Old Birdbrain - Black Raven Brewing Co.

smakawhat

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a snifter at Smoke & Barrel DC for the dc bottle share. From notes.

A real nice light orange amber body, with an off tan somewhat creamy head. Makes a decent collar that always sticks around.

Nose is very small and closed, but there is that pickle brine again, with some indistinct mild hop presence I can't determine.

The palate opens up though on first sip with a good caramel sweetness. Thick malt action with a real crackery mix of crispness and toasty brown sugar. Feel has a good thick body but doesn't get into a huge over kill of sugar and alcohol boozy rush. Coats the palate nicely with it's caramel and lingers nicely.

Overall a real nice solid barleywine, like the toasty angle on this quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 22:45:29 | More by smakawhat

TheEarl

Washington

4.9/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I had this most recently at Black Raven's 2013 Flock Party. It was served in a 12 ounce snifter.

Appearance: The beer is a clear, orange/amber with white lacing.

Aroma: Aggressive notes of caramel, vanilla, apple, and oak with a bit of alcohol on the end.

Taste: The taste mirrors the aroma with an initial sweetness that fades into the more complex flavors and finishes with some alcohol heat.

Mouthfeel: Birdbrain is viscous, chewy, and more carbonated than I'd expected. Very nice.

Overall: Old Birdbrain is a masterpiece of a beer. This is easily my favorite barleywine and one of my favorite beers overall. The flavors and aromas are so distinct but also blend together quite well.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2013 22:53:37 | More by TheEarl

TysonA

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +7.7%

05-12-2013 21:15:07 | More by TysonA

tomholland

Washington

4/5  rDev -9.3%

04-19-2013 16:39:50 | More by tomholland

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev -9.3%

04-07-2013 12:54:20 | More by Thorpe429

mdaschaf

Washington

4.41/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes. Thanks to Greg for sharing! 2011 vintage.

A: Pours a clear amber/ruby color with a small off-white head on top that reduces quickly to a thin ring on top. Thin lacing forms down the sides.

S: Rather sweet upfront, lots of caramel right away. There is a vanilla and a bit of oak, a bit of alcohol as well.

T: Again, on the sweet side with plenty of caramel and toffee mixed with vanilla and oak. Some caramelized brown sugar as well.

M: Medium to full bodied, slightly hot, but still pretty nice.

O: A pretty good barleywine, definitely one I want to try again.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 00:01:46 | More by mdaschaf

Treebs

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle served in a Black Raven curved pint glass. Thanks to OakedCanuck for the bottle. Thanks Colin!

A: Pours a clear amber color with some dark brown highlights. A light brown head forms on the pour and recedes very slowly to a thin film. Nice retention. The head leaves some sticky sheets of lace down the glass.

S: Lots of caramel sweetness up front. Some mild dark fruit, mostly raisin, with a little bready malt as well. Slightly boozy as well. Light rye whiskey, but it's hard to pull out.

T: Sticky caramel sweetness. Underlying hops. A little citric in nature, sorta like candied grapefruit. A little booze with some oxidation that has brought out a sherry like character. A little booze with some dark cherry. Some light herbal spice, maybe the rye whiskey barrel.

M: Medium bodied, a little sticky, but surprisingly drinkable. Smooth and sweet finish with a medium low carbonation level.

O: A very nice barleywine that has aged gracefully. I'm glad I have a second bottle to sit on for a while as I think it's going to develop a lot more and become more complex.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 02:25:06 | More by Treebs

alysmith4

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -9.3%

03-13-2013 17:16:35 | More by alysmith4

dctriman

Virginia

4/5  rDev -9.3%

03-11-2013 15:57:30 | More by dctriman

KevSal

California

4.44/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Boom! huge thanks to stx00lax, Jacob your kindness never ceases to surprise me!

This is a huge huge want that I've been hoping id get to try some day or it would be bottled, my wish came true.

12oz bottle into a tulip

A- looks great, nice and dark red. Looks just as expected. Slight beige head.

S-huge! Lots of wood upfront, smells massive and thick. vanilla and very slight cherry in the back end. The oak is prominent and very pleasant

T- oak upfront with vanilla and tons of malts and some spicyness, reminiscent of ba hifi, maybe there's a lot of rye in this guy? Either way it's fantastic!

M- this one is thick, lots of weight and body, one very noticeable characteristic is it's not super chewy or sticky.

O- fantastic! It's a huge contrast to most ba barelywines that are chewy and tons of dark fruits. This goes in another direction, it's a lot more along the lines of ba hifi (which i found out is my highest rated ba barlywine!) and coast nuptial. I have a strong feeling this one will age along the same lines, in 2 years this will be the real deal ba Barleywine. I dot expect to get that chance but I am very greatful to have this one.

Thanks again Jacob, I really hope this wasn't your one and only! Either way Ot was thoroughly enjoyed!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 10:34:32 | More by KevSal

IrishColonial

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -15%

03-09-2013 21:58:08 | More by IrishColonial

BillHilly

Washington

4/5  rDev -9.3%

03-06-2013 02:10:01 | More by BillHilly

jag21

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +2%

02-25-2013 21:28:19 | More by jag21

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%

02-25-2013 06:31:56 | More by starrdogg

strongaf

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +2%

02-25-2013 05:02:58 | More by strongaf

ArchEnemyBrew

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +2%

02-13-2013 22:19:19 | More by ArchEnemyBrew

yojimbo1

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +2%

02-06-2013 04:13:31 | More by yojimbo1

unclekeith

Alaska

4/5  rDev -9.3%

01-20-2013 23:17:11 | More by unclekeith

beertunes

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -15%

01-19-2013 23:52:51 | More by beertunes

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.23/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 on tap at the brewpub.

A - Served a deep red/brown/copper with a very few dark tan bubbles on the top that quickly disappear.

S - Carmel, toffee, vanilla and lots of bourbon greatness.

T - The taste does not disappoint. Carmel, toffe and more bourbon. Drinks so freaking easy it is rediculous. It is scary how good and how easy this one is to drink.

D - Lower carbonation with a lighter than expected body and mouthfeel.

O - I had low expectations and left very impressed with this one. I very good BW that drinks easy and isn't as heavy as most others.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 07:53:33 | More by HuskyinPDX

benbjb

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +7.7%

11-09-2012 06:48:39 | More by benbjb

adkieffer

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +7.7%

10-05-2012 22:29:00 | More by adkieffer

kslsc400

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%

06-13-2012 01:47:12 | More by kslsc400

mv945

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +2%

05-22-2012 23:12:10 | More by mv945

piclee

Washington

5/5  rDev +13.4%

03-17-2012 05:15:35 | More by piclee