Barleywine Style Ale - Green Flash Brewing Co.

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber purchased from Smiley's in Dover NH before they closed this past spring. Green label, Vintage 2011. Served cold in a chilled pint glass.

A: Cloudy brew the color of apple cider. A moderate pour generates 1/2" of dense rocky foam, very creamy-looking, surprisingly good retention given the high ABV. Tons of lace, impressive!

S: This might seem odd, but my first impression is GIN. A distinctive spicy juniper aroma. This fades as it airs, but I still get it lingering behind other things. Aroma is a super thick sweet malty body, full and rounded, covers all the malty sweet spots in the nose. It smells like something you'd have to eat with a spoon. The OG must be absolutely massive. A distinct caramel/ toffee note leads the charge. Also smelling some green apple, of all things.

T/M: Significantly less complex than the smell. Less of a clean malt sweetness, more of a muddy caramel struggling to keep peppery alcohol under wraps. The high ABV was well-hidden in the smell but definitely makes itself known in the taste. Feel is a tight balance between thick malt body and thin sharp alcohol, again with the alcohol winning out.

D: Not the best drinker, largely due to difficulties in keeping the high ABV under control in the taste. I've had other brews just as strong that do a better job at that task.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 02:40:17 | More by BeerNinja007

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-22-2013 01:25:05 | More by mikeincharleston

William85

Texas

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This is a well-balanced barleywine; and whereas balance in a barleywine ale is often achieved by sacrificing hoppiness, it seems like Green Flash has sought to emphasize the hop profile and malt profile in roughly equal proportions, without diminishing either.

Although I feel that hop-dominated barleywines work better (though these apparently come too close to DIPAs for some tastes), the sacrifice nothing approach taken here results in an interesting taste/mouthfeel -- an unmistakable smoothness/sweetness is *distinctly* present right next to a downright spicy hop presence in every sip.

Personally, I'll be sticking with Bigfoot and Old Ruffian as my go-to barleywines, but this one is definitely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 17:40:20 | More by William85

SamJory

United Kingdom (England)

4.65/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

650 ml bomber, 2010 vintage poured into a snifter.

Pours a dark ruby, fairly opaque with an off-white head.

On the nose I immediately get the caramel malt and rich fruity esters along with some hops in there too.

On the palate the fruity esters, caramel malt and hops hit you first, which gives way to a vinous warmth. The aging has given this beer such a beautiful balance - not overly sweet with malt and not overly bitter and more like a double IPA like some other American barleywines. The taste is incredibly smooth, rounded with some piney bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel is full, and the finish lasts and lasts. I had this beer a few months ago when it came in from the warehouse from work, and now it's come back it's even better. A very special experience.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 17:57:07 | More by SamJory

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-13-2013 13:14:28 | More by BeerCon5

LtColFrankSlade

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-13-2013 03:43:39 | More by LtColFrankSlade

Lynn

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

05-12-2013 21:27:36 | More by Lynn

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark copper with a large, slowly fading head.
Hoppy aroma, but with a fair bit of malt noticeable underneath. Grapefruit, resinous hops, spicy notes, caramel, bready malt.
Pretty hoppy aggressive flavours. Very sharp pine and grapefruit with accompanying massive bitterness alongside some bready malt. Thick syrupy body.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:52:13 | More by CrazyDavros

Liquoric3

Germany

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

05-02-2013 20:50:58 | More by Liquoric3

beersvh23

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

04-21-2013 01:39:44 | More by beersvh23

Gagnonsux

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-18-2013 23:56:16 | More by Gagnonsux

Ak555667

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-18-2013 14:34:28 | More by Ak555667

Duff27

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

04-16-2013 23:28:50 | More by Duff27

samEBC

Belgium

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-15-2013 18:36:23 | More by samEBC

Zuidman

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

04-15-2013 02:43:34 | More by Zuidman

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-13-2013 16:41:11 | More by DrunkinYogi

hef

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-13-2013 15:32:06 | More by hef

arfenhouse

California

4.24/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2013 vintage.

A: Dark amber with off white head. Good retention and lacing.

S: Good amount of caramel malt. Spicy hops, floral hops, and pine. Orange peel.

T: Sweet caramel and pine combo upfront. Sweet and very slight bitter grain. A touch of spicy hops mixed with orange peel. Finishes with a bit of bitter pine.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Wet finish.

O: My favorite barleywine so far. Good amount of sweetness and bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 06:10:53 | More by arfenhouse

yottachem

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -16%

04-11-2013 20:58:09 | More by yottachem

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into snifter, 2011 vintage. Pours very hazy dark reddish brown color with a 1 finger dense light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big orange rind, grapefruit, orange zest, pine, caramel, toast, floral, grass, molasses, dark bread, light roast, and floral earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of malt and hop notes. Taste of big orange zest, grapefruit, pine, caramel, molasses, toast, floral, grass, brown sugar, brown bread, light roast, and floral earthiness. Fair amount of pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus zest, caramel, toast, molasses, pine resin, brown sugar, brown bread, light roast, and floral earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible balance and complexity of hop and malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a creamy, slick, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic barleywine! Great balance and complexity of malt and hop flavors; and very smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 05:14:46 | More by superspak

MikeCactusGordon

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

04-08-2013 17:21:19 | More by MikeCactusGordon

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.76/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Real nice looking, auburn and clear in the glass with a great, rock-steady head that leaves sticky lacing.

Aroma is caramel malt, a little fruitiness, and some hoppiness. Slightly subdued on the aroma.

Flavor is pretty bold and malt-forward, plenty of caramel malt and dark fruits, some citrus, a good amount of hops bite.

Slightly slick and plenty bitter, the bitterness follows through on the finish big time. A little less viscous than typical barleywines. Carbonation is smooth and about right for the style.

Overall it's a nice, smooth barleywine that meets my expectations for Green Flash's usual high standards.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 17:48:10 | More by AlCaponeJunior

beercanman

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

04-02-2013 09:15:44 | More by beercanman

virinow

New York

4/5  rDev +3.4%

03-31-2013 22:31:48 | More by virinow

2beerdogs

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

03-30-2013 04:08:51 | More by 2beerdogs