LongShot Mile High Barley Wine Ale - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

EwaldEichstaett

Jordan

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Drinking in the "expired" month...

A: huge, long lasting head. Deep brown color with a little red mixed in. Holding it up to the light does not change color, just the brilliance.

S: Big sweet, roasted, caramel malts. Smells a bit like juice mixed in.

T: Sweetness up front, big round malts in the middle and a slight bitter after-taste. The beer is reminiscent of Skittles or Starburst to me. Very sweet for a barley wine that has not been aged; yet, very yummy :)

M: Round full mouthfeel, a bit light on the carbonation. Good after-taste.

D: Well it is very drinkable for a barleywine... but... I am not an alkie so, I could only have one or two... (I can't say I would not like to have another)

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2010 03:27:08 | More by EwaldEichstaett

lackenhauser

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice, very clear, coppery color to it. Nice head and lacing on down the glass. Good aroma-heavy caramel and sugary like. Very strong malt flavor dominates. Again with the caramel/sweetness character. Very strong hop bite though not astringent or puckering, like some. A lot of hop flavor as well. Mild chemical or metallic taste. Sugary and sticky mouthfeel. Very drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2010 01:21:01 | More by lackenhauser

malty

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into my old school Coors dimpled thick-walled stemmed chalice a crystal clear ruby tinged copper color with a billowing fluffy 1 1/2" settled tan head. Upon the re-pour, the head transforms from loose and craggy to dense and creamy. Handsome broken sheets and walls of lace all the way down.

A husky burnt grain scent with a moderate hop presence. I keep swirling this ale to bring out *more* but nothing happens. It's like the thick head is trapping the scents underneath it. More swirls present sweet and faint boozy notes - but not much at all.

What this ale was lacking in smells sure makes up in flavor. Sweet, but not to the point where you're skimming your tongue to refresh it. Hops that prod and prick with an earthy, leafy flavor. Put them both together and you've got a great tasting barley wine. A spiciness perks up along with a touch of alcohol toward the end.

Mouthfeel is as oily as I've ever tried. Silky and slick with a perfect amount of fine carbonation. Full bodied with a dry and warming finish.

Drinkability is good. This is a sipper, not a sessioner.

This is a great American twist on a traditional British style. Obviously more hops, and the spice and grit make is fun and explorative. For approaching 10% ABV, it's still pretty smooth. Fluffy, airy and tantalizing to the tongue.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2010 21:52:08 | More by malty

Kromes

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: A clear, dark amber color with a thin tan colored head. Good lacing down the glass.

S: Toasted caramel malt aromas mixed with some fresh, grassy hop aroma.

T: The initial taste is of sweet caramel malt, grass hops and alcohol. The hops really show in the middle of the beer. There is a slight bitterness in the finish along with the hop flavor and a sense of warmth and pepper from the alcohol.

M: Nice and creamy and smooth. Coats the tongue.

D: It is a solid barleywine. I really like the hop character in this beer. It offsets the sweetness of the malt nicely.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 23:24:52 | More by Kromes

chumba526

Oregon

3.83/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appears a dark orange color with half an inch of light tan head.
Smells of molasses, brown sugar, toffee, and citrus. It also smells a tad bit nutty.
It tastes less sweet then I would have thought do to the smell. There are hints of caramel, citrus and toffee in the beer. There is a nice balance of flavors. The citrus flavor helps balance the sweetness. This is very easy to drink for a barley wine. The carbonation is moderate low. Overall a really nice citrusy barley wine. Worth getting.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 17:08:20 | More by chumba526

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

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

Poured from 12oz bottle into Globe.

A. 2 fingers of head. Good retention. Solid lacing. Color is a ruby hued brown.

S. Smell is very malty, but has quite a bit of hop bitterness to go along with it. Not overly sweet smelling. Some piney hop aromas. Bit of brown sugar and molasses. A hint of toffee.

T. Taste is sweet. Lots of malt going on. Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee malt. Not much of the bitterness from the smell. Just enought to balance out the onslaught of malt.

M. Moutfeel is full bodied. Pretty thick in the mouth. Finishes semi dry with a bit of sweetness lingering on.

D. Drinkability is good. Not the best of the longshots that I have had, but it is one of the better ones. This is a pretty straightforward, good barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2010 00:32:53 | More by siradmiralnelson

Georgiabeer

Georgia

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

Pours dark amber with little head, what there is settles to a thin ring. Smells richly mallty with some vinous notes. Quite a nice flavor. Very slightly on the sweet side with lots of dried fruit flavors, sweet malt, and a hit of bitterness. Slightly sweet, smooth, and with a spicy hop finish in the mouth. Well crafted, and a nicely balanced barley wine. I've always been a fan of the long shot series, both in concept and usually in result. I hope they keep them coming!

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2010 01:12:30 | More by Georgiabeer

ToddT

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Medium brown ruby tinted clear liquid topped with a medium sized off white head. Head is long lasting and slowly falls to a cap. The head leaves some thick rings of lace on the glass.

S- Mild fruit notes, plum, raisin and fig and the dominate ones, some alcohol and malt in the nose as well.

T- Sweet fruit cherry, plum and raisin very front and forward. Mild piney drying bitterness and some alcohol heat comes in in the middle and leads to a dry semisweet citrus finish.

M- Medium in body but with a thick viscous feeling in the mouth. Carbonation is low as it should be for the style.

D- OK in drinkability the 9.8% ABV shows through everywhere, but I haven't met too many barleywines where it doesn't. The citrus twist at the end cuts down on the drinkability for me though.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2010 05:02:17 | More by ToddT

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

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

A - Pours a dark ruby with an off-white head that melts into a wispy island of tiny bubbles.

S - Rich malt, dark dried fruit, roasted brown sugar, alcohol vapors, over ripened grapes

T - Toasty and complex, sugary sweet malt, chocolate, candied plum, deep dark cherry flavor, alcohol is very prominent, also has a nice toasted caramel flavor along with an old musky oak flavor. The delicate pine hops supports the giant malt compound. Mouthfeel is full bodied with average carbonation for the style. Aftertaste is of citrus hops.

A very malty/complex forward Barleywine that finishes with a dry citrus flavor. This has lots of stories to unfold with age.
Don't pass it up.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 00:42:02 | More by StaveHooks

philbe311

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Three plus fingers worth of cascading pale khaki head that is equal parts frothy and creamy with a slightly rocky top... Excellent retention... A fully translucent, slightly glowing, reddish caramel color... Some mildly sluggish carbonation rises throughout... Rich foam clings to the sides of the glass...

S - Mostly malt forward, but with a touch of hoppiness... Toffee... Caramel... Weak grape juice... A touch of piney hops... A hint of sweet citrus...

T - Mild complexity and wonderful balance that is true to the nose... Sweet malts to start... A touch of sweet citrus... A vague piney presence lies underneath... Then more caramel, toffee, raisins, and other dark fruits... Very nice...

M - Medium to full bodied... Exceedingly smooth... Velvety... Creamy... Ultra rich... Very little in the way of carbonation... Even and consistent... Delicate yet assertive...

D - This is a very drinkable Barleywine that reminds me of an Old Ruffian Jr (this is a good thing)... Nice balance of malt and hops that is not overpowering in anyway... Possible my favorite Long Shot beer... Ben Miller should be quite proud of this lovely creation...

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 01:48:42 | More by philbe311

ZiggyStarbuck

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is deep reddish brown. Good inch and a half of head with decent lacing.

Smell: Malted barley, hops, caramel, maybe some grape-ish aromas in there as well. Smells good.

Taste: Very much like the smell, but as others have pointed out, there is a slight metallic flavor, but it doesn't really detract from the experience much. Just a minor complaint. Otherwise it tastes good.

The Mouthfeel is good with decent carbonation, and a medium body.

Overall I would drink this again, not something I would absolutely have to have, but it is good. I was pleasantly surprised.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2010 22:14:58 | More by ZiggyStarbuck

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a three-finger thick off-white head that fades very slowly, leaving an excellent lace. Crystal clear, deep amber color. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is caramel and malt. Flavor is caramel and some alcohol. Finish is mellow citrus and alcohol. Best by Sep 2010. $9.99 for a 6-pak of 12oz bottles from Barb's Beer Emporium Concord, NH.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2010 22:25:12 | More by jdhilt

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.65/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a DFH Signature glass.

Pours a ruddy brown with almost no head but a bit of light white lacing around the rim. Nose is malty and sweet with a bit of fruity hop notes.

Taste is a bit metallic, but sweet and malty with a very clean finish. It's got a very full and creamy mouthfeel is very nice carbonation. Overall a pretty solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2010 01:52:06 | More by kingcrowing

Gavage

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: clear amber in color aih a short 1/4" head that sports some large bubbles.

Smell: malt and caramel are easy to detect.

Taste: big malt profile. Caramel, prunes, light amounts of alcohol, and a nice bitterness create a simple but tasty barleywine.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Lightly crisp to start, smooth at the finish. Very long aftertaste as the malty goodness lingers.

Drinkability: for the style this is pretty easy to drink despite the alcohol levels. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 16:41:13 | More by Gavage

aerozeppl

New York

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

A: Really nice and clear copper color. Quite deep. Poured with a half finger of white head. Some lacing.

S: The nose is on the American side of barleywines for sure. Sticky pine cones up front. Rich molasses toffee and caramel. Really nice nose.

T: Nice balance between the hops and the malt. Super rich. Tons of flavor. Up there with the best of American Barleywines.

T: Taste starts off with slightly faded hops. The malt really does pick things up quite a bit and gives quite a bit of balanced. Lots of lingering sweetness in the finish.

M: Very full bodied. Carbonation is good.

D: Old Ruffian? Sure reminds me of it and that is a good thing. This is good fresh or with some time on it which is the standard by which I measure a barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 00:44:44 | More by aerozeppl

BretSikkink

Mexico

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark amber color, moving towards brown, with some copper highlights. Head is nice, a tan color that sticks a good bit. Just about right for a barleywine. Nice aroma that balances citric hops with caramel malts. Some fruit for complexity as well as some toast.

The flavor is pretty sweet, but well within style boundaries. The malts bring some toasted grain, caramel sweetness, and some brown sugar. Red cherry fruitiness, with enough menthol tobacco and pine resin to add depth to the citric fruits. Even a hint of tropical fruit like mango in the back half. Finishes somewhat dry, but retains chewiness.

A little teeny tiny bit shy on flavor here. I might be spoiled on super-hopped barleywines with industrial strength malt backbones, but honestly, that's what I'm looking for. This is a flavorful, malt-forward ale and very well crafted, but it doesn't quite satisfy my Bigfoot jones.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2010 04:21:19 | More by BretSikkink

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

When i poured into my pint glass, it had a nice amber color to it, with a finger length white head to it then a nice lace around the edge. My nose picked up a strong hop smell and a little bit of citrus. my taste buds picked a nice strong but balanced hop flavor then on the back of the tongue a little bit of citrus. It has a nice mouth feel and it is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2010 02:24:05 | More by chefhatt

dbossman

Nebraska

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Clear and quite red with a cream-colored, thick head with good retention; lacing is good too

S: A little subtle; grainy with a sweet candied sugary, malt presence; subtle raisins and nuts

T: Pretty sweet up front; loads of raisin/plums with a touch of caramel and candy; almost too sweet

F: Decent overall feel; a bit syrupy

D: Ok, but that sweetness is wearing--even for the style

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2010 21:38:00 | More by dbossman

taxguyjase

New Mexico

4.15/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - rosy red, clear, light tan head, - 3.5

Smell - mid, almost strong hop aroma, some citrus and pine, - not as strong as aroma as I would have thought - 3.0

Taste - wow, really delicious, hops blend well with the sweet malt, sweetness that you would expect out of a barleywine, well aged, piney and citrus (I get more of the pine) hops are excellent. - 4.5

Feel - remarkably smooth, way better than a number of barleywines (probably equal to hopsquatch) - bit of fruity hop aftertaste - 4.5

Drinkability - A great example of the style...too bad it's not more regularly available! - 4.5

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2010 01:15:29 | More by taxguyjase

Mosstrooper

California

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into 16oz Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass.

Appearance: Very dark copper color with a medium, quickly dissipating off-white head that leaves behind thick lace.

Smell: Rich, sweet malt aromas throughout. Also has suttle apple hints.

Taste: Begins with sweet caramel and slight apple flavors, finishing with plum-like sweetness and a hint of bittersweet alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Thicker body with balanced carbonation and a syrupy finish.

Taste: Not the best barleywine out there, but certainly not the worst. This is a little thinner on flavor compared to many of its style, but it is still tasty. Many people who have developed palates may find this a bit underwhelming, but this could be a good beer for those new to the barleywine style.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 21:52:28 | More by Mosstrooper

arizcards

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up from Total Wine in late May for $8.79 as part of the Sam Adams Longshot sixer. Sampled on 7-24-10 in the cool pines of Arizona, review is from notes.

Beer poured a dark red brown with a one finger tan head that lasted quite well. Nose was strains of dark fruits and hints of a big malt backbone. Taste was a huge malt base dominated with dark fruit notes. Finish was with a dry hop, pretty well balanced. Mouthfeel wias medium bodied with OK carbonation and viscosity. Drinkability was good, the 9.8 abv was well masked. This was a pretty good beer, easy to drink despite the hugeness of it. Glad to have tried!

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2010 10:53:15 | More by arizcards

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Blind Beers BIF bottle #6, from ShogoKawada

A-Crystal clear ruby amber, just a little bit of off white head, a tiny bit of lacing.

S-Sweet malt, and lots of it. Some plums and figs, a bit of peach.

T-Brown sugar, raisins, dried sweet fruits, residual sweetness, some warming alcohol.

M-Nicely rich, moderately carbonated, long lasting finish..

D-Not a bad representation of the style but not one I'd go out of my way for.

HV

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2010 12:51:42 | More by sholland119

nickfl

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one finger of light tan foam on top of a clear, amber-brown body. The foam settles at a moderate pace and leaves light lace on the glass.

S - A strong note of alcohol influenced caramel and toffee dominates the aroma. Some resinous hops and fruity plum notes hang in the background.

T - Sweet caramel and lightly burnt toast up front with a little bit of warm alcohol and hop bitterness. The hop character opens up more in the middle with notes of caraway and mustard that compliment a light plum and red apple fruit character. It finishes with more dark caramel malt and pine hops that combine to create the characteristic blue cheese flavor that is found in most bitter barleywines. LIngering notes of stinky cheese, plum and brown sugar.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a reasonably dry finish for a beer of this strength.

D - This is a very nice barleywine and easily the best of this years longshot beers. The aroma is exceptional; complex and well balanced with all of the classic barleywine notes touched upon. The flavor is reasonably complex as well, but with a balance that brings the beer together quite well in the finish. It has a convincing and interesting blue-veined cheese note that begs to be paired with stilton and fruit. This is a very nice example of the style; it would be nice to see Sam Adams make this a regular yearly offering.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 04:46:42 | More by nickfl

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a clear brown color with reddish tints. The head is half an inch in height, and recedes slowly into a nice cap of lacing. The aroma is of caramel, dark fruit, citrus, and a hint of peat. The taste is maltier than the aroma which I like a lot. There are some nice caramel, toffee, and burnt malt notes, and the alcohol is very well integrated. The mouthfeel is full bodied with a silky texture, and appropriately low carbonation. Overall, this is a very nice beer that I would happily drink again.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2010 01:42:20 | More by KarlHungus

zeff80

Missouri

3.65/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a clear, dark copper/burgundy color with a one-finger, off white head of foam. It left minimal lacing

S - It smelled of sweet dark fruits like plum and raisin. There was a good dose of caramel aromas, too.

T - This is a pretty sweet barleywine - very malty with a lot of caramel and toffee. There are notes of plum and raisin with very little hop bitterness.

M - It was smooth and somewhat chewy. A medium to full bodied ale with a noticeable alcohol heat.

D - This is a very sweet barleywine. I don't know how that will change with age, but I'll try that with the other one that I have.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2010 12:29:19 | More by zeff80