Church-Key Barley Legal Barley Wine - Church-Key Brewing Company

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz pour at Volo.

A cloudy orange pour with a small white cap of a head that exhibits good retention and leaves some streaks and spots of lace. Light sweetness to the nose, mixing with grapefruit and alcohol. Some dark fruit join in the flavour - the grapefruit and caramel make you think IPA, but the alcohol, warmth and thickness scream barleywine. Decent hop bite and a nice bit of heat going down. Creamy, smooth mouthfeel works very well indeed.

Church-Key can be all over the place with their beers, and they often prove too big and brash. This barleywine, though, is an exception. Perhaps it's because the style hides flaws behind its intensity and heightended alcohol presence, but I feel that John has nailed this one, and I'd be happy to order this again and again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2011 02:10:32 | More by bobsy

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Volo, 300ml pour into a wine glass. Not the same beer pictured in the profile, this is not barrel aged.

Pours brown-ish with some orange around the edges, light lace and a thin collar. Nose has some rich caramel and light butterscotch notes. Some breadiness and general sugariness. A light stinkiness that comes from this that I'm finding difficult attribute to anything, maybe a hint of cheese? Certainly not dominant in the profile by any stretch. A bit of berries, black cherries and syrup. Alcohol is present in modest amounts as well. Taste is sweet and sticky, sweet dessert breads, bitterness, some toffee and more rich caramel flavours. Certainly a flavourful malt character. Full body, sticky and sweet (for the 30th time this review), alcohol is quite sneaky here and only peeks in at the end of the sip. A warming beer, and something I wish was bottled - would be great for the winter.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2011 18:37:49 | More by liamt07

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Morrissey House in London, ON- A turbid orange lets very little light in, pours almost no head. A seemingly American styled barleywine. Citric hoppy nose is massive with loads of pear, apple, some perfume, and some pecan pie notes. Sweet with toffee, treacle tart, banana, and pear, with a pithy citric bitterness which balances the sweetness in a perfect way. As this warms it seems more English in style, but overall this brute hides its alcohol well, shows great citric hop components and is dangerously drinkable. Thanks to Mark for getting this on and to Hurley for the pints. Excellent example.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2011 03:18:47 | More by mrmanning

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bar Volo Heavy Hitters night. Cloudy Grapefruit coloured with 1/4" white foamy head. Neutral aromas. Creamy above average mouthfeel that yields citrus hoppy taste combined with barley taste in the secondary. Good drinking now, not too young. Very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2010 01:49:48 | More by northyorksammy