itself as an intense bitterness.
Mouthfeel - Extremely bitter woody flavor. Medium carbonation. Astringent.
Overall - Started off ok, but ugh, it's rough in the back.
Reviewed by magictacosinus from California
4.06/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.06/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This was one of the many beers poured at the December Albany Taproom bottle share, courtesy of Darren. Poured out of a 22oz bottle into a tulip glass. 2012 vintage, I believe?
The appearance is not what I expected at all - dark, almost maroon in color with a very small, off-white head. The foam fizzles out almost completely - leaving behind no noticeable sticky lacing, although each swirl does coat the glass's edges with a briefly darkened sludgy texture. Hate to say it, but this looks really muddy and sludgy. Let's hope it smells and tastes better.
The aroma DOES indeed deliver a unique profile - and simply put, one of the most enjoyable and strangest profiles I've ever come across on a barleywine, particularly one that's barrel aged. This starts off with an immense amount of dried black fruits, ranging from prunes to cassis to blackberries, only then to dwell into some brief notes of peppercorns, slight black tea, and a variety of barrel spices - most notably, brown sugar and cloves. Then, there's a hyper-bizarre lactic flavor that comes through, as well as a bit of tartness, that's no doubt from the oak barrels used. Even if this is infected, it strangely works, as it accentuates the sweetness from the barrel spices and the fruity flavor from the malts and yeast. I had a jolly time whiffing this - it's pretty unique.
After a few sips, we were pretty convinced something went awry with the barrel aging process of this beer, but overall, it somehow works! First, there's the dark berry notes as mentioned earlier, with some spiciness, as well as a toffee, caramel, and brown sugar sweetness. Then, the lactic sugars take over like crazy upon the beer's profile, delivering a milk, sugar cream like consistency and funky cheese rind flavor that somehow melds really well with the fruits - in a way, this is the liquid equivalent of a blackberry cheese danish. There's no better way to describe it, but that's how it panned out. Grape must and tart, slightly vinegary flavors are at the finish, but it's otherwise pretty sweet, fruity, and decadent. Carbonation is surprisingly good after all this time, and it never feels sludgy or thick - rather, it's pretty vinous in quality overall, save for the extra carbonation. A really interesting, strange treat of a beer!
I was very surprised how much I liked this, but beer buyer beware: if you're not a big fan of red wine, or funky cheeses, you probably won't like this at all. There's a lot at stake here, and it's hard to know what exactly happened to this beer over time, but the results are very strange and truly unique. Recommended if you can find a bottle!
Mar 11, 2014The appearance is not what I expected at all - dark, almost maroon in color with a very small, off-white head. The foam fizzles out almost completely - leaving behind no noticeable sticky lacing, although each swirl does coat the glass's edges with a briefly darkened sludgy texture. Hate to say it, but this looks really muddy and sludgy. Let's hope it smells and tastes better.
The aroma DOES indeed deliver a unique profile - and simply put, one of the most enjoyable and strangest profiles I've ever come across on a barleywine, particularly one that's barrel aged. This starts off with an immense amount of dried black fruits, ranging from prunes to cassis to blackberries, only then to dwell into some brief notes of peppercorns, slight black tea, and a variety of barrel spices - most notably, brown sugar and cloves. Then, there's a hyper-bizarre lactic flavor that comes through, as well as a bit of tartness, that's no doubt from the oak barrels used. Even if this is infected, it strangely works, as it accentuates the sweetness from the barrel spices and the fruity flavor from the malts and yeast. I had a jolly time whiffing this - it's pretty unique.
After a few sips, we were pretty convinced something went awry with the barrel aging process of this beer, but overall, it somehow works! First, there's the dark berry notes as mentioned earlier, with some spiciness, as well as a toffee, caramel, and brown sugar sweetness. Then, the lactic sugars take over like crazy upon the beer's profile, delivering a milk, sugar cream like consistency and funky cheese rind flavor that somehow melds really well with the fruits - in a way, this is the liquid equivalent of a blackberry cheese danish. There's no better way to describe it, but that's how it panned out. Grape must and tart, slightly vinegary flavors are at the finish, but it's otherwise pretty sweet, fruity, and decadent. Carbonation is surprisingly good after all this time, and it never feels sludgy or thick - rather, it's pretty vinous in quality overall, save for the extra carbonation. A really interesting, strange treat of a beer!
I was very surprised how much I liked this, but beer buyer beware: if you're not a big fan of red wine, or funky cheeses, you probably won't like this at all. There's a lot at stake here, and it's hard to know what exactly happened to this beer over time, but the results are very strange and truly unique. Recommended if you can find a bottle!
Reviewed by Tony49er from California
3.61/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.61/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Serving Type- On tap at the Brewery poured into a tulip glass
Appearance- Dark reddish brown, off white head very thin which is expected at 10%ABV
Smell- Strong plums, dark cherries, sweet malty notes, wine type characters
Taste- Strong plums, dark cherries, sweet malty notes, wine type characters, smooth alcohol notes, not overpowering, great hop backbone
Mouthfeel- Smooth, full, easy sipping Barley wine, each sip makes you want another one
Overall- Another great beer from a Brewery that does not get enough credit this Barley wine was aged in local Zinfandel barrels I will buy a bottle or two and age them and hopefully they hold up and improve with age...CHEERS
Feb 10, 2014Appearance- Dark reddish brown, off white head very thin which is expected at 10%ABV
Smell- Strong plums, dark cherries, sweet malty notes, wine type characters
Taste- Strong plums, dark cherries, sweet malty notes, wine type characters, smooth alcohol notes, not overpowering, great hop backbone
Mouthfeel- Smooth, full, easy sipping Barley wine, each sip makes you want another one
Overall- Another great beer from a Brewery that does not get enough credit this Barley wine was aged in local Zinfandel barrels I will buy a bottle or two and age them and hopefully they hold up and improve with age...CHEERS
Old Prospector Barleywine from Auburn Alehouse Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
44 ratings
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