Barleywine Style Ale - Green Flash Brewing Co.

burnerfinger

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

bought this mostly becuase it comes from
*CALIFORNIA*
and didn't regret it a bit!

Poured from the 22 ounce bomber into my New Belgium goblet.

A: Nice show on the pour: brings up a sticky 1.5 finger head that settles to a nice film leaving a generous lace. Deep red brew with very little clarity.

S: Sweets dominate the nose: malty toffee with a hop background

T: love me my barelywine that's for sure. this comes thru sweet and leaves a nice firm aftertaste. You know you are drinking without a doubt.

M: Big big body - solid apperance by the - alcohol - and the buzz is not far behind

D: this is no session beer that's for sure. Loving every minute of it but cant give superhigh marks in the drinkability dept. THANKS to Green Flash for this.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 02:41:50 | More by burnerfinger

Jamison85

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +16%

06-15-2013 04:25:51 | More by Jamison85

jaxon53

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

06-13-2013 00:06:10 | More by jaxon53

rodrigueZflyingf0x

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.1%

06-12-2013 18:22:58 | More by rodrigueZflyingf0x

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

06-08-2013 15:20:35 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.1%

06-07-2013 04:58:09 | More by megamass

SmashPants

Australia

4.53/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: solid brown 650mL longneck, with an acceptable non-macro label.

Appearance: deep golden amber-brown in colour, low- to- mid carbonation with a one finger head. Great lacing as it drops slowly over time to a thick, rocky cap. Wonderful!

Aroma: a rich, powerful combination of caramel malts and heavy fruits. The nose alone whets the palate. I'm looking forward to this one!

Taste: where the nose whet my apetite, the palate picks up and delivers. Dark fruit esters combine with those caramel and treacle malts and some spice over the top.

Aftertaste: a lingering light bitterness and some warming alcohol. Overall, a wonderful beer.

Mouth feel: full and lasting, this is a beer for a night-time session. Amazing.

Overall: I've only had one barleywine before (Moylan's Old Blarney Barleywine Style Ale), this was my second. Both are absolutely exceptional. I get the feeling that this will be my favourite style from here on out.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 03:34:52 | More by SmashPants

warnerry

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-25-2013 20:36:09 | More by warnerry

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

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

William85

Texas

3.63/5  rDev -6.4%
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 +19.8%
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 +3.1%

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

LtColFrankSlade

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

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

Lynn

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

05-12-2013 21:27:36 | More by Lynn

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
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 -9.8%

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

beersvh23

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

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

Gagnonsux

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.1%

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

Ak555667

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

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

Duff27

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

04-16-2013 23:28:50 | More by Duff27

samEBC

Belgium

4/5  rDev +3.1%

04-15-2013 18:36:23 | More by samEBC

Zuidman

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

04-15-2013 02:43:34 | More by Zuidman

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.1%

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

hef

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.1%

04-13-2013 15:32:06 | More by hef

arfenhouse

California

4.24/5  rDev +9.3%
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