St. Fillin's - Selin's Grove Brewing Company

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I could have swore I reviewed this before...anyway here we go again with a rare opportunity to taste/review this brew from the hand pull. Both last years and this years version side by side for comparison.

The older version appears a clear mahogany with a tan creamy head that fades to a lacing film across the top. The younger version is more copper to orange colored with much few bubbles to form a head and what does appear has poor retaining powers.

The aroma is caramel toffee and fruity alcohol on the aged with esters of alcohol and more dark fruit. Hints of vanilla and something almost like whiskey tang. The younger has a more pale fruit scent almost like tangerine and apple skins with a solvent to fusel burn across the nostrils.

The taste is caramel to toffee grain with a slight buttery feel. Strong herbal hoppy bitterness and dark fruit like raisin but balanced. Tha younger has more green fruity quality of yeast and too much raw solvent alcohol. The apple skin flavor is unique but also a bit distracting and seemingly out of place.

Overall, both version were on the fuller side of medium with a light kiss of carbonation. The ages version was carbonated a bit more than the younger which presented a nice velvet feel across the tongue. On all accounts, straight across the board the aged version was superior to the new younger version. The aged version is a 4+ score, the younger is more like a 2.5. My review score is based on my average thoughts between the two.

Serving type: cask

12-05-2012 19:00:27 | More by stakem

oline73

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this at the Brew Pub. Served in a sample glass.

Appearance: The beer pours a dark mahogany with not much head to speak of.

Smell: I'm getting a sweet dark fruit molasses note up front. There is some mild warming alcohol along with some brown sugar.

Taste: Molasses and dark fruit up front with a hint of hop bitterness. Quite smooth, this was the 2011 version. Malty with a warm, sweet finish.

Mouthfeel: The body is on the syrupy side with mild carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: This is a very nice barleywine. It warms you up while you drink it. The 2011 was better than the 2012. I'd have more.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2012 01:41:44 | More by oline73

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at the brewpub. Reviewed from notes. I was told this was a wee heavy, but given the taste of it and the reviews from here, I'm sure it's the same beer. I believe this was the 2009 edition.

Pours dark brown with a thin off white head with some staying power, leaving a bit of lace as it does recede. The nose brings dark fruits, caramel, a touch of booze, and some sweetened malt. The taste adds in a bit of chocolate and brown sugar. A bit more alcohol. Definitely a dark, earthy version of the style. I suppose this really is more like a wee heavy. Good caramel and toffee throughout. The feel is fairly heavy though not overly so. Drinks quite well and was a nice sipper.

Serving type: cask

10-24-2010 23:23:08 | More by Thorpe429

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is the same beer as the Wee Heavy.

Had this on cask at the Selin's Grove 14th anniversary party. It was the '09 and it was served into a goblet.

A - Pours deep dark brown with a strong one finger white head, dissipating to a light film, leaving minimal lacing down the glass.

S - Lots of toffee and caramel sweetness up front. Some dark fruits, most noticeably raisins and figs, begin to come out as it warms up a bit. It looks like the extra cellar time has killed most of the boozy aroma's giving this one a sweet roasty nose.

T - Plenty of sweet toffee and caramel up front giving way quickly to a mixture of dark fruits, raisins and figs, and bit of earthy hops. Finish has some strong sweetness that lingers for some time after consumption. Booze is ever present offering a light warming feeling but it is hidden well. Very sweet but not to the point of being overpowering. Very nice wee heavy.

M - Heavy body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Quite the creamy feel with a lingering sweet finish. Not too much heat from the booze in this one.

D - Good not great. I really liked this one but I liked the barrel aged version better. I am not sure I could have more than one of these at a time. Definitely a sipper at 12% ABV.

Serving type: cask

05-11-2012 14:01:07 | More by orangesol

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2007 vintage on cask at SGB on 12/6/08.

A - Clear, deep penny-esque copper color with one-finger of frothy beige head that retained quite nicely.

S - Malty nose with a prominent dark fruit character. Some herbal hops provide an earthy, woody aroma, with just a touch of citrus hops providing a juicy counterpoint. Malt base is primarily sweet caramel and dark toffee. Some alcohol twang also pushes through.

T - Like the aroma, there is plenty of caramel and toffee malt goodness and dark fruit tang complemented by earthy and herbal hops and a mild alcohol sting.

M - Smooth and mellow with a soft mouthfeel that is a little syrupy overall. Warm and tingly on the palate, with a sharp alcohol bite and moderate hop bitterness in the finish.

D - Given the alcohol content, this is pretty smooth for a barleywine... or is this a Wee Heavy? Either way, it's from SGB, so it has to be good, right?!

Serving type: cask

12-08-2008 17:50:02 | More by ffejherb

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A hand pump, both the 2007 and 2008 versions, at the brewpub.

A: The barleywine is a dark wooden brown color, dark enough to be opaque but not quite black. A finger of head sits atop the ale and lasts for most of the glass.

S: I found the 07 version to be rougher, fuller with both hops and malts. The '08 version was more apt to show caramel malts. Both versions have abundant hop profiles.

T: The barleywine is heavy on the malts, thick with caramel and toffee malts. Fruitiness emerges from the strength of the malts, matching nicely against a big hop profile. The ale is hot but approachable. I found that the fresher 2008 version to be better than the 2007 bach.

M: The mouthfeel is full, loaded with caramel malts and citrusy hops. Warming, this is an ale to enjoy by a) a fireside, or b) in the warm environs of Selin's Grove.

D: Filling, this is an ale to enjoy in moderation. The fresher version showed off more of the well-balanced American barleywine flavors.

Serving type: cask

11-28-2008 23:59:15 | More by akorsak

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: This one is a clear dark copper color with some amber highlights. It was served to me with a small white head.

s: I was surprised to find minimal alcohol in the smell. I did find lots of floral hops, some cheries, and a bit of vanilla.

t: This almost tastes like an American/English hybrid barleywine. This definitely has a big hop bite to it, but it is flowery and a bit biscuity, in the Britsh style. Some nicely tart cherries with just a bit of sweetness as well.

m: Thick and silky, with creamy carbonation.

d: Extra points here for being served a few degrees above cellar temp. You gotta love a barleywine on cask!

Serving type: cask

02-10-2008 15:20:07 | More by DIM

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served via handpump at the brewpub.

Pours a clear copper/amber with a finger of creamy vanilla head that retains into a great looking creamy layer which leaves some thick lacing behind. The aroma is thick malts, cherries, spices, floral hops, and alcohol.

The taste is deep biscuity Scotch malts with possess a quality of spice and dark fruits. This is nicely balanced by some nice hop bitterness in the backend. The mouthfeel is fairly heavy with malt and a slightly stinging alcohol feel but still slides easily down the throat.

I love this gem from the SGB, as it comes on for the holidays but usually hangs around for several months after that and is usually served on cask. It's a sipper for sure but still goes down well for how big it is.

Serving type: cask

03-21-2008 17:38:23 | More by Kegatron

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear deep copper with a medium tan head that diminished to a thin clingy ring.

S - Big malt and alcohol. Strong notes of scotch and faint hop aroma.

T - Bold and Boozy with a whack of scotch-like flavor. Big hop bite in the back of the throat.

M - Rich and malty Oh so smooth and luscious. This is one meal of a brew!

D - A fantastic sipper. A brew for fireside quaffing....the beer equivalent to single malt scotch!

Serving type: cask

12-03-2007 15:22:00 | More by Deuane

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 version
A - dark chocolate appearance with 1/4 inch of foamy head that stuck around for a while

S - caramel malts and earthy hoppiness with a bit of alcohol

T - earthy hop bite up front with fruit and maltiness

M/D - medium bodied and smooth drinking, the alcohol presence was nice and not overpowering. Nice bitterness and flavor.

I also had the 2007 as well but prefer this one, the 2007 seems a bit unfinished or rough flavored. The 2008 seems just right to me.

Serving type: cask

01-06-2009 17:10:56 | More by mikereaser

envizz1

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hand-pumped, perfect temperature -- between cellar and room temp

Dark copper color, thin cream head and light lace

Warm malt, fruity fragrance -- very little evidence of alcohol or hops

Taste -- full of flavor, fruit, malt. Surprising thing is total absence of alcohol or hops until later -- the hops creep up when the mouthful goes down and leave a fresh bitter flavor in the mouth. The alcohol stays back and I only detected as a spreading warmth after the first half-glass.

Mouthfeel -- very smooth, pleasant syrupy feel rolls along the tongue.

Drinkability -- dangerously so -- this beer is awesomely easy to drink!

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2008 02:26:28 | More by envizz1