Drake's Jolly Rodger American Barleywine 2012 - Drake's Brewing Co.

Arbitrator

California

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Chilled bottle into a glass. $8 at a local store. Prices going up?

A: Pours a clear, reddish amber body with a billowing, beige off-white head that rises to 3 fingers in height. It recedes slowly and leaves a few tendrils of lace in its wake. Quite nice.

S: Heavy on the pine and caramel, this is clearly an American-style barleywine. There is a small fruitiness that reminds me of apricot; is this some hop expression? If so, I wish the hop bill were reversed...

T: Caramel and pine with a little apricot, as the nose suggested. There's a small almond presence that I find interesting. Bitterness is present, but not overpowering. As it warms, I find myself enjoying the flavor profile more; the nuttiness becomes more noticeable and enjoyable. I wish the citrus were played up more, as I don't really enjoy pine hops as much, but it's definitely a solid American-style barleywine flavor.

M: Fairly creamy; the carbonation mostly dissipates on the pour, leaving a less aggressive tickle on the palate. Alcohol is well disguised. Bitterness is present, and noticeable in the aftertaste, but it isn't palate-wrecking.

O: It's solid, and worth buying one to try it, but it's outclassed by some vintages of Old Guardian, Double Bastard, Old Ruffian.... Not quite top-tier. I'm a little bummed by the price point, too. Between $6 Alpha Session bombers and $8 for this, I'm gazing with more longing at the $9 six-packs of Little Sumpin' Sumpin' sitting next to Drake's beers at the grocery store.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 03:38:10 | More by Arbitrator

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +9%

05-20-2013 00:10:08 | More by DarthGuitarHero

Rollzroyce21

California

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

05-16-2013 05:26:50 | More by Rollzroyce21

CommanderOfAwesome

California

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a tulip.

A: Pours a caramel amber color with a nice 2 finger fluffly off white head. Some nice lacing on the glass, though the head dissipates quickly.

S: Not overly aromatic. Getting some caramel and slight toffee. Some hop aroma is present as well, pine needles, slighty earthy tone. That's about all I'm getting. Anything else would be a stretch.

T: Hop bitterness hits immediately. Sweet citrus coming through on the second wave. Followed by some nice malty caramel sweetness to finish out the taste.

M: Medium bodied,well carbonated. Sweet finishes and lingers.

O: I'm not the biggest Drakes fan, outside of their pale/IPA selections so I was hesitant on this. However I was rewarded o n this risk. Really interesting barleywine that is basically a DIPA with some nice caramel notes. Dont think I would think about aging this one past a yr, as the hop profile is pretty big on this.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 21:21:56 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber purchased from BevMo in Sunnyvale, CA.

Pours a burnished amber hue, deep in colour, but perhaps only because it's a deep beer intrinsically. Body is full and satiny, holding carbonation well. Head forms a structural foamy crest, settling down to a substantial, but less structural film of off-white. Lacing is good, forming in flecked rings around the glass. Looks very good.

Lemony notes on the nose, extremely delicate, with a structure of filigreed herbal notes behind it. There's a pleasant malt character backing it up, but it stays dormant for a long while. As it warms, the malt comes a little more forward, along with the booze, which accentuates some of the other characters, but doesn't overpower. It's a very well-constructed and extremely pleasant aroma.

Taste is a little lighter than I expected, and certainly less broad on the palate, but it's exceptionally long, and it develops beautifully along its length. Initial leafy, earthy hop notes eventually fade, leaving sweet malty tones, toasted oatmeal, and a honeyed sweetness that lingers and dances with the oddly roasty tones that flare up towards the ending. Booze provides feeling: a kinaesthetic structure that guides the flavours without getting in the way.

Overall, this is good stuff. After a while, the lack of breadth on the palate means it feels a little sharp; this harms the drinkability slightly, but really, this is a beer that's meant to be savoured and sipped. The length on the palate is it's strength, and its delicacy is it's uniqueness. I've not had such a big bold beer that is so subtle and coy. It's fascinating stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 04:42:06 | More by lacqueredmouse

Benny3000

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-06-2013 23:11:41 | More by Benny3000

brentusaurus

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-23-2013 04:41:14 | More by brentusaurus

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-21-2013 14:14:02 | More by drgonzo2k2

thegerm87

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -23.1%

04-14-2013 15:14:15 | More by thegerm87

Devi0us

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

04-04-2013 06:32:33 | More by Devi0us

DeezGunz14

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-28-2013 05:29:46 | More by DeezGunz14

jenray

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-12-2013 13:26:30 | More by jenray

Jspriest

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +9%

03-12-2013 07:44:44 | More by Jspriest

justinbrown

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

02-19-2013 06:58:37 | More by justinbrown

ElSid

California

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Beers of California

#67

Bottled Date: 2012 Vintage

A: Deep, dark mahogany with a shade of cherry. The head of stone khaki foam rises in the snifter after a firm pour, slowly fading away leaving behind a flotsam of bubbles which seek shelter at the rim.

S: Pine hop freshness which fades to a breeze of booze along with caramel and raisin sweetness. There is also wood with a char undertone which comes through more as the beer settles.

T: Begins with a nice caramel, raisin, and brown sugar sweetness. The initial malt sweetness then settles to a wood, biscuit, and bread middle. There are hints of char and vanilla that come through intermittently. The booze and piney bitterness builds from this point finishing with a dry and spicy earthiness.

M: Smooth and syrupy, this big sipper packs a medium to gargantuan feel with an ample portion of carbonation.

O: This brew lacks complexity and layers but ultimately delivers a capable American Barleywine that stays true to the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 03:48:38 | More by ElSid

Trilogy31

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

02-16-2013 06:32:07 | More by Trilogy31

Tom-Peters

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-14-2013 16:34:12 | More by Tom-Peters

Pinche_Oso

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

02-14-2013 04:26:28 | More by Pinche_Oso

cjohal85

California

4.25/5  rDev +9%

02-13-2013 22:50:04 | More by cjohal85

brotherloco

California

4.25/5  rDev +9%

02-09-2013 02:49:15 | More by brotherloco

hayesjw

California

4.25/5  rDev +9%

02-08-2013 21:51:28 | More by hayesjw

WestCoastBrew2

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-06-2013 20:33:14 | More by WestCoastBrew2

ambruns1979

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

02-02-2013 04:32:39 | More by ambruns1979

DonFrap

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

01-28-2013 03:25:58 | More by DonFrap

Auror

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-27-2013 19:27:27 | More by Auror