Barley Wine - Epic Brewing Co.

ForWhatAlesYou

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22 oz bomber bottle pours correctly into a snifter.

A: Pale tawny brown. Drab. Frothy head fades but leaves a little spotty lace.

S: Very hoppy with some tawny aromas. Hops like fuggles. Wood, big alcohol.

T: Very bitter. Woody, strong. Very astringent. Some banana and apricot in the alcohol warmth.

M: Slight oiliness with overwhelming dryness. Med-low carbonation.

O: Actually a little unenjoyable. Not quite to my interpretation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 15:36:29 | More by ForWhatAlesYou

Laklimell

Washington

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-14-2013 06:54:02 | More by Laklimell

sparx1100

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

04-16-2013 03:23:35 | More by sparx1100

Duff27

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

04-15-2013 03:12:37 | More by Duff27

bulldogg915

Wyoming

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

04-14-2013 03:54:52 | More by bulldogg915

egrace84

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

04-14-2013 02:04:32 | More by egrace84

EyePeeAyBryan

Arizona

4/5  rDev +7.2%

04-03-2013 23:03:11 | More by EyePeeAyBryan

kluless59

California

4/5  rDev +7.2%

03-08-2013 02:49:41 | More by kluless59

muskiesman

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%

02-26-2013 05:07:59 | More by muskiesman

Stinger80OH

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

02-18-2013 11:43:30 | More by Stinger80OH

ste5venla

California

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%

01-31-2013 01:56:24 | More by ste5venla

CEDAMA

California

5/5  rDev +34%

01-21-2013 02:25:14 | More by CEDAMA

Harvey98

Arizona

4/5  rDev +7.2%

01-09-2013 01:10:30 | More by Harvey98

kawilliams81

Illinois

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- pours a dark copper with 1 finger tan head. Tons of spotting and lacing remains on the glass.

S- caramel, brown sugar, vanilla.

T- sweet toasted malts, caramel, and brown sugar.

M- medium body and carbonation. Very smooth.

O- good barleywine. Well balanced, sweet and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 02:59:06 | More by kawilliams81

kagent777

Utah

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bomber poured into a CCB snifter maybe a little too cold. Batch number 1 (brewed September of 2010) has 10.1 ABV. This one has been stored cool since purchase. First beer of 2013, over 2.5 yrs old.

Appearance: A gorgeous red brown with a fluffy white head about one finger tall. The head is cool looking with a few large bubbles but mostly smaller bubbles.

Smell: Pungent hops as soon as the bottle is opened, even at 2.5 yrs old. Nice dark dried fruity notes, black cherry, raisin, and dark spicy bread. Malt smell is rich and a little sweet.

Taste: The dark fruit is most evident with some toffee and caramel. A little sweetness mingling with the smooth booze of 10.1 ABV. Even a touch of cocoa. There is a little barrel woodiness that is lurking in the background. The hops bitterness is also hiding in the background, and not as forward as I imagine it was at bottling. Moderate strength for a BW, but also balanced. One of the most interesting Barleywines that I have had.

Mouthfeel: Very thick and clingy body, with correspondingly low carbonation. Right where it should be.

Overall: A very interesting barleywine, I really enjoyed the flavor. I wonder how much the newer releases of this beer compare? The price is a bit stiff at about 8 or so per bomber, but I could drink this once a winter or so. Marked a 3.5 only for price.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 02:51:07 | More by kagent777

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Release #3

Pours a cloudy, dark golden copper color with ruby red edges and a one finger frothy white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

Earthy aroma with sweet and leathery malt notes countered by grassy hops, dark fruit and alcohol. Hints of toffee, biscuit, hazelnut and rye as well as some earthy, floral hops, cherry, currant and other dark berries.

Medium bodied with a sticky hop presence that provides a dry, bitter counterpoint to the sweet and earthy malt notes. Earthy, grassy hops up front followed by hints of rye, toffee, hazelnut dark frut sweetness and alcohol. Hints of plum, raisin and dark cherry provides some needed sweetness toward the finish. Decent amount of alcohol flavor but the high ABV is well masked making it pretty easy to drink. One of the better beers that I've had from Epic.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 09:39:31 | More by corby112

cliff538

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

11-22-2012 01:16:44 | More by cliff538

2beerdogs

California

3/5  rDev -19.6%

11-12-2012 15:23:51 | More by 2beerdogs

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to jtd1969 for bringing this to the Barleywine tasting.

A - dark orangish amber with a short-lived head with little retention

S - caramel, candy sugar, bread, dark fruit

T - caramel, bread, sugary, alcohol, faint bitter hops, citrusy

M - full bodied, well carbonated, smooth, warming alcohol

This is a dangerously drinkable, complex beer that has great balance and hops character. The malts are forward and it's a bit sticky. On the whole this is a delicious example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 15:30:23 | More by tdm168

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Release #6

A - Pours a slightly hazy copper colour, thumb of head with solid retention and solid sheeting lacing.

S - Heavy citrus hops and earthy pine, hints of cedar, and a touch of toffee on the finish.

T - The flavour is surprisingly mild, given the heavy nose. A muddled earthy pine hop flavour comes through alongside boozy toffee and some salted roasted almonds. The ABV could be better hidden, but the flavour profile is tasty nonetheless.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and dry on the finish.

O - A tasty Barley Wine and worth a try, but the ABV could be a bit more subtle. Decent flavour profile but could use a bit fine tuning to make it world class.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 03:23:41 | More by andrenaline

brewdude1982

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +7.2%

10-13-2012 21:12:06 | More by brewdude1982

cofeeguru

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

10-10-2012 02:10:00 | More by cofeeguru

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beer #66 in my great Utah Brew Hunt.

At first, there was something really not working about this beer. That quickly faded away. Thankfully.

Overall, this strikes me as an "everyday" barleywine. It's mellow and smooth and carries a nice flavor profile. There could be a more lingering flavor to it all, but it isn't bad or anything. A little bit too malty sweet. Nice to drink, if not uninspiring and uneventful.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 00:56:36 | More by RblWthACoz

buzze40

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

10-09-2012 01:45:16 | More by buzze40

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

props to andrenaline for including this treat in our latest trade
A - hazy copper, tight creamy head retained outstanding with lots of wispy lacing all around
S - big piney hops and booze, some grain and candy sweetness, with a bit of a harshness to it
T - starts with a nutty and pine mix, touch of caramel and booze, finishes with a mild mineral quality
M - medium and creamy, just a touch of boozy heat, finishes full
O - the harsh aroma was a bit off putting but the flavour and feel redeemed it, not great but definitely a good barleywine

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 03:02:59 | More by joemcgrath27