Kuhnhenn American Barley Wine - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

glid02

Georgia

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Grant – thanks!

Pours a deep copper color with a light tan head that leaves decent lacing.

Smells of muted caramel malts with good amounts of rough medium fruit aromas. Also present are mild amounts of citrus hops.

Tastes more barleywine-like than it smells. Mildly sweet caramel malts up front are joined quickly by equal amounts of herbal hops, citrus hops, and medium fruits. The fruits fade out a bit midway through the sip, allowing the hops to carry through to a moderately bitter ending. Mouthfeel is good, with smooth carbonation.

Overall this wasn’t a very clean beer and it’s not one I’d revisit. Maybe some tweaking of the yeast would help a bit.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 16:52:37 | More by glid02

Gonzoillini

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -29.2%

12-31-2012 22:36:55 | More by Gonzoillini

ltltony

Michigan

4/5  rDev +13.3%

10-22-2012 22:30:49 | More by ltltony

dumptruck81

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

10-20-2012 18:31:28 | More by dumptruck81

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 Vintage. Pours apple cider medium coloured body, no head. Slightly sweet aroma.Above average mouthfeel, a sipper and spot on the style.Apple fruit and caramel, light vanilla. If only I had aged it more years.Bottle from Steve. Alcohol surprisingly hidden.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 03:03:36 | More by northyorksammy

resistdefy

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

05-26-2012 20:01:41 | More by resistdefy

FosterJM

California

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1118th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
12oz

Summer Solstice 2010

Thanks to ErikKoppin for this one.

App- A mix of browns, reds and ambers. A lot of particulites in the glass with a very fast receding 1/2 head that left very little cling.

Smell- A good malty forward smelling ABW with a high level of sweetness and a lot of booze behind the nose. Has a certain fruit quality as if bordering on a quad nose.

Taste- It was good but I feel it couldve been better. The booze overpowers the layers of malty richness and citrus notes and even more of the dark fruits.

Mouth- A bit thin medium bodied with a medium carbonation level. A bit malty residual creaminess remains.

Drink- I was a little let down by this one but I think it could be that it was my last beer of the night and at 11.5% it killed my palate. Ill try to land another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 02:56:50 | More by FosterJM

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3/5  rDev -15%

02-11-2012 18:11:26 | More by ygtbsm94

nathanjohnson

Vermont

1.5/5  rDev -57.5%

01-29-2012 01:10:17 | More by nathanjohnson

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A 12 oz. bottle ~ Summer Solstice 2010. Poured to a snifter, a nightcap in the wee hours of 12/30/11. Thanks to hoppymeal/Derek for sending this (and several other Kuhnhenns) last year; it's been cellared ever since.

A: A pretty red-toned amber, almost clear but for the slightest haze; a dusting of the tiniest yeasty flakes settle on the bottom of the glass. Small, refined carbonation creeps up the glass at various locations to a short head of the densest ivory cream. Lace holds in undulating ribbons and a splaying of dots and drips.

S: Appropriately sweet and well-fruited, a nose loaded with toffee and strawberry and breakfast cereal (seriously, there's a Cap'n Crunch thing going on here) along with something vaguely 'tropical'. It's strong without a ton of substance. Some alcohol fumes leave an annoying tickle in my nostrils.

T: It's odd that this 'American' barleywine presents itself in such an 'English' way - meaning its hops are subdued and its sweetness heightened. I'm used to grassy or spicy hops en masse to amply bitter a barleywine - this doesn't really have those. As I get used to the flavor, some orange sweetness (as well as other fruits: apple, pear?) arises along with a little more drying/earthy spiciness. In the end, balance isn't bad; as it warms, spice and even some tangier citrus creep into the finish.

M: A milder mouthfeel, a bit thinner in body and softer in flavor/complexity than a some barleywines I've tried. Underwhelming. Creamier texture after an early bite. A lingering warmth, but not offputting and certainly in line with an 11.5% pour.

O: I've been impressed with other Kuhnhenn offerings but this one is just OK. It's a fairly one-dimensional barleywine with lots of sweetness in aroma and flavor. Still, I like it - my tastes skew toward maltiness; for fans of a less hoppy barleywine, this may be right up your alley.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 09:30:06 | More by msubulldog25

srandycarter

California

3.1/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Winter Solstice 2010. Poured Cola brown, small off white head. Not much, but some, spotty lace. Smells of brown sugar, cooked dark fruit and something a little sharp. Disappointing taste. Not as deep as hoped, and somewhat sour. Perhaps slightly infected? Dammit. Nothing to really write home about in the depts of taste, mouth and drinkability. Bummer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 01:49:06 | More by srandycarter

drabmuh

Maryland

2.8/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Shared by Thorpe. Thanks.

Beer is dark amber, hazy, thin head, tan bubbles, low retention, carbonation and lacing.

Aroma is boozy with this odd funk to it. Oak.

Beer is sweet, a little boozy, a little funky, kind of a mess, not a repeat. Seems to be a little oxidized, I didn't catch the vintage but this one is well past its prime if it was ever considered good.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 01:10:54 | More by drabmuh

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.63/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours an amber-brown color with a thin off-white head and a bit of a collar throughout. The nose carries some heavy malt and a bit of a musty character. Bit of booze as well. Flavor has similar issues. Perhaps oxidized, but not quite to the level I'd expect with that. Mild fruit. Medium body, low carbonation, and a boozy finish. Boom.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 12:50:39 | More by Thorpe429

yourefragile

District of Columbia

2.78/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz 2010 bottle shared by Mr. Thorpe.

Pours a murky dark amber, with a thin cream head and minimal lacing. Offputting aroma of cheese, gym sock, caramel malt and toffee. Flavor is equally...wrong. Starts with caramel malt body, fairly robust. But then descends into an odd mix of sweat, cheese, cardboard and wet paper. Medium thick and moderately carbed. Umm, not enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 01:28:41 | More by yourefragile

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Thorpe429. Thanks Mike.

The beer is dark orange with a small head. The aroma offers malt, spices, fruit, booze. The flavor brings a healthy amount of fruit, booze, malt, sweetness. Good stuff. A bit boozy, light, and fruity. Apples / apple cider in the flavor. Best in small quantities.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 00:42:39 | More by Huhzubendah

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a Weyerbacher tulip. Thanks to Knifestyles for opening this one.

A: Slightly hazy golden-brown body with a wispy head of fine tan foam. Solid.

S: Toffee, biscuit, raisin and booze. Maybe some faint hops. Nice.

T: Fruity up front (raisins, apricot, figs), followed by some honey, toffee, and light alcohol. Tasty.

M: Medium body, light carbonation. A little under-powered.

O: Very nice Barleywine, but a pale comparison to its barrel-aged brethren.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 23:35:39 | More by woosterbill

MasterSki

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I think I got this at the 2010 Winter Solstice. Served in an Alchemist glass.

A - Late-rising white foam that eventually yields a quarter-finger in volume. The retention is surprisingly and yields a wisp near-complete cap and thin collar as well as thin fingers and small spots of lace. Lightly hazed cider color.

S - It's an American barleywine alright - grapefruit hops are still present after nearly a year. The malt bill is bready, with some burnt sugars, and English toffee. There's some definite alcohol presence, fruity yeast, as well as a bit of papery oxidation.

T - Taste is strange and less pleasant than the aroma. Acetaldehyde imparts some green apple flavors, which mingles with bready malts and a touch of cardboard. Finish is astringent and bitter, with a bit of solvent mixed in. As it warms a bit more caramel comes out, but it's still not very good.

M - Watery, medium-full body. Very low carbonation and a lightly sticky finish. There's a bit of alcohol heat, but nothing excessive for 11.5%.

D - This can't be the base beer for the superb Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine - I refuse to believe it! A pretty mediocre barleywine that is reminiscent of Brooklyn Monster. I got through about 6oz before I gave up.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 01:34:26 | More by MasterSki

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-04-2011 18:06:27 | More by JAHMUR

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-18-2011 20:16:32 | More by Rochefort10nh

klipper

Michigan

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-18-2011 00:15:43 | More by klipper

HopStoopid120

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-15-2011 03:57:26 | More by HopStoopid120

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

11-14-2011 21:44:53 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

surlytheduff

Michigan

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-14-2011 18:19:13 | More by surlytheduff

albertjr21

New York

4.35/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler fill at the very excellent Kuhnhenn tasting event at New Beer Distributors on the opening day of NY Craft Beer Week 2011.

Into a snifter, a deep rusty orange amber sits under a resilient sudsy head. Aroma is a cool and deep herbal one with notes of candied sugar and bitter citrus. There's no doubt that's a bright and flavorful barleywine with overlying tones of deep fruit (perhaps apricot, peach and/or orange) with deep burnt sugary malt to comp. Not the smoothest of an abv but nonetheless, a great palate appeal .

Serving type: growler

09-21-2011 01:38:45 | More by albertjr21

OldIronLungs

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to omgshesaboy for this one. 2010 bottle.

Poured into a Duvel tulip a mahogany with a half finger of sea foam head that quickly dissipates.

The nose hits with butterscotch and some dried darker fruits.

A sip is immediately citric like pineapple - open and watery before warming with sweet bready malt and a smack of floral hop sweetness, like a boozy nectar; Hints of apricot and light raisin. The body is pretty thin and lightly carbonated for the style, I think, but it was overall smooth and not upsetting as the flavor is unique. Alcohol presence was nicely hidden with just a sweet warmth. Seems like an interesting interpretation of an American barley wine being more floral and sweet than hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 01:03:31 | More by OldIronLungs