Xyauyù Etichetta Rame (Copper) - Birrificio Le Baladin

ehammond1

California

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2004)

Thanks for opening this with me, SubpoenaDeuces!

(Aged for 9+ years)

Still, clear, dark ruby, dark amber, and cherry wood in color. Leaves the glass only oily, if that, on the way down. Unexciting, but rich in appearance and appealing. A pretty color and an obviously strong concoction.

Lots of burnt sugar caramels, sherry notes, dark fruits, and a hint of honey and chocolate sweetness. Wood character as well. This is reminiscent of a sherry or a tawny port, in a lot of ways. Some oxidation aroma as well. Very nice as it all comes together.

The flavor, like the aroma, is quite sweet, but wonderfully complex. Tons of dark fruits (grape skin), toffees, burnt caramel candies, and chocolate-covered raisin combine extraordinarily well. The alcohol is remarkably well hidden, though I could feel this one coming on strong. Fantastic. Delicious and complex, though so much like a liquor in many ways, it's tough to drink a full glass of this--that is not a criticism.

Oily, moderate bodied. No carbonation. Slick. Appropriate. Very nice.

I loved this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 17:13:18 | More by ehammond1

Florida9

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Dark brown in color. flat. no head. no lacing. Aroma is a mix of nuts, barrel, and caramel. taste is nothing like a barleywine. this is very sweet, almost port or sherry like. Mildly grapy, sweet, raisin, and very sweet molasses. On the thicker side of medium, but I think this is mosttly becuase of the lack of carbonation.
This would make a fine port, but as a beer, its lackluster.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:44:46 | More by Florida9

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a shaker pint glass.

2005 vintage. Based on some high praise I've seen this beer garner, I had to give it a try, especially considering I had the disposable income necessary for an investment in a bottle. Let's do this, my first beer in 2013: It pours a brackish amber topped by a half-finger of tan foam. The nose comprises biscuit, honey, light and mild booze, and a vague sense of sweet fruits not unlike a sauternes or sherry. The taste brings in more of the same, with the sweetness really taking hold, and some cardboard-y hints of oxidation poking through every now and again. Things are slightly messy, muddled. The body is a stoic medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, I can see the allure of this beer to many, but it wasn't entirely my cup of tea. The sweet and oxidative notes are generally pleasant, but when mixed they don't cooperate, nor do they do so with any of the other components. Still, I'm glad to have tried this stuff, and I even hope to try the Silver and Gold editions some time in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 01:50:59 | More by TMoney2591

Dope

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2004 vintage, 13% ABV.

A: Pours a dark, menacing reddish amber. Fairly syrupy. Completely still as this one is uncarbonated. Obviously no head or lacing. I didn't want to mark it down for poor appearance since this is an intentional feature of the beer. Figured a 4 was reasonable.

S: Very sweet. Loaded with caramel and dark fruits. Cherries mainly it seems. Touch of molasses. Kinda smells like sherry sometimes. Not as boozy as I would expect, only slightly. I guess oxidation and aging has mellowed it.

T: Wow, this is very interesting. It is very sweet and syrupy. Up front there is a wonderful caramel and brown sugar combination with dark fruits mixed in. Cherries and grapes mainly it seems. Raisin too. They're sort of indistinct fruit flavors, just heavy sweet dark fruits that meld together to form a singular flavor. No real indication of alcohol at all which is shocking. Aftertaste is long lingering sweet dark fruits (have I said that enough yet?). Mouth-coating effect adds to the long aftertaste. No sign of oxidation really, at least from a cardboard standpoint. A touch like sherry but honestly it only improves the beer (I guess that's the point). Very mellow in general with well integrated flavors.

M: Mouthfeel is syrupy, thick and heavy. Coats the mouth like syrup. Similar to a JW Lees...but with no carbonation. Must be sipped. Like drinking slightly watered down maple syrup. Emphasis on SLIGHTLY watered down. Having said that, it is super smooth, no alcohol bite and not cloying despite the heavy sweetness. Somehow - not sure how they did that. For a flat beer this is outstanding.

O: Well, I'm glad I dropped the coin on this one. No beer, wine or spirit even comes close to be able to compare. It is super thick and sweet but not cloying and in fact is quite wonderful (take note, JW Lees). I can't even describe why it's good. No big west-coast style hops to jump out at you or delicious adjuncts like vanilla beans to add to the flavor. It's just sweet and fruity and it just plain works, that's all I can say. Dessert beer for sure due to the sweetness and lack of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 04:53:57 | More by Dope

SLeffler27

New York

4.8/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Xyauyu' pours syrupy with a dark copper hue and garnet highlights. There is no head whatsoever, and the viscosity leaves long, thick legs on the Arrogant Bastard snifter.

The aroma includes caramel, crème sherry, dates, figs, and honey all up front and center.

The sweetness of this beer is exquisite, with ample dark fruit flavors that follow the nose. Nut flavors come out with some bitterness. Meanwhile sherry and honey maintain a consistent theme. The finish is light and quick. Warmth brings out a progression of the above flavors, each more pronounced than initially encountered. Vanilla and oak are found late.

There is a hint of carbonation in this dense, super smooth, syrupy beer. The alcohol is high and expected, but not hot. Residual sugars are left on one’s lips.

This is undoubtedly a sipping beer. It has the nuances that first turned me on to Barleywine. One can enjoy this equally well while reading, during contemplation, for dessert or as a digestive. This would even work well for a romantic evening.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 21:09:25 | More by SLeffler27

cfrances33

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A few ounce decanting thanks to yamar68, poured into a snifter.

Pour: A dead burgundy with no head, no lacing, no carb. Nice legs, alcohol presence is definitely letting itself be known. Port?

Aroma: Caramel, brown sugar, raisin, fig, vanilla, light booziness. All come together pretty seamlessly. In keeping line with being closer to a sherry or port, the alcohol provides more of a sting on the nostrils than a boozy character.

Taste: Decadent, truly. Brown sugar and chewy raisins up front, followed by boozy fig newtons. Halfway through my pour, the barleywine characters come out, with chewy sticky caramel. Finally, the complexities of a smooth bourbon dance on the last sip, even though barrel aging was not part of this beasts regimen.

Mouthfeel: Light syrup effect, but not cloying. Slightly boozy.

Overall: A very unique experience, and one I relished. I would love to have this, or other Xyauyu's in the future.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 15:21:03 | More by cfrances33

yamar68

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev -3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer was bottled the same year that:
-North Korea banned cell phone use
-Facebook was launched
-A grocery store fire in Paraguay killed over 300 people

2004 vintage, poured into a wine tasting glass:

Pours a bright ruby gold, zero head or any other sign of carbonation. Good amount of alcohol legs.

The nose is extremely rich - heavy toffee and caramel, toasted grains, maple syrup, brown sugar, slight leather, oats, almonds. I'm amazed how well this 'oxidation process' has turned out. Zero wet cardboard/must.

Incredibly rich. Massive sweet caramel qualities - a bit of red fruit, a bit of alcohol heat, loads of maple syrup, taste like a sundae. Not overly sweet though, somehow. Warming, a tad cloying, but still relatively dry. This is beer?

Like nothing I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 19:13:55 | More by yamar68

Etan

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 bottle, taken down solo.

A: Pours a thinnish woody brown with a bunch of floaties and no head.

S: Thick raisins and booze, lots of grapey vinous notes, prune.

T: Very rich maple, raisins, brown sugar, slight pleasant heat, vanilla.
Becomes more rich and warming as the beer settles.

M: Flat, thick and a tiny bit syrupy.

O: I really enjoy the intense oxidation character of this beer. I can see how it could be a bit sweet for some, but that's the point of the beer. Utterly unique (Utopias probably comes the closest). Can't wait to try the other beers in the series.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 03:05:07 | More by Etan

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -35.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

2004 vintage.

Pours a dark copper/amber color with burnt orange edges.  Completely still with no head or lacing but it does have nice legs after an aggressive swirl.

Sweet, boozy aroma that's almost all alcohol until t warms up considerably.   Once it does, sweet malt and dark fruit are apparent.  Hints of caramel, toffee and maple syrup followed by raisin, fig plum and more alcohol.

Viscous with no carbonation to speak of and a real syrupy consistency.  Boozy, syrupy flavor dominates with lots and lots of alcohol sweetness but not overly hot.  After it warms the sweet malt and dark fruit notes come to the forefront.  Hints of toffee, caramel and hazelnut followed by plum, raisin and fig.  These notes are still pretty faint with the overbearing alcohol flavor dominating everything.  One dimensional, lacking in carbonation and pretty tough to drink more than a few ounces of.  I was the only one at a recent tasting that finished their pour.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 01:12:56 | More by corby112

UCLABrewN84

California

4.28/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Bottle pour courtesy of jmgrub at Woodshop 7 held at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

Pours a clear orange with no head and no lacing on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, wood, and vanilla. Taste is much the same with a very syrupy sweetness to it. This beer has a low level of carbonation with an almost flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some great flavors and smells but the mouthfeel is a bit lacking in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 01:48:10 | More by UCLABrewN84

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.45/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

$9 for a 5 oz glass at Max's today. 2004 vintage

Mildly hazy, this amber-copper colored beer is still with no head or lacing. The nose is rich with toffee, sherry, port, beautifully oxidized with deep dark fruit - raisins, and plums. While not bright, this is vibrant and vivacious. Some butterscotch is noticeable as well.

The palate opens full and sweet with dark fruit, buckwheat honey, raisins, caramelized raisins, dates. Full in body with nice sherry notes on the finish. More oxidized than the Xfume, but this is really distinctive. Great, long lasting finish. Amazing stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 00:06:17 | More by DefenCorps

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.7/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured by the glass from a 2004 bottled version of this beer. At Max's...

The beer pours a slightly cloudy, brownish amber color, with no head retention to speak of. This beer is completely still. On the nose, you know you're in for a treat. I get considerable brown sugar, caramel, light chocolate, fig and rum raisans. There's a hint of nuts and sherry as well in this lightly oxidized beer. If anything, the beer is even better on the palate. Also, while fairly sweet, the oxidation helps to counter that sweetness nicely. Otherwise, this is an increadibly rich and complex beer, with the brown sugar and chocolate taking center stage. This beer is just lip smacking delicious! Mouthfeel is full and very, very long... like drinking the finest XO cognac or aged vintage port. Incredible!

Age has treated this beer very well... an absolute bargian by the glass at Max's; $9 for a 5 ounce pour. I'll probably have to order another.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 19:33:33 | More by johnmichaelsen

Pahn

New York

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2004 vintage split 3 ways into tulips.

Appearance: No head, no lace, no carbonation. Hazy brownish red.

Smell: Raisin, some nutty aromas, marzipan. Beautiful, alcohol infused pastry and malt aromas, well-integrated.

Taste: Slightly apple-tinged brown sugar and marzipan malt flavors. Very light toffee.

Kind of a smooth, nectar-y barleywine juice. Lack of carbonation doesn't hurt it at all. Surprisingly easy drinking. Mild warmth.

This is difficult to review, because the flavors are so well integrated. It's not really individual notes, but a divine melding of dessert beer maltiness.

Mouthfeel: Light side of medium bodied. Flat, but not difficult to drink at all. Mild heat, almost undetectable.

Overall: Delicious, and just amazingly easy-drinking. At $45~ I would never buy it again, but I love it nonetheless. Great sugary barleywine flavor, almost no oxidation influence after 8 years of storage. Beautiful beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 03:12:19 | More by Pahn

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from '04, poured into a 25cl Duvel tulip. Thanks again, Dan!

A: Clear bright amber body with whisky-like internal swirls (I'm sure those things have a name, but I don't know what it is - you can see them most clearly when you put an ice-cube into room-temp Scotch...); when swirled it leaves nice sticky legs. Completely still, of course, looking more like a fine spirit than a beer - which is fine by me.

S: Whoa. Toffee, sherry, solvent (in a very good way, trust me), and straight brown-sugar caramel. Very sweet, strong, and smooth. Lovely.

T: Fruity booze up front, with sweet toffee, caramel, and candied raisins behind. Tastes like sciacchetrá, an amazing dessert wine from the Cinque Terre in Italy. Long, sweet, restrainedly boozy finish. Great.

M: Thick, viscous, sticky, and mouth-coating. Heavy, but expected.

O: I'd love to try this side-by-side with Utopias, as that's really the only beer I've had that's comparable in its sheer decadence. Obviously that one is a completely different beast, but I'd say that those two are the finish sipping beers around.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 03:51:28 | More by woosterbill

dogfishandi

New York

4.45/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

big thanks to trxxpaxxs for sharing this!

2004 Vintage. Copper. 500ml corked bottle poured into a bruery snifter.

pours out a deep mahghony brown color with a good amount of sediment visible. even leaves a bit of sediment on the side of the glass. the slightest ring of head off the pour immediatly fades to nothing.

big sweet, nutty aromas. sherry like. lots of burnt sugars, honey, caramel sweetness.

wow, tons of sweetness. honey, caramel, toffee, burnt sugars, molasses, a little of that sherry like nuttiness that was present in the aroma and hints of dark fruits.

minimal carbonation. big, sticky sweet mouthfeel. a bit warming going down, but no real taste of booze. flows very smooth over the palate.

wow, this was quite a barleywine. i wasnt expecting much based on the one other beer ive had from this brewery, but this was fantastic. id prolly even take this over beers like MOAS...seek it out!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 19:59:49 | More by dogfishandi

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.73/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2004 version...

A: Pours an auburn/caramel, light maple syrup color. It's translucent, but there are tons of floaties in there. There is absolutely no head to this beer at all.

S: Smells of honey, dates, a touch of funk, and some earth. The alcohol is there, but it's hidden under the honey and middle eastern fruits.

T: Ohh my! This beer is delicious. It's huge honey, sweet dates, raisins, and caramel. I'm blown away. There is no funk in the taste at all. It's smooth and sweet and the booze is non-existent.

M: Medium bodied beer. This beer coats the palate and last forever.

O: Fantastic. This is one of the best beers I've had in a long while. The price point on this beer is high, but it's worth it. I'd buy it again if I ever see it.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 23:16:27 | More by trxxpaxxs

amphion1065

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A 2004 bottle that had languished on the bottom shelf of a local beer store, served in a Duvel tulip. Reviewed from notes.

Barely a pop from this cork. Pours a murky, light copper. Many infinitesimally small particles float in my glass, even from the first pour - it's like liquid static. No head, and no lacing, though there are some legs evident.

At first, the oxidation is unbelievably potent. This is almost like pure sherry, with a pungent vinous fruit aroma. But as this warms, the aroma transforms beautifully. Vanilla and plums, with just a hint of toffee. Though this is fairly spirit-like, the base malt definitely peaks through.

The taste is sublime. In some ways, this reminds me of a very old J.W. Lees, though the sweetness isn't nearly as heavy or borderline cloying. Odd as it sounds, this is very evocative of sorbet. It's sort of a mixture between grape juice and iced tea, the fruit mingling with the herbal aspects of the taste beautifully. A slight, subtle vanilla note reminds me of oak, and over time a rich caramel flavor emerges. I don't know if I've ever had a beer that masks its ABV quite so well.

The mouthfeel is very still and on the thin side, but it somehow works. It's quite decadent, but still so easy to drink.

Marvelous, a truly unique take on the style that has aged incredibly well. A total joy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 02:21:43 | More by amphion1065

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I had reviewed this a while ago and for some reason the review is now missing. This beer much like it's sister beers is excellent. I really enjoy these with every sip. This one specifically had a red color with no head on top. The smell is very sweet but not in a sickening way. The taste is over the top and almost unexplainable. The mouthfeel is sort of like a sweet wine, it's very soft and very easy to drink for a brew with such a high ABV. Overall I wish these beers were cheaper... I'd love to drink these over and over again. They are masterpieces in my eyes. Well worth trying at least once!

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Thanks, MasterSki

So different, it's got a Kool-Aid sweetness to it. No alcohol burn at all. Not even like a wine sometimes has. This is something that I've never experienced before. Very pricey and not for regular basis drinking, although I wish it was. It's got a ruby red color fantastic sweet aromas and just perfect for sipping over a long period of time. I love these releases and I will be getting them whenever I can without a doubt.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 00:39:40 | More by Knapp85

HopHead84

California

4.72/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

10/15/2011

2005 vintage (13% ABV) in a snifter. There's a soft pop when the cork is removed.

A: Pours a very attractive reddish brown. There are a few small bubbles resulting from the force of the pour, but there is no apparent carbonation. A gentle swirl of the glass brings the liquid up the sides, leaving a clear collar that cascades down in small beads.

S: Oxidation is redolent of leather and sherry with nutty notes. Notes of brown sugar and maple are pronounced, blending wonderfully with date, prune, plum, and grape. There's a good deal of caramel and there's an aspect that reminds me of Grand Marnier.

T: Maple, brown sugar, and caramel combine harmoniously with leather and sherry-like oxidation. Dark fruit pervades the flavor, imparting plum and grape. There's also notes of orange liqueur and date, as well as earth and a hint of tobacco. Very nice.

M: Lower full in body and completely still. The mouthfeel is sticky and smooth with ample alcohol warming on the palate.

Overall: I originally thought I liked this less than gold and silver, but after pulling the wine stopper out of the bottle and enjoying 5 ounces a few days later, I'm not so sure anymore. Fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 17:38:05 | More by HopHead84

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a snifter)
teo musso 2006

A- This beer pours a hazy slight dense antique dark copper body with no head and no carbonation but some nice legs when swirled.

S- The notes of rich woody sherry have an aged fruity alcohol in the finish and a touch of graham. There are qualities of golden raisins, honey, dates and dark grape skins all blended in the nose.

T- There is some malt sweetness blended with an old barrel flavor and some sherry fruit notes that turns into a soft lingering dried fruit alcohol. There are some light caramel and toffee notes that come through when the beer opens.

M- The light mouthfeel has a mellow warming alcohol heat.

O- This lacks the richness and depth I hope to find in a barleywine and it is a bit thin due to the lack of carbonation. It is very well blended but the sweet and alcohol balance really leans toward the big sweetness as it opens up.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 21:31:41 | More by rhoadsrage

rtepiak

Poland

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

looked this over the internet... i have a copper with 13%abv... not 12%abv

when there was no pop which automatically get a bit pensive. the beer although is very mildly carbonated. as it sit bubbles collect on the glass. pour is copper with the first distinction as closer to a mild cloudy tawny. nose is almond, pollen honey and Porto. the feel regardless of no carbonation is excellent and creamy. the sweetness reminds me most of vanilla and almond macaroons. the bittering is immaculate. a hint of thistle grass... this was a moment though where there was some robust notes that quickly faded. braggot souring fruit notes. hint of Calvados fortified cider. walnut mineral tannin hint in the finish. can be had in portions and resealed... and absolutely worth its weight in Porto... smoother and just as warm. a treat.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 07:32:30 | More by rtepiak

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to bucketboy for opening this bottle at Barrel Aged Sexual Chocolate. Served in a Deschutes tulip, courtesy of Lunch, who was sleeping in his car at that point.

2005 vintage.

Pours a moderate copper-bronze color with a very thin head of bubbles that quickly receded. The nose brings forward a really nice balance between caramel and dark fruits along with some sherry in the background. The flavor melds everything together really well, and the oxidation process has really done wonders to this beer. Beautiful sherry-like flavor along with some caramelization and just a touch of alcohol. Light to medium body and very smooth. Low carbonation. Really a delight all around. Thanks again, Joe.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 11:41:14 | More by Thorpe429

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Big thanks to BucketBoy for sharing this one at BASC! 2005 Vintage! Served from bottle into a Duck-Rabbit snifter. Pours amber with an extremely minimal off-white head. There was no lacing evident throughout. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, cherry, fruit, figs, caramel, brown sugar, wood, molasses, and massively sweet alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, caramel, brown sugar, peat, dark fruit, and very subtle alcohol. It has a medium feel on the palate with low carbonation. Overall this brew was quite excellent. The aroma was a little misleading as I thought it was going to be massively alcohol forward, but the flavor was very sweet and nice. The mouthfeel on this one could use a little work but still decent. A definite must try, that I was really happy to get the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 12:56:10 | More by thagr81us

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.55/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Xyauyu, Reserva Teo Musso, Brewed in 2005, 13% abv. (copper etching).

Simply put, barleywines just don't get better. If the aura of a sipping beer conjures up dreams of cognac, port, or brandy, then this savory desert beer will change your notion of how good beer can be. The review posted by StephenRich below is spot on.

The still chestnut-brown concoction pours with an oily and viscous crawl into the snifter. A mystic glow of rust, amber, golden, and ruby colors carry a diffused look- the beer seems ideally of port wine-at least to the eye. With the absence of foam or lace, the beer subs in a lightly inky legging that clings to the glass, providing a clean gloss.

Succulent and savory aromas of warm alcohol oils, stone and dehydrated fruit, deep molasass and brown sugars all meld into the most wonderful of blends. Delicate earthiness of peat, raw tobacco, and fresh leather further support the growing complexity of the nose.

Sweet toffee, brittle, black-strap molasass, maple syrups, and buckwheat honey surely satisfy the sweetooth as very few deserts can. Plumbs, dates, figs, raisons, prunes, and grapes all give roundness and variety to the sweetness, absorbing some of the heavy-sweet brunt. Added sherry and soy sauce oxidation contributes many more savory flavors than subtract. Again, the herbal tobacco, leather, and peat flavors piggyback on the fruits and give a glimps into the fading hop contributions. Tawny flavors of rum-soakes sandalwood with a musty taste of rustic, weathered oak. Flavor descriptions of this beer are infinate.

Silky, velvety, and cloying sweetness are all welcomed in a very decadent mouthfeel. The sweetness and alcohol coats the mouth and seemingly melts into the soft tissues of the mouth for a long and savory sweet feel that lingers well into the next sip.

Every once in a while, an epiphany in beer appreciation happens. This is how Xyauyu presents itself. Masculine. Refined. Endearing. It transcends the tired notion of what beers should be and truely exhibits promise for the beers of tomorrow.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 18:26:56 | More by BEERchitect

PGHeppJr

New York

4.3/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Taken from notes : 07JUN2009

2004 Vintage

An expected flatter-than-piss-on-a-plate head.

Color is enchanting and more akin to something from a bottle in the Jerez region.

Nose is filled with with rich dried fruit notes followed by nutty nuances. With enough spice aroma to keep one guessing what Tunisian fair they just walked through.

Mouthfeel of pure velvet and again, this radical brew is reminiscent of Amantillado. Rich clover honey and plump turkish figs are what stand out most to me.

In all, a bottle of barley-sherry to rub in the face of your wine-geek/snob's faces. Followed by something mature like, " I told you"

Paired with Neal's Yard Dairy Colston Bassett Stilton

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2011 12:02:44 | More by PGHeppJr