Backburner (Imperial Barley Wine Style Ale) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

t420o

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From old notes (9/3/2011)

Southern tier back burner barleywine

A- semi aggressive pour yields a 1 finger off white/tan head that rests atop a hazy copper body. Leaves decent lacing. 4 

S-deep candied sugar, cherry, ripe dark fruits, toffee, bready, slight sourness from the cherry smell, some alcohol. Smells very good 4   

T- follows the nose. Big waves of dark fruits, cherries, caramaized brown sugar, toffee, lightly hoppy, and some caramel. Alcohol is very well hidden.  Complex and well done. 4

M- good mouthfeel. Lowerer carbonation good weight 4

O- a very good barleywine which may be my favorite style. It is sweet but it does it in a good way in my opinion. Pretty drinkable 4

B+/A-

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 06:17:11 | More by t420o

thegerm87

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-19-2013 02:43:27 | More by thegerm87

aorloski

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-18-2013 21:53:29 | More by aorloski

utopiajane

New York

3.6/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours clear and reddish copper with a scrumptious head of beige foam that fell to a thick cap and bewitching lace. Effervescing. Nose is strawberry, mango and sweet malt. Carmel toffee and as it warms sugar and molasses. Floral , oaky, and a little bread and butter. A musty breeze. First taste is sweet and then some. Juicy strawberry and mango and then the malt lays in it’s sweetness. There’s some alcohol warmth but on the second sip it’s alcohol on the palate. A touch of bitter to coat the throat as it goes down and some alcohol dryness. A bit of bread and butter in the dry finish. Body is thick and syrupy but also smooth and silky considering the candy sweetness and the alcohol presence. I am beginning to see why some people say that Southern Tier makes very sweet beers.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 13:53:13 | More by utopiajane

SpAiReArGsEonNE

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

06-12-2013 03:12:15 | More by SpAiReArGsEonNE

kinmundy77

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6%

06-12-2013 02:26:38 | More by kinmundy77

goblin7704

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +18.5%

06-11-2013 22:17:20 | More by goblin7704

Fargrow

Michigan

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-11-2013 03:17:44 | More by Fargrow

jreindl

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +6%

06-08-2013 14:22:10 | More by jreindl

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-07-2013 04:57:54 | More by megamass

diehl07

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +6%

06-06-2013 00:38:06 | More by diehl07

MikeCactusGordon

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-04-2013 13:11:15 | More by MikeCactusGordon

TKEbeerman

Florida

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-04-2013 00:34:26 | More by TKEbeerman

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-03-2013 01:07:05 | More by BuckeyeSlim

JMS1512

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

05-31-2013 02:30:06 | More by JMS1512

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6%

05-30-2013 14:04:32 | More by Slatetank

GuttaMane138

Florida

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-28-2013 09:04:04 | More by GuttaMane138

HerbCarroll

New York

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

05-27-2013 16:12:15 | More by HerbCarroll

windypete

United Kingdom (England)

4.75/5  rDev +18.5%

05-26-2013 19:27:32 | More by windypete

Gagnonsux

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

05-25-2013 20:41:53 | More by Gagnonsux

IrishGermanAmerican

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

05-24-2013 18:21:58 | More by IrishGermanAmerican

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

05-19-2013 19:33:48 | More by randylangford

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 18:18:40 | More by drgonzo2k2

SerialHiker

Illinois

3.81/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pours a light brown, mahogany, amber color…fairly transparent, I can see a few bubbles in the middle…head is a light khaki, starts pinky thick and settles to a nice top layer…a good lookin’ brew…(4/5)

Smell: Candied strawberry and dark cherry sweetness right off the bat…it’s very malty, with hints of caramel and toffee…there’s some earthy yeast notes in there as well…no hops bitterness to really speak of…it’s not overly complex, just a sweet, inviting barley wine…(3.75/5)

Taste: Sweet dark cherry and candied strawberry flavor up front…very malty, with tones of earthiness, caramel and toffee…there is very little sign of hops, though I do get a light airy, citrus feel late…there’s also a noticeable earthy, musty yeast flavor playing a background role to all that sweetness…the tiniest hint of alcohol heat is present too, giving the brew a bit of a cough medicine feel…still very enjoyable…(3.75/5)

Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium to lots of carbonation…it fluffs up bringing tons of candied sweetness and earthy maltiness to the palate…it’s rich, syrupy, creamy and mildly chewy…sweet malt lingers well into the after taste…(4.25/5)

Overall: This is a pretty good brew…the flavor isn’t anything too exotic, but it is solid and very drinkable…it’s close to a winter seasonal minus the warming spices…I’d put this at an above average brew, worthy of purchase, but won’t blow any minds…Southern Tier makes some very tasty beers and this is another in that long line…lately, I’ve been fancying the barley wines lately and Backburner will only continues that trend…scoop one of these up and enjoy your evening! (3.75/5)

www.brewreport.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 01:00:02 | More by SerialHiker

jkane101

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

05-15-2013 00:39:40 | More by jkane101