John Barleycorn - Bourbon Barrel Aged - Mad River Brewing Company

Jules11788

California

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the John Barleycorn Barrel Aged release party at the brewery on 10/22/11. Apparently this was aged in Bourbon barrels for 214 days.

A: Pours a dark, cloudy, dirty brown; one finger-width head, light lacing. Overall the color looks like muddy water, not very appealing.

S: Malt, caramel, toffee, and LOTS of sweet bourbon.

T: Damn, this beer is sticky sweet! Big sugary bourbon flavor plays over notes of caramel, malts, and toffee; finishes with a little boozy kick (which actually is enjoyable because it balances out the sweetness a little bit), and then more bourbon/wood flavors that linger. This beer is just drenched in sweet bourbon and woody/malty flavors.

M: Thick and chewy; low carbonation; super smooth on the tongue; has just the slightest bite of booze, which is amazing considering it's packing 12.5% abv under the hood

O: This is one big-ass beer, with lots of intense sticky-sweet Barleywine flavors complemented nicely with the bourbon/woody flavors. Definitely a sipper!

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2011 19:03:48 | More by Jules11788

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

04-20-2013 14:06:25 | More by drgonzo2k2

seanwilson530

California

4/5  rDev -4.8%

04-18-2013 23:24:10 | More by seanwilson530

mpit11

Iowa

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%

03-28-2013 02:18:28 | More by mpit11

flexabull

California

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a dark copper color with a pretty nice off white head.

Aromas are a bit subtle, but pleasant. Roasted nuts, dark fruits, booze, brown sugar and light notes of coconut.

Taste is also subtle, but very flavorful. This beer doesn't knock you over the head with big bold flavors, instead it's refined and balanced. Brown sugar sweetness, roasted nuts, dark booze soaked fruits, and a light boozy bourbon and coconut notes on the finish.

Unfortunately, this beer has thin body, and is lacking a bit of carbonation.

Overall, a very solid BA barleywine. Worth a try if you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2013 17:01:16 | More by flexabull

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

01-09-2013 21:11:24 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

Treebs

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle served in a . 2010 vintage. Big thanks to BourbonBob26 for the extra!

A: Pours an opaque brown color with a light khaki head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thicker ring that leaves sheets of lace down the glass.

S: Very smooth bourbon, decadent caramel, some mild oak and a little fig. Earthy dates with some lightly toasted malts. Some bready flavors as well. Really digging this.

T: The bourbon is a little more restrained in the taste. The oak comes out a little more with a lot of dates and figs. A little malty sweetness with some roast and caramel. A little less inviting and complex than the nose.

M: A tad over carbed. Pretty prickly across the palate which is less desirable given the ABV and style. Medium bodied with a sweet bourbon finish.

O: If it wasn't as carbonated this would have been a home run, but sadly the mouthfeel detracts from the overall experience of the beer. I'm really happy to have tried it as it's been a want of mine for a while, but I'm glad I didn't have to go out of my way for it.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 18:35:08 | More by Treebs

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -4.8%

11-19-2012 14:56:12 | More by DarthGuitarHero

Googs

New York

4/5  rDev -4.8%

10-29-2012 17:01:28 | More by Googs

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

10-23-2012 01:39:13 | More by t0rin0

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer was served from the tap at The Blind Tiger in New York, NY. It arrived in a generic tulip glass, glowing a deep brown, with maroon flecks around the edges. No real head was noted, but a thin, tan film of microbubbles was seen across the top of the liquid. This left no real lacing. There was haze when seen through with light, but no sediment. Carbonation appeared lighter. The aroma showed rich molasses, cooked caramel and brown sugars, light powdered chocolates, syrupy figs, strawberries, bourbon, musky wood, and faint banana esters with warmth. Our first impression was that this guy had beautiful butter and bourbon. As we sipped, as in the nose, rich buttery diacetyls, woody bourbon, fusel booze, and syrupy caramel sweetness started things off. It was so thick, syrupy and buttery, and full of goodness. The middle showed cloying sweetness to the peak, with more butter, more caramel, more wood and musk, and almost a nutty coconut and cashew richness. The finish was with more of the beginning. Buttercream, booze, caramel, toffee, and light coffee malts headed things off. The aftertaste breathed with more sourness and bitterness of the wood, caramel, pale crystal malts, more light coffee, and fusel bourbon sting. The body was full and syrupy, and the carbonation was medium. There was glorious froth and cream to each sip, with awesome slurp. The initial froth gave a light coating, but this transforms into the lightest dry toast and boozy astringent dryness. The abv was big, and the beer drank as a sipper.

Overall, the best thing about this beer was how hugely apparent the barreling was throughout the nose and the flavoring. This added a curious sweetness when coupled with the rich caramel malts, and deeper cooked candy sweetness. The booze was quite strong, and hot off the top, making this guy a definite sipper. Regardless, the flavoring remained robust throughout, and the bourbon and butter flavors are simply glorious.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2012 21:04:28 | More by TheBrewo

Blueribbon666

Ohio

5/5  rDev +19%

08-04-2012 11:20:54 | More by Blueribbon666

Exiled

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-11-2012 00:54:58 | More by Exiled

Bierlerner

Oklahoma

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

02-05-2012 19:52:28 | More by Bierlerner

RSchaeffer

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -4.8%

01-24-2012 02:00:30 | More by RSchaeffer

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a sampler tumbler. Poured a brownish orange with a half finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, caramel, spices, wood, and alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, wood, sweet alcohol (bourbon), and caramel. It had a medium feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. After having the regular version just before this one, I can honestly say that the barrel makes itself known in this brew. Loads of bourbon that hits you in the face toward the backend of each sip and then a big followthrough once you swallow it as well. Quite intense on just the barrel, but not much of anything else. This one had the chance to be great, but just fell a little short due to this fact. A definite must try if you are a big Barleywine fan, or a friend of the –bal.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 18:13:48 | More by thagr81us

beenitty

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes Fall 2011

12 oz bottle, 2010 version out of the barrel for 2011, thanks to johnhenryconway, thanks john!

A: Pours copper reddish brown, producing tannish head that dissipates into a ring. Looks nice.

S: Yesss. Bourbon, brown sugar, dark fruits, everything I love in a barleywine.

T: First thing that comes to mind is this tastes like a more "refined" version of Weyerbacher Insanity. Beer is sweet at first,toffee, bourbon, and bit of malt are all present. Tastes candy coated goodness with a kick of bourbon.

M: Sweet flavors at the front of the sip, followed by creamyness and booze, not in a bad way though, sip this one and savor.

O: Awsome beer. I love insanity so I really love this one.

I have a few trading buddies who absolutely love Insanity, and they all were nuts about this beer, so if you think Insanity is good, then this one is one you'll need to seek out.

Oddly enough, shared this one at CdC picnic table and no one seemed interested, shame because not sure how much is out there, definitely worth it.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 00:18:47 | More by beenitty

T1969C

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

01-02-2012 21:01:57 | More by T1969C

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.8%

12-12-2011 20:57:26 | More by djrn2

mactrail

California

3.1/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Yes, it's definitely bourbon. So strong and so sharp. Hot wood splinters in the tongue, plus a sugar rush. Extremely sharp for a barley wine, more acidic than any I've had. Seems to have the Mad River family style of the dirty, earthy hops and skip the flowery aromas. The booze flavor is not bad, but it veers from mellowness into a sharp and peculiar taste.

As unpleasant a barley wine as I've ever had, and it's one of my favorite styles. On tap for SD Beer Week at The Linkery with several other Mad River beers.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2011 04:14:42 | More by mactrail

davesway10

Iowa

5/5  rDev +19%

12-02-2011 21:32:21 | More by davesway10

JamesMcPolin

California

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful dark brown with deep red hues. Very light tan head. Wow! Loving that bourbon aroma, how did they impart that much barrel on the brew in only 7 months? Seems a low time-frame to get that strong of a bourbon aroma. Sweet woody vanilla is impressive. Surprisingly top-notch brew! Can’t even taste the 12.4% I actually enjoy a little bit of boozy heat but it’s really non-existent. It’s a malt bomb beautifully balanced by the bourbon barrel. Very different from standard JB. I can’t help but wonder how many more hundreds of pounds of malt went into the mash to boost the abv to 12.4% and make it this malty but I LOVE it! Creamy and medium-bodied. This is a favorite for me. Wouldn’t mind sipping on this at any occasion.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 03:57:42 | More by JamesMcPolin

Beerontwowheels

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 Vintage, poured into a red wine glass.

A: A dark reddish, copper brown color when held up to light. About a finger's worth of head that quickly recedes into a ring around the glasses edge. When held up to light, sediment is visible.

S: Bourbon, malt, biscuit, brown sugar, raisins.

T: Licorice, bourbon, Malt are all present. The bourbon and licorice being the most dominant.

M: This coats the tongue a slight bit and has ample carbonation. I don't find any fault with the mouth feel.

O: A nice bourbon barrel aged barleywine. I wouldn't go out of my way for this, but it was a great extra from a great trader!

edit: As this warms I'm finding a better cohesion of flavors. Adjusting score accordingly.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 01:45:26 | More by Beerontwowheels

JeremyDrinksBeer

California

3/5  rDev -28.6%

11-21-2011 07:02:58 | More by JeremyDrinksBeer

GregSVT

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into a tulip - bottle says 12.4% and 2010

A: Pours a dark mahogany reddish brown with a small tan head that fades to a ring and leaves only the smallest lacing.

S: The nose is really something. Big notes of vanilla, caramel, toffee, some peat which is weird coming from a barleywine, and an earthy malt presence.

T: The taste has the same characteristics of the nose with big flavors of caramel, toffee, butterscotch, vanilla, and earthy hops on the finish.

M: The feel is the only downfall to this one...thin and bit underwhelming.

O: Very tasty and sweet. The ABV caught up to me quick though...still an excellent beer. Surprised not to see another bottle review of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 05:15:03 | More by GregSVT