Traquair 2020 - Traquair House Brewery Lld

mikeyv35

New York

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Date: 04/27/2011
Type: Expensive 11.2oz. Bottle
Vintage: 2010
Glass: Chimay Chalice

I finally spotted a bottle of this brew that I had been seeking out on the shelf in Brooklyn. The expensive price tag of $13.29 + tax was the only thing that detered me from buying multiple bottles to cellar. Figured I should sample a bottle before I blow $100 or so on 8-10 bottles for the cellar.

Poured a dark mahoghany brown in color w/ deep ruby highlights, w/ a 1/2 finger tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aromas of caramel, toffee, slight dark fruits, and breadiness. The taste was of initial spicy molasses up front, followed by sweet toffee, caramel, and a touch of dark fruit, finishing w/ very mild hop bite. Medium bodied and lush. Pretty drinkable brew fresh, age should do it well.

Overall, I am a little disappointed by this brew. With this being an English Barleywine I was expecting this to pour almost still and have very rich and sweet flavors covering a boozy astringency, like the greats(JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale and Xyauyu). Don't get me wrong, this was a fantastic beer, but it felt more like a Scotch Ale blended w/ an English Barleywine. Hopefully w/ age the carbonation will die down and the flavors will gain depth. Will probably pick up a few of these bottles because now I am interested to see how this one progresses.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 04:41:41 | More by mikeyv35

oberon

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I bought this beer intent on holding it a least for a little while,Iam glad I didnt.Poured a rich mahogany with a tinge of scarlett,a thinner but persisntent head atop.A mix of molasses,caramel/vanilla,raisin/prune,and light peaty smokiness in the nose,alot going on but it all melds well.Big chewey mouthfeel,the definition of chewey right here.Alcohol dipped stone fruit and molasses dominate the palate,it has an almost cakey feel to it.The sweetnes is kept in check pretty well with the alcohol zip providing the sweetness mainly in the finish.A complex to the hilt beer,its one of the best
barleywines I have had either from here or the UK,wonderful stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 20:17:46 | More by oberon

drabmuh

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Stella Artois glass. Beer is dark brown / ruby and clear with a thin brown head that leaves no lacing on the glass, carbonation low, looks like a beer.

Aroma is super malty with a hint of ethanol.

Beer is sweet and mildly spicy. Medium in body, sweetness from the ethanol, a warming palate overall. The finish is mildly dry with a little bit of bitterness from the roast. Really nice beer if you like maltiness, which I do. I'd have it again if it were priced slightly lower.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 00:56:19 | More by drabmuh

gford217

Georgia

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle.

Pours dark for a barley wine, almost opaque mahogany, with faint copper tints around the edges. There is a decent head but it's not long for the world and recedes quickly to a thin cap.

Aroma is sweet with treacle, caramel, chocolate and tons of dark fruits with raisins and figs. There is also a huge molasses aroma with hints of bready malts.

Taste is also sweet thought there is more of a woody character up front. But after the wood comes the parade of sweet flavors. I'm getting some red apple skin, caramel and plums. The finish has a boozy heat but with plenty of molasses sweetness lingering on the palate.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied but feels really thick on the palate, heavy with sugary sweetness.

I really enjoyed this one as I like my barley wines sweet, and this is certainly sweet. Should age like a champ.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 02:53:56 | More by gford217

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a buttery caramel color with a soft layer of fuzz on top. Carbonation is very visible, which is surprising for the ABV, and all those bubbles make for a sticky lacing. It's reminscent of a cola in body and head.

Aromas include caramel, booze, molasses, coffee and root beer. Since it's still quite young, the alcohol presence is rather powerful and assertive.

Flavor is sweet, boasting a deep caramel maltiness, ginger, licorice and a touch of honey. Despite the sweeter notes, it's never cloying, and it balances out nicely with a concluding dryness.

Mouthfeel is delightfully smooth, much like Traquair's wee heavys, with a thin, tonic water body. The lightness in body definitely adds to the drinkability.

From the aroma, I never expected this to be drinkable whatsoever, but it definitely goes beyond expectations. I can only imaginable how nice it'll be in ten years.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 21:58:31 | More by deapokid

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer is a brownish, dark-copper color. It's an intensely malty beer, loaded with melanoidins, toasty, and sweet. The aroma is alcoholic, notably deep with toasted pale malt, and enticing. Luxurious mouthfeel...it's really mouth-enveloping. Malt is the dominating characteristic of the beer, followed by alcohol as a close second. Not overpowering, however, and neither is it one dimensional. All in all, this is a fine barelywine.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 02:57:03 | More by Suds

chefelf

New York

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this one in the fridge for about a month before I broke down and drank it. Only 9 years short of the "best by" date.

This was probably the best barleywine style beer I've ever had. This isn't saying a lot as I have not had a ton of different barleywines. I really enjoyed it. At $8.99 a bottle it's certainly not cheap but for a special occasion and for someone who really enjoys good and interesting beers it's certainly worth the money.

I'm not sure if you can even get this anymore but if you can I'd recommend picking up a bottle. And don't wait around until April of 2020 to drink it. That's just dumb.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 23:58:15 | More by chefelf

aepb1

Florida

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Dark brown/black body with a small tan head

S- Dark fruits, molasses and some bready malts as well as a boozy edge

T- Sweet dark fruits, toffee malts and it finishes sweet

M- Full-bodied and good carbonation, creamy and the 10% ABV is ridiculously well-hidden

D- Solid barelywine to be sure and the hidden ABV for this young is nice

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 15:01:48 | More by aepb1

BarrelO

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle poured into a snifter. Best before end April 2020. Looks like I'm just in time.

A: Blood red body. Decent white head leaves a bit of lacing.

S: Fruity and malty.

T: Intensely malty. Dark fruits and toffee. Also a hint of chocolate. Roasted notes in the aftertaste. Herbal notes from the hops. No trace of alcohol.

M: Medium body and carbonation.

D: Astonishingly easy to put down for such a big beer. An outstanding sipper.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 05:19:42 | More by BarrelO

cjgator3

Florida

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle

A- Poured into a tulip. Pours a dark brown color that looks more like mahogany when held up to the light. The pour produces a nice off-white head that creates a thin ring of lacing around the glass.

S- The aroma is predominately malty with dark fruit and sweet caramel.

T- The taste like the aroma is big and malty up front with some sweetness and toffee flavors. The finish has some warmth from the alcohol.

M- The mouthfeel is medium bodied and a bit chewy with a perfect amount of carbonation.

O- Overall, this one is pretty tasty fresh. I can only imagine that it will just get better and better with age. Considering the high ABV, this one is amazingly drinkable. Definitely worth a try. Buy one now, save at least a few for later.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 03:58:44 | More by cjgator3

rajendra82

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

When I looked up the shade of red this beer pured out as, Wikipedia said Wine. The body was clear, and the head was one finger thick. Unlike most other barleywines, this one seemed to have a vigorous carbonation. The smell was very sweet, like molasses or honey almost, with just a dash of spice. The taste was very rich, reminding me of golden raisins and brown sugar. Despite the richness, this beer was actually not overly sweet, and spicy hops came through in the middle of each sip. The finish was sweet again with some peaty undertones. Thick and tongue coating, this was very velvety in the mouth. Very drinkable for a 10% ABV ale, and a fine drink 9 years before the expiration date of 2020.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 05:15:36 | More by rajendra82

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of MasterSki, cheers Alex. Best before 2020! 11.2oz bottle into a tulip, "Judge Nought" emblazoned on the bottle.

Pours a dark burgundy, borderline opaque with some ruby red and lighter browns when held to some light. Finger of khaki head, leaving a ring and some light retention. Head is easily reconjured with a swift swirl. Nose of dark, rich fruits, dates, raisin, some toffee, light alcohol with some dry, vinous grape notes too. Taste is subtle and complex, rich and relatively sweet. Caramelized dark fruits are prominent. Body isn't massive and overwhelming, but adequate and pleasing. More toffee as it moves over the palate and leaves with a light bitterness, almost coffee-like. Mild alcohol note is present. Aftertaste lingers for quite some time, and carbonation is a low medium. Great drinkability, I had significant trouble putting this glass down. Frankly, I didn't.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 01:58:27 | More by liamt07

mryuk

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a medium brown amber with almost no head at all.

smell is sweet and malty with a hint of black cherries. slight coffee scent as well.

taste is not as sweet as expected, alcoholic with a slight bitter finish.

mouth is medium bodied with almost no carbonation.

overall this was just so-so for me. seems like it is setup to age for a few years. not sure if i should get another one and throw it in the cellar to give it a chance. maybe i will be updating the review in a few years.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 01:02:02 | More by mryuk

flannelman808

California

3.9/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: This is really a pretty one. I 3/4 in a snifter and felt like checking out the rest in a wine glass to get a better look. In a snifter I nearly thought it looked like the deepest shade of violet, though in a wine glass it shows more of a deep orange/red. good retention and seemingly good carbonation too. Slow legs but not too much sticky lacing to speak of ... maybe in a pint? lots of aging potential.

S: Brandy like on the nose, esters of dark chewy fruit. This guy has a pretty big bouquet overall with lots of complex flavors. lots of aging potential.

T: Not quite what I was expecting/hoping for on this one though I perhaps had very high expectations as this stuff is quite good. Though first Ill read out the bad ... roasted malts show up more than I would like them to. It has a charred bread quality which is a bit unwelcome, and I think hides what the fruity aroma might have provided on the palate. Sort of reminds me of maple syrup soaked pancakes. Only it would be a pretty bittersweet syrup.

M: um... good

D: quite freaking high but god damn this shit is pricy. Ef the sticker price on this stuff. I see it aging some and it will be interesting to see just how it does but frankly ... 2020? no way.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 09:46:05 | More by flannelman808

bobhits

Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2020 Traquair

Pours dirty amber/brown in color. Pours a strong and creamy tan head. Decent amount of carbonation hanging to the bottom of the glass.

Sweet nutty/dark fruits in the malt. A kiss of hops at the finish adding a piny finish to the nose.

Sweet caramel, a touch of candy, and just a touch of a bite to finish the beer off. There's an almost toffee like flavor but this beer doesn't go towards the burnt flavors often associated with that flavor.

Smooth, creamy, yet not overly thick or hard to drink at all. Not extremely smooth from carbonation as the 10% abv kills that. However the alcohol is virtually non existent in the taste. Rather impressive considering this beer hasn't been aged that long.

I would highly recommend seeking this beer out.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 23:21:18 | More by bobhits

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Opened this bottle last night to celebrate Amy's birthday. Picked these up from West Lakeview, Capone's, and Rick's. I'll give them each an assist. Served in a Hill Farmstead wine glass.

Pour yields a bronze brew with a bit of a garnet hue. Nice tan head sticks around for a bit and leaves a few legs on the side of the glass. The nose starts out with some dried plum and raisin plus a bit of molasses and brown-sugar sweetness. There is some sweet sherry there as well as it warms up. The flavor is mostly comprised of lingering dark fruits and cherry plus some sherry undertones along with a molasses-like sweetness. Mouthfeel is medium with low carbonation; there is no booze but the finish is a bit too bitter, almost tannic. Drinkability was pretty good. Not super impressed with this one right now (although I had high expectations). We'll see what it's like in a few years.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2011 13:19:49 | More by Thorpe429

zeff80

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a clear, dark burgundy color with a one-finger, tan head of foam. It left soapy trails of lace.

S - It smelled of rich bready malts. Some mild floral notes, too.

T - It tasted of sweet maltiness, caramel and sweet breads. There was a mild spice.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied barleywine.

D - This was good and pretty easy drinking for a barleywine. I would really like to try another one with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 02:26:31 | More by zeff80

impending

California

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

33cl into a tulip. Pours a deep mahogany garnet, when an inch remains it's a gorgeous deep copper. Minor fleeting head barely surfaced, unexceptional lacing.

Aroma is big sweet, multitudes of dark fruit, caramel and quiet peat moss. Quadish Exceptional

Highly complex flavor, something for everyone. Sweetness not equal to the expectation from the nose. The evolution of the taste is significant. Hints of wrinkled dark fruits plucked from a brandied fruit cake. Long lasting pleasant aftertaste. Nice use of alcohol as a flavor component.

Mouthfeel is only medium, I would have enjoyed it being a bit more viscous, the low carbonation is appropriate.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2011 20:27:25 | More by impending

largadeer

California

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear mahogany brown body topped by an initially tall but rapidly fading tan head.

The nose reminds me a whole lot of a Belgian quadrupel. Anise, dark candied fruits, ripe figs and tart plums, caramel apple, cereal grain.

Rich but pleasant on the tongue. Toffee, peat, smoke and plum are dominant. Slight berry tartness beneath, though this largely a rich, malty beer. Caramel apple comes to mind again. The smoke character came as a welcome surprise, lending a bit of balance to the initial blast of sweetness. Full-bodied and syrupy on the tongue, more earthy and peaty in the finish than bitter. Really nice stuff, and I can see how a few years of age could turn this into an absolutely brilliant beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 05:10:00 | More by largadeer

SolomonGrundy

California

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

So tired...must keep going...must find beer...

Pours a scintillatingly enticing Ruby to blood red...Like a blood ruby...Isn't that a film with Bar Refaeli's boyfriend?

Not much of a head to speak of, and it pours oily thick, so this'll be a robust ale, fer sure. 10% ABV and painfully expensive at $8.99/11.2oz. bottle. YOWZA!!!

Only the faintest wisp of carbonation.

Large, very porter-ish aromas. Lots of deep molasses and dark fruit, like fig. I also get touches of chocolate, but dark baker's chocolate. Very nice even in its mostly one-dimensional aspects.

Whoa my sweet baby jesus, what the heck is going on here. Flavor is like a cannon shot!!! It's a blazing fireflash of huge, robust malt components. So much going on it's almost not possible to describe. It's like smashing a bowl of figs together with a sack of barley grain and lighting them on fire briefly. Then taking the burned remnants and making a strong tea out of them, then chilling them. It's got enormous potential, which is why they say lay it down for a few years. The middle softens a lot and some sweetness crawls around in your mouth. Then the finish comes and lays some bitterness on your slab of bread and tells you "here, eat this." This will be amazing in a couple years. Right now it's a conundrum in that I know it's good beer, but it's crazy powerful.

What I like most: The crazy, robust blast of flavors.

What I like least: The price and fact I have to sit on it for a few years to really enjoy it.

Verdict: Fantastic and will only get better over the next few years. Find and cellar, mis amigas...

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 02:54:09 | More by SolomonGrundy

emerge077

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served at cellar temperature 48º into a tulip.

Dark saturated copper crimson in the light, with a finger or two of tan foam resting on top. It settles after a few minutes leaving a delicate ring of lacing on the way down. A thin skim remains across the surface after the first few sips.

Estery and phenolic in the nose like a high gravity doppelbock, perceptible hints of alcohol and malty spice. Brown sugar and cinnamon.

Full bodied, sweet and estery with plum, raisin, and plantains fried in butter. Hints of butter toffee, sticky with brown sugar sweetness, fig jam and multigrain bread. Slightly drying in the finish from the alcohol. Body has enough carbonation to avoid being syrupy, and is simply full bodied and sweet. The 10% abv is apparent in the aroma and taste, though it doesn't overwhelm. One to take awhile with, sipping away the last days of winter.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 01:24:50 | More by emerge077

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I've been keeping an eye out for this one for the last month or so, found some a few days ago.

Pours very dark red/brown, off-white head becomes a thick ring and cap pretty quick, leaves some lacing.

Brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, and a tiny bit of booze in the scent. Nice but doesn't really smell like a barleywine...

Taste mostly follows the nose, definitely reminds me of a scotch ale or old ale more than a barleywine for sure. Brown sugar, toffee/caramel, molasses, some toasty malts and dark fruit. It is pretty sweet but not cloying. Some grassy hops. The flavors, although nice enough, seem muted, there isn't much depth.

Very smooth, full mouthfeel. Alcohol is exceptionally well-hidden although it starts to show more as it warms.

Good, but nowhere near $10/bottle good. I bought another bottle to age though this drinks pretty well right now.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2011 02:55:55 | More by Chico1985

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I wonder how the Scottish contengency feels about creating Strong Scottish Ale that defies the style to the point that the most apt catagory would be an "English" barleywine. Though there's enough Scotch element to make me interpret this beer as a Wee Heavy to the extreme-- maybe a Wee Sumo?

Pouring an exquisitly handsome and rich mohogany hue with crimson and ruby highlights, the beer shows off its brilliant color and clarity. Lightly tanned foam builds a formitable head that falls to a delicate creme that coats the beer evenly and laces with intermitten pockets along the glass. A very sharp look.

Rich fruity and malt sweetness fill the nose with plumb, grape, dates, figs... really and nice blend of stone, dehydrated and pitted fruits. Sweetened and rounded by toffee, caramel, and molasass the fruits come to life in a very brandyish and port wine kinda way. Still a memory of Scotch Whiskeys persists with earthy notes of peat and mild phenolic smoke.

Very strong flavors of those fruits and malts swirl for a very well melded and mature taste. Rum soaked raisons, fruitcake, and ripe cherries further deepen the complexity of flavors that continue to reveal themeselves with each and every sip. Alcohol flavors dance with the smokey/peaty notes in the finish for a savory, yet thinly sweet taste.

Full and sweetly feeling early, the mouthfeel weathers the syrupy start to provide a creamy and pleasantly fatty mid palate before venturing onward to a malty dry finish and a linger of earthy Scotch and port-like fruity sweetness.

Despite its Barleywine alcohol strength, this beer is as easy to consume as any sessionable Scottish Ale, making it dangerously smooth and drinkable. Though an absolute joy to drink, the beer falls just a step off of the pace of its nearest beer- J.W. Lees Lagavulin aged ale. Sorry Scotland.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 18:22:43 | More by BEERchitect

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Superior English style barleywine. Dark colour, dark fruit, toffee, booze balanced with a subdued sweetness, cherry, fig, vanilla.Some mollasses and massive rich malts. Very drinkable, so smooth. Above average mouthfeel. I am sure ageing would make it even more amazing.Thanks again M.-P.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 01:42:33 | More by northyorksammy

mdfb79

New York

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into a snifter. Decided to pick this one up at Whole Foods the other day and decided to try it now as it looks like the reviews for it are already pretty good. Cost was $9 for a 11.2 oz. bottle.

a - Pours a dark mahogany brown color with one and a half fingers of light tan head and moderate to high carbonation evident. Head lasts for several minutes and leaves a little bit of lacing on the glass.

s - Smells of caramel malts, dark fruits, figs, sweet fruit, sugar, and bready malts. The smell is sweeter than the taste; lots of sugar and sweet fruit.

t - Tastes of caramel malts, figs, dates, dark fruits, sugar, bready malts, and light alcohol. I enjoyed the taste a little bit more than the smell. It's not quite as sweet.

m - Medium body and low carbonation, very smooth and creamy body. Awesome feel for a barleywine and goes down pretty easy for 10% ABV.

d - Overall I thought this was a pretty good English barleywine, but it didn't blow me away. I enjoyed the smell and the taste but the only thing I found really great about this beer was the mouthfeel. The smell is very sweet so maybe with some time on it it would be better; I would guess this will hold up well over the next few years. Personally I wouldn't purchase this one again based soley on the price, but would certainly like to try again sometime if someone else bought a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 23:04:12 | More by mdfb79