Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

Phelps

Arizona

4.65/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This bottle was sent to me by seeswo during the Blind Beers BIF. The blind 2011 vintage 12-ounce was poured into a snifter and reviewed blind.

The liquid runs out of the bottle a thin caramel-brown but darkens once in the glass to a cloudy burnt hue. What head does appear comes late and is extremely thin, fizzling away after just a second.

In the nose, I get good amounts of butterscotch, smooth vanilla, oak and toffee. Sweet, sugary dark cherries and maple syrup emerge upon closer inspection.

Wow. I wasn’t expecting the sweet, malty flavors this is delivering, but that doesn’t detract from their glory. In equal amounts I get toffee, cherries and sugared orange slices. Oak, grape and a pinch of nutty almond are behind that. Citrus notes surge at the swallow, but are swiftly overtaken by lingering toasted oak and subtle chocolate.

Carbonation is light but prickly, awakening the tongue to the brilliant flavor and playing nicely off the bright citrus. The body is luscious, thick and smooth, yet it doesn’t weigh down the palate all that much. There’s hardly any alcohol heat, which I have a feeling I’ll be surprised at when I take of this beer’s wrapper.

Incremazing. Brilliant, smooth flavors and an amazing balance between citrusy barleywine notes and barrel-aging. This is without a doubt the best BA barleywine I’ve ever had, and a perma-want has been set.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 23:32:26 | More by Phelps

Mscarpen

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +2%

05-18-2013 11:23:17 | More by Mscarpen

Rogorama

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%

05-09-2013 00:23:38 | More by Rogorama

mdaschaf

Washington

4.41/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a clear brown/burgundy color with very little head, just a few bubbles forming. No retention or lacing at all.

S: The aroma is quite strong. Lots of caramel with plenty of the bourbon coming through, vanilla, toffee, a little molasses.

T: Fantastic, the flavors are blended together nicely. Brown sugar, vanilla, and caramel dominate with bits of oak/wood.

M: Medium to full bodied, extremely smooth. Low carbonation.

O: Lived up to the hype, really enjoyed this barleywine. Smoothness helped a lot.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 22:07:20 | More by mdaschaf

BeRanger

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +7.7%

05-08-2013 16:28:47 | More by BeRanger

cwxc818

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2%

04-21-2013 15:01:40 | More by cwxc818

Doodler

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%

04-17-2013 23:15:53 | More by Doodler

FalconA

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +2%

04-14-2013 22:32:16 | More by FalconA

thetomG

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7.7%

04-05-2013 21:03:28 | More by thetomG

LambicKing

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +2%

04-03-2013 03:27:57 | More by LambicKing

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -15%

04-01-2013 20:04:53 | More by coreyfmcdonald

UNCCTDawg

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -9.3%

03-31-2013 14:42:22 | More by UNCCTDawg

Gobzilla

California

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%

03-30-2013 23:21:35 | More by Gobzilla

ldhughes3

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -9.3%

03-26-2013 04:49:15 | More by ldhughes3

IdrinkGas

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -9.3%

03-24-2013 22:11:24 | More by IdrinkGas

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%

03-20-2013 20:12:39 | More by tom10101

fiver29

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%

03-20-2013 12:55:43 | More by fiver29

josephwa

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%

03-17-2013 15:30:31 | More by josephwa

funkel81

California

4/5  rDev -9.3%

03-13-2013 03:57:58 | More by funkel81

mv945

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +7.7%

03-12-2013 16:26:30 | More by mv945

KGMIbeer

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +2%

03-12-2013 03:23:14 | More by KGMIbeer

Channel10Geuze

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +7.7%

03-10-2013 13:46:04 | More by Channel10Geuze

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Thanks to Noah1 for the bottle. 2011 Vintage.
12oz bottle to tulip.
Sampled 07MAR13

[A] Pours a very dark crimson - just a few shades away from black. Rather still in the glass, there is a nothing more than a single strand of fine bubbles arranged around the edge of the glass. No lacing.

[S] Rich, plump, overly ripe dark fruits with a hint of earthy soil and old leather. Surprisingly low alcohol presence. A faint tea-like herbal quality comes through as well, probably due to the age more than anything else. The bourbon barrel made the invite list but is not the star of the party.

[T] The sugary malt sweetness displays amazing depth. Buttery caramel, dark brown sugar and dark molasses - just a phenomenally complex balance between sweetness and bitterness. Incredibly smooth and easy to drink. How in the world did they manage to remove nearly every last trace of alcohol and heat? It's dumbfounding honestly.

[M] Easily a 5. This is one of the thickest, chewiest mouthfeels I've ever come across. Gentle carbonation starts at the beginning of the palate and helps to lift the the slick and syrupy texture. Completely cloying...just the way a big, 14.5% barleywine should be. I absolutely love it.

[O] This beer is nothing short of world class. And I want more.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 02:32:44 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

ductape28

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +7.7%

03-06-2013 11:30:07 | More by ductape28

mrebeka

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +2%

03-05-2013 03:26:52 | More by mrebeka