Copper Snow Barleywine Style-ale - Xbeeriment I/S

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.76/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter at Firkin.

Another random import at Firkin, my first XBeeriment in a couple years. This stuff pours a clear copper (how thoroughly appropriate) topped by a finger of glowing khaki foam. The nose comprises funky wheat, lightly-funky lemon zest, caramel, light fennel, and light apricot. The taste brings in more of the same, along with some mild pine resin and a hint of mint. Everything also comes through sweeter in general. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a solid b-wine, one that, though it doesn't necessarily "wow" or anything, goes down incredibly easily and pleasantly.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 13:48:59 | More by TMoney2591

mxchap

California

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(served in a 15cL sample glass)

Appearance: Copper and transparent. Nice reddish hue.
Aroma: Fig and dates, crystal malt. Noticeable sulfur.
Taste: raisins, toffee, caramel, some malt, and fusel alcohols at the end.
Mouthfeel: Smooth and well-carbonated. A bit chewy and dry at the end.
Overall: A nice attempt at a smoother barleywine (feels more english than american). It's not a bad beer by any means, but it's not a great barleywine either.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2013 21:26:51 | More by mxchap

oldvines

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev 0%

03-13-2013 23:52:22 | More by oldvines

duceswild

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

03-05-2013 03:41:26 | More by duceswild

drewone

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

02-15-2013 21:02:20 | More by drewone

metter98

New York

3.89/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy caramel amber in color; close inspection of the sides of the glass reveals a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high light beige colored head that died down, leaving lacing on the surface and a thick collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of caramel malts and grapefruit and pine resin hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of caramel and some malty sweetness, but for the most part the sweetness is balanced off by the underlying hops, which contribute slight hints of bitterness.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some faint hints of warming from the alcohol. No stickiness is present.
O: This beer is currently listed as an American Barleywine, but seems to be more reminiscent of an English Barleywine because the hops aren't as prominent in the taste. It's a nice beer to sip and isn't too difficult to drink because the alcohol is well masked from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 04:13:11 | More by metter98

edk218

Illinois

5/5  rDev +33.3%

01-31-2013 03:25:50 | More by edk218

kojevergas

California

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

10% ABV confirmed. 2012 vintage. Bottle served into a Samuel Smith's nonic at a tasting. Reviewed from notes; I was rushed at the tasting but bear with me.

A: Pours a one finger khaki colour head of nice cream and thickness. Body colour is a rich copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Heavy caramel, biscuity malty sweetness, herbal notes, and floral hops. Evocative malty body. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Quite malty and a bit candied, with biscuity notes and stunted floral hops. Very well layered malty body. Caramel. Toffee. Balance is excellent. It's a classic malty barleywine; there's not much to say about its malts - but it's quite complex.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Good thickness and carbonation. Suits the flavour profile well.

Dr: Qutie drinkable and enjoyable, especially considering the high ABV. Well built for the style. I quite like it. I'd have this again. Tasty. Will age nicely.

B

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 22:16:07 | More by kojevergas

nmann08

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

01-18-2013 17:38:42 | More by nmann08

beergoot

Colorado

4.11/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Dark copper body with a relatively thin off-white head; lacing on the glass; lots of yeast sediment suspended in the body. Rich malt nose with solid hint of apricot; caramel and toffee. Excellent malt flavor; brown sugar and caramel; nice, understated hop bitterness and nicely subdued alcohol presence. Heavy body with an almost syrupy character; semi-dry finish.

Based on taste and mouthfeel, this is a really good brew for the style. It's like drinking a rich holiday sugar cookie. An excellent cap to my day while relaxing near a hardwood fire in the fireplace during a cold winter evening.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 01:55:13 | More by beergoot

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a snifter)
01199 on bottle
A- This beer pours a slightly dense clear deep aged copper body with a wall of microbubbles that support a thick sticky light tan head that sticks to the glass in sheets.

S- The hint of iodine is soon gone and a very light dry toasted malt comes through. There is a touch of butter aroma in the finish.

T- The dry toasted malt has some sweetness that grows as the beer opens. There is a spicy carbonic acid flavor that follows with some green brassy hops that linger. There is some softer British yeast esters that come through as the beer opens a bit.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a scrubbing fizz that tingles the tongue in the finish an no real alcohol heat noticed.

O- This beer has some nice malt flavors but they are a bit dry and one-dimensional. The carbonic acid and hop bite start to cover all the malt flavors and make it hard to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 17:21:01 | More by rhoadsrage