Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
97
world-class
-
316 Ratings

rAvg: 4.41
pDev: 9.07%
Reviews: 163
Hads: 153

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

Michigan, United States

Style | ABV
English Barleywine | 14.50% ABV

Availability: Winter. bottle (151), on-tap (12).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (98) | Reviews (112) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by portia99:

portia99

Massachusetts

4.43/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle (2010 vintage - 15.1% ABV) poured into a Cigar City snifter.

A - Pours an astonishingly clear and bright mahogany color that is just beautiful in the glass. A small fizzy and soda-like head makes a brief appearance before falling to the surface leaving only the thinnest of collars on the edge of the glass. Fizziness and lack of any lasting head are minor detractors here sadly.

S - Smooth brown sugar, caramel, vanilla bean...almost like creme brulee in overall effect. A bit of burnt sugar comes on with a mild bourbony alcohol hit rounds things out. This smells outstanding!

T - Very nice and well rounded flavors. First sip hits with rich caramel and brown sugar surrounded by smooth bourbon. Quite vanilla'y, overall sweet and dessert-like with hints of raisins. Alcohol is evident but exceptionally smooth.

M - Body is medium-full and carbonation is tingly but still at a relatively low level. Alcohol is quite smooth, but there is no doubt about the 15% here. Quite a sipper...it is boozy and almost spirit like. There is a definite warmth and tingle left on the lips and tongue from the alcohol. Very much a dessert in a glass.

O - Overall, an excellent BA Barleywine...barreling is well done. Hops really don't play much of a role in the beer at all - the barrel is the balancing element against the sweetness of the malt. The malt is candy-like, sweet and complex with many different sugary impressions made. The bourbon gives this a kick that it needs and really cuts thru the sweetness to bring this back into balance. Very well done...but I didn't really expect anything less from this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 00:48:20 | More by portia99

More User Reviews:

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.5/5 rDev +2%

05-22-2013 13:23:15 | More by SpdKilz

midlifec

Michigan

4.5/5 rDev +2%

05-20-2013 22:46:54 | More by midlifec

mookihouse

California

4.25/5 rDev -3.6%

05-20-2013 18:25:27 | More by mookihouse

DJButters

California

4.25/5 rDev -3.6%

05-20-2013 00:15:38 | More by DJButters

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.25/5 rDev -3.6%

05-19-2013 15:35:23 | More by ShawnMH

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