Single Batch Series - Barleywine - Sebago Brewing Company

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

4.8/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

this is my 6th or 7th bottle of this... 9 left in the cellar, a few going out to friends, so my stock is dwindling. I looorve this beer.

pours an amber color with a sandy tan head... one or two fingers, minimal lacing. good legs.

nose is sweet caramel/toffee. Delightful. About 6 months after bottling and we've mellowed in the nose a bit.

the taste is splendid. Candied figs, bourbon, vanilla and caramel taffy. This has mellowed a bit, although it was never too hot. Hops have vanished, although I don't remember them being too strong... this is a beer I want to drizzle on vanilla bean ice cream.

No way this feels like 12.5%. 10, tops. Smooth is an understatement. Ok, maybe a bit of heat, but it works with the flavors as an accent, not a detractor. I could drink this fast, but I want to savor every drop.

Sleeper beer of the year, 2012. This one kicks fucking ass. Sebago, brew more, or else. Or else.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 04:37:12 | More by ShogoKawada

Bakker

Illinois

5/5  rDev +17.6%

04-25-2013 05:05:02 | More by Bakker

claytong

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -11.8%

04-10-2013 23:35:21 | More by claytong

egrace84

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev 0%

04-06-2013 01:02:47 | More by egrace84

dpianka

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

date of tasting: 4/2/2013
place of tasting: Barley Vine - Bristol, CT
beer: 2011 Barleywine limted release
brewery: Sebago
brewery location: Gorham, Maine
type: ale
style: barleywine
abv: 12.5%
ibu: 60
glass: mug w/appearance test in tasting glass
temperature of beer: 55F

Appearance: rich copper, quite opaque. Head pours rich and heavy

Smell: first hit: coconut and rum, not to be confused with cloyingly sweet coconut rum but like someone took some really good white rum and poured it into a coconut (kind of like the vodka and watermelon everyone used to do back in college) and let it sit for a few days. Then I get a little shot of pineapple and vanilla, the vanilla hits you like a brick once you notice it. Very faint oaky/charred wood. Butterscotch maltiness is also there in every whiff.

Taste: oh-my butterscotch, almost marshmallow-like vanilla, hops are ever so slight they just kind of dance in the background reminding you that they are there. There is a hint of fresh cut grass that kind of just lies back like it’s all lazy and whatnot.

Mouthfeel: creamy, chewy, smooth, moderately heavy bodied.

Overall Impression: So happy I got to try this beer. The bourbon barrels really add some beautiful vanilla and smoothness that is really just wonderful. The beer itself is sweet as I would expect a barleywine would be, yet its not over the top, I can have a beer or two and not feel like I just stumbled out of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory (though I may still be stumbling with the 12.5%abv). So this was a 2011 vintage. We are now well into 2013. I am sure it has rounded itself out and become even smoother than it was originally. I would love to have tried this when it was released just to see the difference. I am curious what flavors have changed since then. Is the butterscotch now more pronounced? Were the hops more pronounced originally? The alcohol isn’t even a little perceivable, it just kind of hits you, as Martha Stewart always says “It’s a good thing”.

Food Pairings: steak, like a ribeye charred hard with an olive oil herb dressing. Blue cheese crackers and sopprassata. strawberry shortcake with an orange bourbon cream.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2013 02:21:53 | More by dpianka

Hugonaut13

Illinois

4.64/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Bomber served in a snifter. Big thanks to Davey101 for this hidden gem!

A - Pours a deep, murky reddish brown. Minimal head. Looks like a BA Barleywine ;)

S - Immediately hit with a faint smell of bourbon which dissipates into loads of caramel and brown sugar. Smells excellent!

T - Up front the bourbon barrel comes through, but in the mid and back the sweet dark fruits, caramel, and toffee take over. No bitterness to be found. Your taste buds beg you to take another sip. Outstanding stuff!

M - Moderate carbonation. No heat to be found. If I didn't know better, I would have been shocked it was 12.5%. Very drinkable.

O - This is an outstanding BA Barleywine. Probably the most underrated beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:15:00 | More by Hugonaut13

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

thanks to surge1311 for trading me a bottle!

poured into tulip glass.

bottle date 10/20/2011.

Appearance: copper bodied beer with a light reddish hue. Almost 2 fingers of light tan head that leaves a nice sticky lace on the glass just a little better than spotty lace.

Smell: dark fruits, caramel, toffee, and brown sugar. It smells a little bit boozey, tannic, and vinious.

Taste: dark fruits(mostly figs and dates), dry and woody oak, vanilla, toasty coconut, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, toffee, mild leather and tobacco notes. The bourbon is well integrated into the malt profile. Such nice balance and complexity!

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with low end of moderate carbonation. This beer is super smooth mellow, and creamy. I think that this vintage has an ABV of 12.5% and it drinks like its 8 to 9%. Not a hint of booze!

Overall: This is a really great beer. Its doesnt happen too often that you find a really awesome shelf beer that has both quality and a great price point. This beer really evolved as it got warmer. Honestly, this beer is at its best once its above cellar temperature, dont even bother putting this beer in the fridge. A real class act beer here, just a showstopper!

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 04:46:27 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

xanok

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This bottle was a late 2011/early 2012 I think

Bomber poured into my Smuttynose tulip.

A-Light brown, hazy body with moderate, off-white, bubbly head with moderate lacing

S-Lots of bourbony deliciousness. Vanilla and oak and caramel and booze. Hoppiness is existent, but I think a year in the cellar has tamed that a bit. Quite sweet smelling as well.

T-Fairly bourbon forward, despite the year on it. This is a good thing though. This beer is mega-smooth and balanced. The American hops have toned down a bit. The bourbon gives way to a vanilla, toffee, and caramel (among other things) taste that is just fantastic.

M- Medium to low carbonation. Aftertaste dissipates fairly quickly. Smooth as hell though.

O-Just outstanding. Truly a standout beer from an underrated brewery. This barley wine is up there with the Sucabas and the CW BBBWs of the world, probably even better. The next bottle is going to get drank side by side to a Sucaba. I think this one will win out. I hope Sebago makes this one again soon. I can't praise this beer enough.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 07:46:21 | More by xanok

Beerandboards

New Mexico

3.96/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

22oz bomber into a snifter. Bottled on date is unreadable, but I assume its a 2012.

A - kind of a light brown sugar type brown. Minimal white/tan head that revives with a swirl. Leaves slight to moderate lacing.

S - lots of vanilla, caramel, sweet smelling toasty notes.

T - Starts out a little hot. Loads of toasted marshmallow type tastes, vanilla and caramel. Hop bitterness at the end. Not terribly complex, but tasty nonetheless. As it warms, the flavors open up and mellow out the heat.

M - A little too thin for me. Carbonation is a little above medium, and maybe a little prickly.

O - My original plan had been to age this one. Then I decided to go by the rule of, if you only have one, taste it fresh. At first, my thought was I should have let it sit for a while, the heat and the bitterness seemed like it could use some age. However, I think this may be a good one to do fresh. Its not real complex, so I think age might make it a little thin. Plus, overall, its a pretty tasty beverage. Not quite top notch, but thoroughly enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 03:45:41 | More by Beerandboards

oline73

Maryland

3.84/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from the bottle into a tasting snifter. This was opened at a BA Barleywine tasting.

The beer pours a cloudy red amber color. This one is sweet enough with a hint of hops. This was one of the better balanced beers we had that night. There is a slight tart note in the mix as well. I'm getting some caramel and a grapefruit peel bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 05:30:08 | More by oline73

bluesplit63

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +17.6%

01-31-2013 01:46:17 | More by bluesplit63

HopsHopenstein

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -5.9%

01-29-2013 17:07:16 | More by HopsHopenstein

duceswild

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev 0%

01-21-2013 16:48:59 | More by duceswild

surlytheduff

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev 0%

01-10-2013 15:05:14 | More by surlytheduff

AgentZero

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.9%

12-06-2012 20:41:55 | More by AgentZero

BeerWorld

New York

4.25/5  rDev 0%

12-05-2012 03:13:34 | More by BeerWorld

BobCobb

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.9%

11-11-2012 01:35:56 | More by BobCobb

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared tonight by Mike, I think, Thanks for the opportunity.
Pours a slightly hazy deep golden/amber color with a smallish off white head that slowly dissipates to a cap. Smells really sweet with lots of caramel and brown sugar, a fair amount of light sweet fruit, a bit of ethanol, and hints of oak and bourbon. The flavor is quite sweet with sugary caramel and light sweet fruits along with a solid shot of vanilla oak and bourbon. Medium body with a light level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel. Nice barleywine, if not a bit on the sweet side. Some age should do wonders for this brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 05:14:04 | More by johnnnniee

hogansct

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

10-31-2012 21:01:28 | More by hogansct

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.55/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle opened on 10.18.12.

A - Pours a dark, cloudy and fizzy brown with a very thin light tan head that moves to the edges quickly.

S - Sweet dark fruit, carmel, and some booze.

T - Toffee, carmel, vanilla, coconut. Amazing.

D - Decent carbonation with a medium body. A nice sweet finish.

O - Great layers and falvors. Really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 04:17:38 | More by HuskyinPDX

warnerry

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle received via trade with woosterbill. Thanks Will!

A - Pours a beautiful clear deep amber with a half finger of tan head. Not much head retention, and only small spots of lacing.

S - Smell is a harmonious blend of caramel, toffee, vanilla, oak and some dark fruits. A bit of noticeable alcohol in the aroma, but not distracting.

T - Again, lots of caramel and toffee, with some dark dried fruits, faint hop bitterness, some vanilla and oak. Finshes with a pretty significant oak component that is quite drying. Very nice.

M - Medium/full mouthfeel starts off slightly sweet, but oak tannins soon dominate and lead to a very dry finish.

O - This is an excellent barrel-aged barleywine and the first offering I have had from Sebago. It isn't quite in the class of King Henry, but easily one of the most enjoyable barleywines I've had. Over time, the barrel taste gets a bit too strong, but I would love to have this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 01:41:26 | More by warnerry

davey101

Connecticut

4.58/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber into a tulip glass. 2011 vintage. I grabbed a few more bottles. One of them was legible enough on the printed neck date to read "Bottled 10 28 11"

A - Very clear dark red body. Pour yields a dirty and creamy khaki head with large bubbles. Light lacing, but thick alcohol legs.

S - Candied raisins, toffee, brown sugar, oak, and some light vanilla. Very smooth and warming, The bourbon presence is rather light but provides a very subtle contribution to some solid english style barley wine notes, No hop presence what so ever.

T - Rich dark fruits, caramel and toffee, brown sugar and very light piney hops. This is amazingly delicious. The bourbon is again rather light but present in some faint oak and vanilla notes.

M - Medium bodied with a low level of carbonation. Lets talk about the alcohol content. 12.5%...I had no idea. Its just so smooth, there is literally no alcohol presence.

O - This beer is beyond impressive. Zero hype, reasonable price, and a shelf beer. I honestly think it can go head to head against the titans of barrel aged barley-wines (King Henry, Abacus, Naked Evil, etc). It probably wouldn't beat them out, but it sure as hell would give them a scare. Furthermore, its refreshing to see a beer sit in a barrel for only three months versus a year or so. The bourbon notes are balanced and subtle. Perfection, honestly.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 03:56:47 | More by davey101

mstobbs

Maine

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%

10-19-2012 02:15:30 | More by mstobbs

zchall23

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%

10-17-2012 00:15:26 | More by zchall23

DaveHack

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.9%

10-14-2012 18:43:11 | More by DaveHack