Our Finest Regards - Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

dark brown in color with a huge head of tan that just towered over the top of the glass. Settling down smoothly and evenly it produced a thick coating of lace all along the sides of the glass. Rich vanilla and woody aromas are being picked up almost immediately. Huge notes of oak and subtle caramel and toffee and truly dominating here for sure. Warming only brings this out further, rich and decadent, sweet aromas just building off each other here. The first sip is divine, subtle, and rich and perfectly carbonated it simply rolls across the tongue with a gentleness that is unheard of. Vanilla and caramel merging with oak like notes and touches of earthy hops all working together seamlessly.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 02:06:36 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks again for bringing me a bottle of this, Barry. Much appreciated.

A: The pour is amber in color with a finger or so of off-white head.

S: Lots of different things going on here. Sweet toffee and caramel on the nose to begin with. There's a lot of fruit notes like plums and raisins, which give the beer a sort of Quad-like aroma. A decent amount of bread and some mild alcohol.

T: Again, toffee and caramel along with quite a bit of bread. The fruit notes are very prominent once again and there's sort of a Belgian character to the beer, all told. Decently sweet, but still somewhat dry.

M: The body is medium with a moderate to high level of carbonation.

D: Really different, especially for an English Barleywine, but quite solid and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 07:10:31 | More by womencantsail

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to erichxedge for sharing this one at drewone's tasting.

2011 vintage.

Pours a murky orange-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, caramel, brown sugar, and citrus zest. Taste is much the same with a fruity finish and an alcohol kick on the finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty but pretty strong.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 00:06:21 | More by UCLABrewN84

brentk56

North Carolina

4.14/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottled Nov 2011

Appearance: Pours a clear copper color capped by a rocky, three-fingered head; nice retention that leaves some strands and dots of lacing behind

Smell: Caramelized peanuts, plums, Oloroso Sherry and earthy, English hops

Taste: Burnt brown sugar, plums and caramelized peanuts, up front, with a developing cherry, fig and English hop character, in the middle; tobacco and Oloroso Sherry elements bring up the rear, with earthy hops lingering in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: I like to put a little age on my barleywines, so cellaring this one for 1 1/2 years certainly softened the rough edges and allowed the complexity to develop; another fine beer from the Paquettes

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 01:36:52 | More by brentk56

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Don't let the label fool you- this is not a kind beer. It is not a pretty beer. This is not the kind of beer that displays any finesse whatsoever! This is an aggressively charged, rugged, and powerful ale with impeccable balance and acute craftsmanship.

The barleywine opens with a viscous pour of creamy froth and malty visual weight. Deep garnet in color, its red and brown highlights emit through a semi-dense haze. Its thick blanket of eggshell white foam mimics whipped cream and laces with broken rings and spotted foam as the beer fades.

A quick swirl of the snifter reveals deep aromatics of lightly burnt toffee, maple, vanilla, earthy peat, and citrus hops. Its intense scent is powerfully alcoholic, yet seductively sweet. It invites the taste with little regret.

Strong sweetness greets the tongue with dense caramel, toffee, sorghum, maple, and brown sugar maltiness. Both hearty and sweetly satisfying, the nutty sweetness reminds the taste buds of "Cracker Jacks" candies and peanut brittle. Then come a middle palate of hoppy goodness in forms of pine resins, grapefruit, orange zest, and freshly cut grass. Its smooth bitterness balances the malts and gives a plateau of complexity that delivers new and exciting impressions of taste with each sip. The mild smokiness of peat, damp sod, roasted pecans, oak and toast are just a few varieties of taste that waft the after palate and keep the complexity coming.

Unquestionably full bodied, a swirl of the beer in the mouth delivers a fully engulfed texture, seeming of marshmallow cream. But as soon as the sweet creaminess rises, it begins a slow but consistent decline to a malty-dry closure with tannin-like spice, assertive alcohol warmth, and a long linger of malt textures and hoppy resinous dryness.

"Our Finest Regards" does all that American barleywines are asked to do. Its enormous taste is balanced, complex, and robust. It does all this without a hint of roughness, bite, or harsh textures. Even though the label portrays a kind beer built for drinking; remember- this is a sipper for sure!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 19:06:41 | More by BEERchitect

metter98

New York

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is clear dark red in color and poured with a thin white head that quickly died down and left lacy patterns of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are aromas of malty sweetness in the nose along with notes of toffee and hints of alcohol.
T: The overall taste has a slight amount of malty sweetness and has notes of spices and hints of dark fruits and caramel.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and is quite smooth and viscous. There are warming sensations from the alcohol in the finish.
D: The beer is surprisingly drinkable for 13.5%; it definitely tastes strong but no way near the level of double digits.

Serving type: growler

12-31-2010 13:15:45 | More by metter98

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Exiled for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours an amber color with a white head. The aroma is sweet malt with some toffee mixed in. I don't really get any hop or alcohol notes in the aroma. The flavor is heavy on the brown sugar, alcohol, molasses and toffee. The alcohol is definitely present but is not overpowering. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 21:01:20 | More by Mora2000

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap 1/10/2010 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a ruby red color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is faint but contains brown sugar, caramelized malts, dark fruit and some hops.

T: The taste starts out very sweet with flavors of caramel, brown sugar and dark fruit. Then a very hearty malt comes in and for the most part covers up a big alcohol sting. The hops presence is decent for the style but gets over-powered by the sweetness and alcohol. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and a little crisp, medium-to-heavy body, medium carbonation, finish is sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down ok, slightly filling, very strong kick, good representation of style, if you're ok with the heavy sweetness this is a good high-octane beer to sip on for a long time.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2011 13:30:58 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this from indiapaleale, cheers russ!

Winter 10/11 bottle pours an effervescent brown/chestnut with 34+ fingers of tan head. nice oily sheen to this; some head retention & above average lacing

S: Plums & other dark fruit, a bit of leafy hops

T: Boozey plums, dark cherry, woody hops, dryness & a bit of cakeyness up front. Plums & dark cherries, plus a touch of Madeira as this warms. Finishes plummy, dry, woody with a kiss of booze soaked cherries & a little bit of brown sugar & leafy hops

MF: Chewy, fairly assertive carbonation, nice balance

Drinks very easy, the ABV is well hidden. This spot on in style & is going down easy as cold weather has returned. I'm gonna finish this bottle with some hard salami & Blue Stilton, I am confident this will pair well

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 06:34:16 | More by russpowell

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a very nice barleywine. Unfortunately, as it was bottled only a few months ago, it is much too young to really be getting the grandeur that I assume it will one day show. And that is what I will leave it at: this is a very good barleywine, though I think it has the potential to be stellar with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 03:34:53 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a nice amber color with good carbonation leaving a dirty white head

S: Lots of sugar, caramel, hint of toffee and fruits

T: Well hopped, floral notes, caramel sweetness, lots of sugar, hints at lighter and dark fruits

M: Medium to full bosy, sordove slick on the mouthfeel, booze is very well hidden

D: Good bwine and a def candidate for aging

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 20:58:45 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nearly clear; light brown color. Huge off-white/beige head that settles slowly, leaving chunky lace on the side of the glass.

Brown sugar smell with a strong alcohol overtone. Warm caramel aroma.

Far more earthy than the smell would lead one to believe. Relatively dry as a barley wine. Good hop presence to provide some balance. Lots of alcohol in the swallow. Low carbonation with an almost oily body; in a word, thick.

Are any barley wines easy to drink? This one is interesting but you'll want to share the body with at least one other person.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 21:10:14 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to TheManiacalOne for this brew.

22oz. Bomber
Winter 2010/2011

Poured into a chalice a nice cloudy grape color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, which does leave some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, grapy, with some figs, raisins, plums. The taste is sweet, malty, grapy, with a nice touch of dark fruits. Medium Body, no way this is 13.5% ABV, goes down very nicely. A very tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 18:30:01 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've been waiting for this for a couple months, and I'm so excited it's finally here!

Creamy 1 finger head leaves a light lacing as it fades slowly. Lots of bubbles floating up through mostly clear copper orange red rosy.

Nose brings lots of malts, sweet barley malts, light caramel and molasses, chewy malt aromas, and some reddish malts. WIth that is a bit of earthy herbal hops, some grassy bittering hops. Some light butterscotch and toffee aromas as well.

Taste is fairly sweet but overly. Somewhat rich and some warming and light tingly booze. The sweetness balances the booze well. The booze does play a bit more of a role as it warms, but never overpowering. PLenty malts as well, dark caramel, molasses, toffee, some red malts, creamy malts, very light butterscotch and creamy caramel. Some dark fruits poke their head out, but don't make a big bid. Some bitterness, added by some light herbal earthy hops. A bit of a candy like hop flavor too. A slight hint of minerality as well. The finish comes a little bit drier but still a bit sweet. A very slight sticky mouth coating finish as well, and a slight boozy feel on the finish. Long creamy malted barley lingers for a while on the finish with more of the caramel and a bit of molasses.

Mouth is heavier bodied but not too much, with good carbonation, and a bit of warming and tingly booze.

Drinkability is pretty good, doesn't drink anywhere near 13.5%, more like 8-9%. It also has a bit of a drier finish but fairly sweet. It's also creamy and smooth and just plain drinkable. The sweetness, malts, and creamy taste balance the alcohol well, and the hops add a nice touch but don't overdo it.

Well done Dan! A very tasty beer, and very dangerously drinkable for those cold winter nights. It will do well in my cellar as well, which looks like the rabbit hole on the label.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 02:49:25 | More by jlindros

Jason

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz brown bomber, vintage date on the next label.

LOOK: Hazed tawny amber.

SMELL: Taffy, caramel, toasted pecans, ripe pear, golden raisins, leafy, herbal tea, yeast, candied orange, alcohol.

TASTE: Toasted malt, big warming alcohol, nougat, ripe exotic fruit, figgy, yeast, nutty.

Super tasty, well balanced and a sipper clearly from its size. A massive beer that opens up a little bit more with every sip.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 01:57:12 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A treat to enjoy via a growler (32 ouncer) filled at Brouwerij Lane in Brooklyn, NY (what a cool little place BTW)

Pours dark honey amber, near clear, under a truly impressive (especially for a 13.5% beer) medium khaki head. Its tightly knit, stays on and on...and on...and.. leaves gobs of thick sheeting and clouds of lace. Nice look to this one.

Nose is the expected waft of malty goodness, not much else.

Large, smooth, somewhat sweet and mostly tasty brew. Layers and waves of honey sweet malts, some vanilla...Alcohol surely present... notes of lime, mouthwash, candied fruits, candy, peppermint.

Heady stuff, righteous night capper....way to go large Pretty Things....gaining major respect for the stones shown on this undertaking..

Serving type: growler

04-22-2011 04:55:59 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle purchased as a single from WineNation, Millbury, MA. Cap tape notes Brrrr... and Winter 2010/2011.

Poured into a DFH snifter, formed a 1/2" beige head over the slightly cloudy burgundy copper brew. Head lasts incredibly, with thick lasting lace. Aroma is fruity alcohol.

Taste is sweet to start, fruity in the middle, syrupy at the close, with alcohol lingering. Mouthfeel is quite smooth, and drinkability is good. Not my fave Pretty Thing, but a nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 02:39:47 | More by ppoitras

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: bottle from Pinocchio's, Media, PA

Served properly into a PT OFR stem glass, a deep garnet brown color, not quite opaque, very effervescent, and topped with a small, creamy tan head that stayed small, but retained forever and left streaks of lacing on the glass. The nose was malty, nutty, caramel, and slightly woody. Taste was similar, bready, nutty, toasted grains, caramel malts, hints of old raisins, brown sugar, herbal hops, and a stiff, woody finish. Booze was felt, but pretty well-hidden, taste-wise. Body was medium, smooth mouthfeel, even if slightly higher in carbonation that I'd have expected. Careful pouring: it's very yeasty towards the bottom, and I could swear the yeast was actually still active. Nice beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 00:33:24 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Joe - much obliged!

Pours a slightly hazy chestnut brown color with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of moderately sweet caramel malts with hints of nuttiness and dark fruits - plums with small amounts of figs.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though a bit sweeter. Smooth caramel malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by hints of toastiness. Midway through the sip solid amounts of medium and dark fruits - plums mostly with hints of figs and green apples - work their way into things. Slight amounts of molasses come into play near the end of the sip before fading out into a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a smooth thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall this was a nice beer for the style that managed to not overdo it on the sweetness. Nice, balanced, and well worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 01:27:48 | More by glid02

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Winter 2010/11.
Clear, deep amber and slightly coppery in colour with a yellow/beige cap of mostly fine bubbles. Good head retention, particularly for the abv, with sticky lacing. Nice aroma, lots of bread, plums, raisins, alcohol, toast, toffee, slightly buttery with a hint of berries as it warms. Hops had more presence in the flavour, contributing sturdy bitterness that was just underneath the surface flavours and a bit of grassy character. Sweet malts, plums, and alcohol were dominant, with the sweetness well short of cloying. Notes of roses, berries, and figs appeared as it warmed. Heavy in body, lightish in carbonation, smooth and creamy with considerable alcohol warmth, but no strong heat. Quite tasty overall, but it left me with the impression that it could stand up to (and benefit from) a little bit of aging so that the flavours meld together a bit more. I think I'll grab a couple more of these for the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 00:42:38 | More by DrJay

HopHead84

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3/13/2011

Thanks Barry. Split with my girlfriend and poured into a snifter.

A: Appears reddish brown with a big creamy beige head. Retention is great and lacing is pretty nice.

S: Dried date and prune with notes of raisin, brown sugar, and treacle. Earthy hop profile holds an upper low presence. Caramel is pervasive. Malt imparts bread notes and there's a soft alcohol presence.

T: Dried date and prune, again, with a decided earthiness. Brown sugar accompanies caramel, toffee, and treacle. Malt is bready and biscuity. Alcohol is wel hidden for the very high ABV. The beer is moderately sweet, despite the rich flavors. Finishes dry.

M: Upper medium in body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is creamy and sticky, and alcohol warming is notable.

Overall: A nice English Barleywine. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 03:20:51 | More by HopHead84

mactrail

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Quite delicious big ale. Red, almost cherry amber color in the Affligem chalice. You might wish for more foam. However, there is ample carbonation on the tongue. Sweet and honeyed. Like agave syrup or some kind of unusual tropical tree sap. Enough hops to remind you that it's beer and not a rum liqueur. A hint of peat in the nose, along with cake batter. Full of fruit, dried pineapple and cherries, a touch of canned peaches. Well, it just tastes like dessert, so enjoy it as a great after-dinner sweet.

Turned out to be a good choice for 1,000th review. These guys are what I like in craft beer-- peculiar and idiosyncratic, but competent.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 06:16:34 | More by mactrail

largadeer

Kentucky

4.13/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks, Barry.

Pours a dark, very clear caramel hue. The head is reduced to a collar after a short while. Smells of brown sugar, dried earthy fruit, toffee. Some alcohol too, but it's surprisingly reserved given the high ABV. The palate closely resembles the nose, highlighting flavors of dried fruit, apricot, berry preserves and toffee. Nice fruitiness from the yeast, though it's a clean and malt-forward beer overall. Medium in body, could use a touch more viscosity. I enjoyed this quite a bit, though I think some gentle oxidation would give the beer more depth. Wish I had another bottle to age for a couple years.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2011 23:08:35 | More by largadeer

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Eric for sharing this -cheers!
enjoyed from a snifter chilled.

A medium brown shade with caramel hue and thick cream cap that retains well with fine bead. the lace sticks in a wavy pattern. The smell is very nice with lots of malt and vinous/floral ester. There is a graham cracker-like odor with nuttty and sweet malt with light alcohol. The smell has a hint of plum and mild spice with a nuttty almond tinge which gives a fruit and cookie combo in the nose. The feel is thick bodied which is buoyed by a moderate carbonation level. The creamy feel with sweet and dark fruit tanginesshas a nice light bitterness backing with semi-dry warming finish.

The taste has some fruit from the yeast with nutty and spiced elements. A nice plum like tinge with stone fruit tanginess and light caramel notes with light ripe banana accents. The tast has a slight dark sugar like muscovado with gentle fig and hint of melon with mild citrus andd mild alcohol w/ nutty semi-dry hazelnut like toasted accent. The flavor has a sweet honey tip which augments the grain flavor. Overall a very good barleywine with a lot of complexity with fruit flavors that rival some cognacs. The Barleywine is one I could enjoy frequently if not for the relatively high abv Cheers Pretty Things!, thanks cuz!

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 15:18:42 | More by Slatetank

kylehay2004

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

single finger rapidly dissipating head on a very nice dark amber body. a little lacing. aroma is very different than most barley wines. this one has more of a chocolate and yeasty aroma with earthy notes. more of the same in the taste without the boozy flavoring that so man y barleywines seem to have. medium body and moderate carbonation. this one is very differnent from other barley wines I have had and one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 02:34:23 | More by kylehay2004