Anchor Old Foghorn - Anchor Brewing Company

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.94/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Deep amber to light brown colour with a clear body and a light brown, bubbly lacing on top for a head that ends up as more of a touch of foam around the edges.

Very hoppy initially with a lot more coming through than I expected despite the fact I knew before hand that the beer is dry hopped after fermentation. Strong and fruity aroma that is full of caramel malts, sugar, toffee and darker fruits. There is a touch of alcohol but not as much as I would have expected from the abv. on the bottle and there was some butterscotch and a touch of spice to round things off with.

Strong alcohol and sweet malt taste kicks things off along with some background caramel and some brown sugar. There is a lot of hops plus some prunes, figs berries and dates as well as some lighter fruit such as apricot and apple.

Sweet and with quite a bit of sugar, there is a lot of alcohol in the the beer that the smell only hinted at and the carbonation levels are low. The beer is full bodied and quite smooth with a spicy, warming finish.

Massive alcohol content, the beer was very complex in both smell and taste with plenty of sweet malts and fruits featuring. A lot more hoppy than I'd expected which was a big surprise and a most welcome one. One I'll look to pick up again I think.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 15:28:57 | More by flyingpig

BB1313

Ohio

3.61/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours amber with an off-white head that fades quick; some floaties/sediment; not too much lacing but nice looking barleywine. The aromas are very solid. Lots of raisins, fig, chocolate, hops. There are hints of orange peel as well. Although this is true to what everyone expect from an English barleywine, it has a nice little hop kick to it. Bittersweet. There's a touch of alcohol flavor, but it's not boozy at all. Mouthfeel has active carbonation and is almost thin, but it has enough body to make it a smooth experience. This really does make a great sipper.

I'm glad I revisited this one, it's been awhile. Old Foghorn brought the style back in the 70s, and it still holds up with the many options on shelves today. This will age amazingly.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 00:23:45 | More by BB1313

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.01/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A half finger of head on a clearer, dark amber colored body.
It smells like barley-lemon candy, which is quite nice.
The taste is sweet overall with mild lemon bitterness throughout. There's a slight alcohol flavor, but it's generally subtle.
The texture is thicker with low carbonation.
An enjoyable barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 02:19:01 | More by Fatehunter

AmitC

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

A very deep amber to almost light brown color. A nice pour with about two fingers thick light tan colored head that recedes swiftly. Excellent lacing on the sides that sticks really well. A good layered circular ring that stays long. No bubbles. A lot of haze and translucency that borders on opaqueness.

A nice fruity aroma with a lot of malts in it. Some pears that are strong and slightly border towards being boozy. May be some hops but an above average strength.

Flavor is filled with malts that are well mixed with hops. A good taste that culminates from this mixture. No booze. The finish is slightly dry. Lacks the bitterness but has a lot of fruitiness. Strong.

Mouth feel is medium to almost full bodied. No carbonation. Provides a fruity punch that makes it less of a Barleywine.

Expectations from a very old representative of a style shattered.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 04:20:45 | More by AmitC

Brabander

Netherlands

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I got this beer from a facebook friend, Vincent Olshove. We met at Neustift im Stubaital, Austria, and shared a few beers together. I got this bottle from him which i drank after a day of skieing on the Stubaier Glacier. Thanks Vincent!

Poured the beer in a big wineglass. Very big head and a dark copper coloured fluid. Great smell with sweetness in it. LIttle lacing in the glass. This is a very nice barley wine styled beer. Loved every sip of it. Good carbonation!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 16:56:08 | More by Brabander

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.79/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

We pour a brew of rusted butterscotch. It holds a two finger head of creamy tan foam, leaving patterned lacing as it recedes at a medium pace. There is a thick haze permeating the clarity, with no sediment noted. Carbonation appears active but slow in this syrupy liquid. The aroma is surprisingly fruity, with strong banana esters, sweet orange flesh, cranberry, massive pear, and red apple sugars. The malt base stands up straight to meet the sweetness, with rich caramels, pales, grass, and roast. The dry-hopping is also apparent, with a light mix of citrus, pine, and herbals. Our first impression is that, as in the nose, the banana esters are huge, imparting a unique bready, fruity sweetness for the style. As we sip, banana esters, bready plum pudding, cinnamon and nutmeg spice, syrupy fig, and raw piney hops start things off. The flavoring comes to a peak with fusel booze, spicy black pepper, caramel, raw brown sugars, and authentic pear fruitiness. The finish washes through with phenolic plastics, buttery diacetyls, black pepper booziness, metallic caramels, baker’s yeast, cherry syrups, and more of that raw pear juiciness. The aftertaste breathes of tannic breakfast tea, herbal hops, light piney resin, pear, apple, cranberry, nutmeg, raw rock salt, and plastic phenols. The body is medium, and the carbonation is lighter. There is nice slurp, sip, froth, and cream, with sugary stickiness to the lips. The mouth is cooled, and eventually dries lightly from the boozy evaporation. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks decently.

Overall, what we liked best about this beer was the big fruitiness to hold against the booze and big malty base. This added a unique twist and additional sweetness, especially with that emphasis on banana and pear. That said, things remained sweet and borderline cloying throughout, slowing the drinking down. Otherwise, this was a warming and inviting beer, and something certainly worth the try if you like the style, or something on the sweeter side.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:09:57 | More by TheBrewo

barczar

Kentucky

3.96/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Think this is a 2010.

Aggressive pour of a warmer beer yields a slightly hazy medium brown with copper highlights, a touch of red, and a frothy 2 inch tan head that lingers indefinitely, and leaves sheets of lacing. Chunks of sediment float in the carbonation.

Dark cherries, nutty toffee, butterscotch, and toasted brown sugar form the initial aroma. Vinous notes of sherry emerge. Decidedly buttery and fruity.

Flavor reveals more dark cherries, slightly bruised, accompanied by dates and a hint of raisins. Sweet, nutty malt forms the backbone, which is not cloying. The finish is fairly dry and toasty. Vinous sherry notes are evident in the aftertaste.

Body is extremely thick, viscous, with light carbonation and slight alcohol warmth.

Overall, it still has some years in it, I think. Held up well so far. Good esters, though they do overpower the malt complexity a bit.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 03:51:00 | More by barczar

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I have had this barleywine previously, but this one has mellowed in the cellar for nearly two years. My notes from the initial tasting did not differ dramatically, though I do seem to think cellaring made it a little sweeter.

Poured into a snifter, the beer poured a deep amber color with a very slight head. It showed lacing and noticeable lacing in the glass. In the initial taste, one notices a sweet alcohol taste. One detects notes of honey, caramel, cinnamon, and raisin. There is a spice to the barleywine that is characteristic of cinnamon. In the background, the hope are detectable before being smoothed by the malts. A pleasant warming sensation tickles the belly on a cold winter night. The mouthfeel allows the warmth to linger. I forgot how much I liked this easily accessible barleywine that sweetens in time.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 15:53:14 | More by JohnnyHopps

Hawksfan79

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Glass: Snifter

Appearance: Dark amber, small mocha head.

Aroma: Caramel, candy, alcohol

Taste: Sweet, hops, black licorice, alcohol, cinnimon.

Mouthfeel: thick full bodied, strong carbonation. Sticky candylike texture. Slight cinnimon finish.

Delicious!

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 04:19:39 | More by Hawksfan79

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled January 5, 2011 (exactly two years and two days old). Poured into a Courvoisier snifter glass.

Very murky chestnut color with a sepiated bone head that stayed thin. Looks foggy alright. Foam curdled into larger bubbles and gravitated toward one side of the surface.

Caramel, toffee, pound cake, oxidation-like buttercream, deconstructed hop residue, dried fig, raisin, sea breeze, and bourbon vanilla.

Flavors remain on the drier side of candy despite the age and huge malt bill. Buttery oxidation is here, but in the background. Prominent toffee, aged hops, leather, raisin, and spicy vanilla are the biggest components. The sweeter notes are in the malt, of course, like maple french toast. Not terribly boozy. I can make out what used to be an earthy hop finish that has almost become saline in nature. Almost gives this beer a seawater character in the end. I don't remember that from fresh bottles that I have tasted. I'm going to have to review a fresh one, perhaps along with my bottle from '08, and attach the review to this one here.

Nice quiet warmth that I'm experiencing from sipping on this one slowly. The body is right in that medium range with a low-to-medium carbonation still pushing through. On the palate, it starts off mellow sweet, then turns to modestly bitter. Finishes minerally and a little spicy, which I like.

A solid beer, for sure. Not entirely convinced that age harmed this one too much, but it's not as vigorous and satiating as the experiences I've had ordering a 'fresh' bottle of Old Foghorn at my local beer bar.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 17:51:25 | More by thecheapies

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep and cloudy copper amber orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Solid three fingers of off white head which recedes into a thin creamy layer. Lots of lacing sticks to the glass.

Smell: A fruit ester and malt driven aroma. Bready toasted malts with hints of biscuit, yeast, caramel, toffee, and grains. A nice mix of fruit esters with hints of apple, dark prune, raisin, plum, and citrus orange with a touch of pineapple. Very earthy scent with a decent scent of hops and pine. Some alcohol hints round out the aroma. Pretty solid smell.

Taste: Like the aroma hints, a malt driven taste with a very good mix of fruity esters. Toasted and pale malts with a taste of biscuit, yeast, caramel, toffee, and grains. Complex fruit undertones including notes of apple, citrus orange, pineapple, apricot, dark prune, raisin, fig, and dates. Fairly floral with a good presence of earthy hops and a little pine. Fairly dry taste with a little booze kick. Tastes good.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy with fairly drying finish. A little alcohol heat is noticeable but its still fairly smooth.

Overall: A very good Barleywine. Well balanced with some nice fruit tastes.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 07:22:38 | More by MattyG85

Mojo

Alabama

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a New Belgium glass

This beer pours up a cloudy apricot color and might be mistook for apple juice if it wasn't so cloudy. There is not much head, retention or lacing. The nose is barley, yeast, and alcohol. Taste is bitter on the front giving way to a syrupy apple-like sweetness on the finish. As it warms, the alcohol warming on the finish becomes more prominent. Mouthfeel is very thick and syrup like. Not a fan of this one, but it is drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 05:26:00 | More by Mojo

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.23/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got this one at the Mitra down the road. Cool to see.

From a bottle into a snifter
Best Before April 2014

APPEARANCE: Pours a two finger, medium looking, off-white or cream colored head with decent retention. Burnt orange/red in color, clear, with medium carbonation evident. Head fades to a thin foam cap, but only a foamy ring remains until the end leaving no lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Caramel, toffee with red fruits, like berries, light cherries and touch of booze. Medium strength.

TASTE: Caramel and toffee again, butterscotch, and some red fruits at the swallow. Bolder and lingering finish is sweet with toasted malts, caramel, butterscotch, some sweet berries and spicy booze. A touch boozier than it's 8%.

PALATE Medium body and medium carbonation, though quite lightweight on the palate. Very creamy smooth though, goes down smooth and finishes rather dry for the style. Very smooth and little bite, though a little too light and dry for the style.

OVERALL: This is alright, but not as interesting as others in the style. The lighter and drier feel seemed out of place for a barleywine as well. I'd like to see a bigger, oilier feel on this one, which would also help support the flavors, and a bolder nose to help showcase the malt aromas. Decent stuff, though not memorable.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 19:47:27 | More by Jeffo

standardcherry

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle thanks to Totoropanda.

A: Amber/brown color with minimal head.
S: Smells fruity and malty, a bit of caramel.
T: Sweet, caramel taste. Syrupy taste.
M: Medium carbonation, syrupy aftertaste.
O: Nice barleywine, not the best I've had though.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 08:55:51 | More by standardcherry

elNopalero

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours a malty amber color with nice foam. There is a malty caramel coconut aroma on this and a flavor full of thick, malty, piney sweetness. I get a real pleasing taste of orange marmalade and some toasted coconut that results in something sweet, mellow, and lightly bodied. For such a big beer the hops don’t dominant, balanced out by the rich maltiness. A classic barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 22:49:41 | More by elNopalero

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewing this on a second take, nearly a year after the first time I had it, for which I gave it a quick rating of 4.75. Definitely downgrading that.

It certainly a beautiful beer in a snifter, he's the golden goodness with a luxurious off-white head and serious legs sticking to the glass.

The aroma is a big disappointment, with esthery alcohol pretty much all I'm getting, and maybe a faint honey. The flavor in the mouth is not complex at all, with a banana sweetness, bready malt, fruity alcohol, and a fig/prune sweetness. It's surprisingly low bitterness makes learning that this was dry hopped leaves me scratching my head. The awesome creamy mouth feel may be this brew's saving grace.

My wife likes it a lot, so I think I'll bump up the flavor points.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:54:10 | More by martyl1000

BEERMILER12

Maine

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Label on back reads 2JW, so bottled January 23, 2012

A: Pours a dark amber/mahogany color with a fingers worth of head

S: A solid fruitiness and sweet maltiness come forward, along with very light hops and a hint of alcohol

T: Follows the nose. Starts off sweet and malty and goes into the fruitiness with some nice hops. Finishes with a lingering sweetness and fruity esters

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Creamy

O: A very solid English barleywine with plenty of flavor without an overload of booze. Perfectly balanced which makes it very easy to drink. The fact that this was one of the first post-prohibition era barleywine-style ales is impressive

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 08:40:33 | More by BEERMILER12

PacNWDad

Washington

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I tried the 2009 version. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass. This beer has a copper hue. It is slightly cloudy. Medium amount of head that dissipates quickly. Not very much lace on the sides of the glass. Aroma is malty and fruity, with some peach, apricot and plum. Not much floral or herbal notes from the hops. Taste is pretty sweet with honey and lots of malt coming through, but not much hops. Overall it tastes like what I would expect for a barleywine. Mouthfeel is a bit heavy as I would expect, very little carbonation. This beer takes me back to my first craft beer experiences in the 1980s - I enjoyed it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 04:47:17 | More by PacNWDad

mitch3114

New York

4.46/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My first review, here it goes...

12 oz. bottle, dated 03/01/10 Poured into snifter:

A- A reddish plum, caramel color with a nice finger size head, which diminished within three or four minutes. Oily, swirly brew that leaves nice sticky lacing on the sides of my glass.

S-Smells of sugary figs, dates, raisins, faint hint of wood, caramel, burnt toffee, hint of alcohol.

T- Nice full flavor barley-wine style ale with sweet sugary, caramel taste, with a hint of bitterness from the hops. This makes me wonder how it would taste fresh as this is my first time trying Old Foghorn and I picked up the last six pack, which was sitting all alone with it's little brothers and sisters, Steam and Liberty at the local beverage center. Some sips will finish with a strong alcohol flavor, more than others. The alcohol really shows itself when agitated in the mouth. Finishes with a bitter burnt caramel raisin flavor on the palette. Although this beer is complex, it is sort of simple, compared to others of the style. I think that works, in this case quite nicely.

M- Medium to thick, which is to be expected for the style and the ABV. It's a bit creamy in texture and there is a bit of carbonation sting left in this brew. After it warms, the carbonation starts to disappear.

O- Lately, barley-wine's are one of my favorite styles and this is ranked right up there amongst my favorites. However, I have many more to try. The price is a bit high, but as a trade off it's nice to see a beer of this style and strength still available in a six pack. This beer has been around for a long time and according to anchor, was the great grandaddy of the American Barley-Wines. I like the fact that the brewer uses the unique dating system so we know the bottling date. This is a nice beer to sip and enjoy with friends on a cool evening, reflecting on old times.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 00:13:05 | More by mitch3114

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a pretty mahogany color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of dark fruits, molasses. Taste is good, fruits, malts, sweet, a touch of alcohol, complex and flavorful. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a fine quality beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 21:08:44 | More by tone77

CloudStrife

New York

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Bottled Feb 10, 2012.

A: Pours a clear deep ruby red with a 2 finger off white head. Just a little bit of visible carbonation. Head doesnt leave much lace as it dwindles down.

S: Thick aroma with heavy malts and a fairly decent hop. Rasin or fig, there is lots of sweetness. Booze presence is strong, almost like it was barrel aged.

T: Whacks you with a boozy sweet barrel like taste. Very impressive. Almost an oak aged characteristic.

M: Fairly thin body with almost a watery feel. Alcohol is fairly intense.

Overall a tasty barleywine that I'd certainly try again. Would love to let this one age for a year or two and let it cool off.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 20:48:50 | More by CloudStrife

Gushue3

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A 1+ finger slight red/brown head and a deep red copper body. Head has nice retention and leaves a ring of foam on the glass. No lacing.

S Sweet candied sugar, simple syrup, maple syrup and a hint of alcohol. Very sweet scent.

T Mirrors the nose but is a little less sweet. Molasses , sweet plums, and sugary syrup. Pretty straight forward and a little bit one dimensional but a nice flavor.

M Heavier feel that's slightly syrup-y with medium to heavy carbonation. After the beer sits and some carbonation dies down the feel is much nicer.

O Sweet barleywine, with a nice scent.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 01:11:06 | More by Gushue3

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It is a cold, snowy day - perfect for catching up on some reviews from my notes.

I love getting to try different beers when we travel. Couldn't help myself when I saw this on the Draft list.
Snifter glass, filled to the brim with dark reddish liquid, topped with a thin cap of off-white foam. The smell has some toffee and burnt sugar, and a good dose of alcohol.
Lots of flavor, sweet malty goodness. Slightly boozy, caramel, burnt brown sugar like on a well-made creme brule. Alcohol warmth is present, but not overpowering.
The mouthfeel and body is full, smooth and easy to drink.
I will have to get a bottle to keep on hand in my cellar.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2012 21:16:48 | More by BigBry

kylehay2004

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: minimal head on a amber burgandy clear body.

S: dark fruits, lots of wood especially oak and cedar, caramel malts, a touch boozy.

T: very sweet with candied dark fruits, rich caramel, toffee, and a lot of brown sugar. not very boozy at all

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: Sweet with the booze well hidden. very easy to drink for the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 02:36:45 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours with a small head of white foam on a dark brown body with little light showing through.

S - Dark sugar, mustardy hops, and solventy pine.

T - sweet, dark malt up front, with note of dark caramel and molasses in the middle. Finishes with spicy hops, caramel, and clove.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a somewhat sweet finish.

D - An interesting aroma, but the flavor is kind of flat. Drinkable, but lacking when compared to more modern examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 02:33:21 | More by nickfl