Dominion Millennium Ale - Old Dominion Brewing Company

BigJTrucker

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes. Tasted 7/13/07.

Pours an orange ruby color similar to dark honey. Low head retention. Has a nice citrusy aroma, a faint odor of honey. Very balanced. Nice hoppy flavor with a heavy mal backbone. ABV is very well hidden. Mouthfeel is slightly sticky, nice and smooth. By far one of the most drinkable barleywines i've had. This bottle was only 6 months old. I'd like to see how a year or two would affect the flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2007 19:04:26 | More by BigJTrucker

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got this bottle in a trade with Traquairlover. Thanks Will!

This was bottled 021109 and labelled as 10.5%abv.

It pours a slightly hazy orange red with a good 2 finger head of billowy foam.

The smell is of caramel malt, some fruitiness, and some light notes of citrus.

The taste brings the malt to the front with a huge caramel sweetness with the just the right light note of hoppy bitterness, I want to say pine, to temper the sweetness. It is still out of balance, pleasingly though on the malty side, where it should be for an English BWSA. And...not much sign of the alcohol at all...very well hidden. That makes this way too easy to drink. ;^)

Medium mouthfeel with just a notch below medium carbonation. The head retention and lacing both turned out to be better than average.

Drinkability? Too good for a brew this strong but I won't dock it for that "flaw". I'm *very* happy I got a chance to try and and I'm very happy with it. A darned good brew!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2009 23:28:43 | More by Bitterbill

paceyourself

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

As soon as i opened the bottle a inviting sweet honey aroma leapt out. It poured with little head or carbonation. A orange- bronze color with more sediment than most barley wines i've seen, maybe the dry hops. Flavor starts with a nice honey taste then balances out quickly, very impressive for 11.4%. As strong as this is i think i could drink more than one. The date was smudged but the back said 11.4% so i think it's 2002. To cellar this would be interesting but it's very drinkable right now. Thanks for the sample Murph.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2002 14:56:51 | More by paceyourself

hoppymeal

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark copper with hints of red. Smells of caramel sweet maltness. White grape and raisiny sweet scents are also present. Tastes lightly of prunes and golden raisins. Very well balanced, the sweetness comes across first followed by a slight bitterness and a small but warm and pleasing alcohol bite makes itself present in the finish. Similar in many ways to TCOA in my opinion. Very enjoyable barley wine.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2006 01:14:00 | More by hoppymeal

Westsidethreat

California

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Sort of an orange/raspberry color. Its hard to see thru, whether its cloudy, hazy or what not. Very minimal head, barely a ring around the edge of the glass. Ok for the style though.

S: Watermelon, peaches and cream, cinnamon, caramel and strawberries.

T: Very malty with deep dark fruits. Tons of milk duds, sticky toffee, pistachio and red apple cider. Some serious honey aftertaste with just a touch of bittering hops. This is a sweet beer but with 14 months on it, it already has some very good rounding. Another year and I can only imagine...

M: Full bodied and syrupy

D: Tasty. Like caramel/malty beers? You'd like this one. Not that I've documented this fine beer I can sample the oak aged version

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2006 05:22:05 | More by Westsidethreat

srandycarter

California

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown and cola, not much head, thin ring left. Not much sudsy lacing left, but cascading bubbles at the fringe.

S - OH YEAH. Deep malt, cooked dark fruits. I am falling into this one...

T - Solid malt profile, infused with sweet fruit, then backed up by some good bitter.

M - Creamy, balanced, could have used a bit more carb.

D - For the style, would hurt myself probably.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2009 07:01:03 | More by srandycarter

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.4 %? You're kidding, right?

Hazy copper body is topped by a moderate tan head that showed excellent retention. The aroma is a blend of smooth caramel sweetness and spicy hops. On the tongue, the malt is the dominant flavor, with a smooth sweetness, nice caramel, and a touch of alcohol. Very fruity as well. Finishes with a smooth hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Did I mention this beer is smooth? A very well crafted barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2003 20:34:40 | More by aaronh

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Courtesy of BiermanVA, thank you, bottled on Feb 19, 2004. Not cloudy, but not a see through amber either. Looks like it would come across with a full mouthfeel, and it delivers. Aroma is of alcohol with a bit of sweetness to alleviate any worries.This is about the fastest tasting beer i've ever had, but if you let it warm up, it spreads itself out and stays awhile. Very nice, smooth as silk, and mostly all malt. Yeah there's some hops floating around, but this one is about the malt. I do appreciate getting a full description about the beer from the bottle. I would call this beer dangerous, but damn good. Due to the malt, remarkably easy to drink, but the alcohol is there in every sip to slow you down. Very good!

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2004 23:17:58 | More by PatandDavid

SheepNutz

Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

The bottled on date was blank, but I believe I bought this in 04. 12oz. bottle poured into a tulip-style glass. It pours a cloudy orange-copper color with one finger of head that dies off rather quickly. There are bits of lacing here and there. The smell is extremely malty, with lots of biscuit malt and some dark fruit, such as cherry and raisin. There's a touch of alcohol as well. The taste is very malty and sweet up front, with more of that cherry coming through, and a slight toastiness. The finish is all hops. Lots and lots of citrusy hops coat the tongue. Tasty. Some alcohol is detected. The mouthfeel is incredibly thick, yet silky smooth. The drinkability lacks some due to the sheer amount of alcohol. Rather tasty, but I think it falls under the American Barleywine category more so than the English.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2005 04:30:10 | More by SheepNutz

sponberg

New York

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottling date 2/12/2001. Fresh from the beer cellar, aged at 52 degrees in darkness for 5 long years. How does this one hold up?...

Dirty copper color, like a worn penny, with a white head that quickly disspates to a thin lace that stays with the beer and avoids the glass. Sweet coconut-and-toffee like nose, with any hop aroma long since past. Whiffs of alcohol as well.

VERY slight oxidation on the palate, but otherwise syrupy-smooth, with a warmth that starts and lasts all sip long. A nutty caramel maltiness, with the remnants of some citrusy hops waaaay in the background, like looking at the graves of old ladies you knew as a child. Finishes remarkably clean, with hints of dry cocoa over a toffee-apple maltiness and alcoholic vapors. Drinkable? I wish I had five more in my cellar. Perfectly smooth mouthfeel - like velvet.

I figured I'd post this as the 2006 version is on the shelves - yes, it does age nicely if you treat it well. Sock some away - fun to watch this one age.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2006 04:47:34 | More by sponberg

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 02/16/06.
Clear reddish copper colour topped by a solid cap of whitish foam that slowly subsided. Chunky lacing with decent head retention. Malty aroma - caramel with toffee notes and a bit of grain husk. Floral hops and light alcohol as well. Middling bitterness with plenty of caramel sweetness. Toffee, toasted malt and molasses, along with floral and grassy hops, fill things out. Alcohol flavour and warmth grow into the finish, but aren't overbearing. Full bodied and quite creamy, mid-low carbonation. Some dryness from the alcohol, but the malt keeps this in check. I like this quite a lot. Definitely more English character, they sure didn't scrimp on the malt bill. I'll be looking for more!

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2007 01:13:10 | More by DrJay

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle dated 04/06/2007 into a tulip glass.

A: Pours stark flat (well, a little bubbles/fizz) and a candied dark amber color.

S: White raisins, malts, and oaky booze. The fruity esters seem to come through as well.

T: Toffee, caramel, and maltiness. A little buttery and a little boozy too. Finishes dry and bitter.

M: Even though the carbonation is not apparent in the head formation (or lack thereof), it held up well in the beer. This can be sipped or gulped the same with a light to medium body.

D: The best feature of this beer. For 11.4% ABV, this beer is quite quaffable.

Overall, this beer held up very well and was pleasing to drink after a long work week. Beers like these give me hope that the rest of the stuff in my cellar will hold up.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 21:23:25 | More by hoppymcgee

meathookjones

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle with a bottled on date of Feb 19, 2004. Appearance in the glass is a dark amber color with about a half-inch of beige head that dies down quickly to a random scattering of bubbles. Left a bit of lace as well as it was consumed. Sweet malt and fruity notes dominated the aroma. Notes of molasses were present as was a bit of alcohol as this warmed. Sweet tasting upfront and a bit of molasses and alcohol lingering in the background. Also there were notes of dark fruits and a slight alcohol bite on the aftertaste. It was sweet but not cloying as the alcohol and hops kept that in check. Almost full bodied this was rich and coating in the mouth. Tasty stuff that I have drank several of upon occasion and a release I always look forward each year.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2004 13:34:26 | More by meathookjones

dirtylou

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2/11/05 bottling

appearance: beautiful dark copper color, thin head that doesn't hang around for the ride. impressive

smell: not as strong as some others of the style, fruity(pears), honey, alcohol, sweet malts

taste: way more intense than the aromas would lead you to believe. oak, oat bread, slight vanilla, slight honey, very earthy with lingering fruit tastes. I was extremely impressed by the taste and its complexity

mouthfeel: very heavy and full bodied

drinkability: somewhat of a task, but an enjoyable task at that

definately a beer to grab if you can find it, i shall age one for a while and see what happens. very nice

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2005 23:54:37 | More by dirtylou

argock

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a clear short-stemmed goblet

A: Deep amber hue with thin light tan head with small but notable amount of lace for an 11.4%er

S: Dark fruit, bread, toffee, and toasted malt smells.

T: Lots of malty toffee and caramel flavors up front with major honey sweetness zap your tongue to be followed by long-lasting slick earthy hop bitterness and pretty dry finish. Smooth and delicious without the coarse alcohol presence of many other barleywines.

M: Extraordinarily creamy and smooth in its sweetness.

D: Extremely drinkable despite its honey-sweetness -- would be a good choice for an introduction to barleywines.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2008 05:03:20 | More by argock

PerzentRizen

Mississippi

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I received this grand English Barleywine as an extra in a trade with BZero007 - thank you Nathan! When the trade shipment came in the bag holding this beer was wet on the inside and smelled like stale high alcohol beer so I thought this one was toast but it turns out to be one of the best barleywine's I've ever had!

Poured into a Duvel glass at 45 degrees this beer has a beautiful unfiltered burnt umber look with a soft off-white creamy head. There is quite a bit of carbonation for a barleywine - almost like that of an Imperial IPA but it works great for me.

The initial smells are a bit muted until after the first taste then you start peeling back the layers of aroma in this one. There is a lot of juicy malt, fresh fruit, dried cherries, and a roastiness that's hard to describe.

I am really diggin the deep malty, light hop, and that cool alcohol burn as a latent sensation. This is a beer for the senses. It's hard to believe but even at 10.5% (2009 bottle) this beer is drinking very very well.

There is that nice roundness that you would expect in a barleywine but there is also an oily hop dimension not unlike that of Bigfoot. The two beers although in different classes (American versus English Barleywines) have some striking similarities in the realm of massive malt, plenty of hops, and lots of malt. I would say this is a more balanced beer.

Usually barleywines are slow slow sippers for me and this is definately not a beer you would want to pound, but this is a highly drinkable beer. I would not drink two or three but I would drink one a night for a few weeks if given the opportunity!

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2009 21:16:30 | More by PerzentRizen

smakawhat

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass. Vintage 2012 bottled January 20th 2012.

A real crystal clear amber ruby red orange body hits, just super clear, with a head that is creamy tan and off white in color. Lots of staying power on this head that just slowly settles into a large puck, and then takes a nice collar. I am just in awe of this body color it looks like a jewel.

What a fantastic nose on this beer. Giant powdered litteraly cinnamon powdered toast in a glass. Nice airy malty toasted feeling, sweetness perhaps from honey (although not so much a honey sense on the nose). Absolutely smells fantastic.

Hop front forwardness takes over the expected sweetness to come. Sharp dry hop angle on the finish and mid palate, then the rolling toasty bread comes out. Dry sweetness, but also a little sharp on the booze heat, but luckily doesn't translate on the palate. Hop angle begins to dominate considerably.

Overall a real very impressive barleywine, probably made for the hop heads, but I can't get over this nose and appearance.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 00:52:30 | More by smakawhat

brewskifan55

Mississippi

4.23/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A birthday gift from optimator 13; brewed 1/28/11 (aged for over a year)
Poured into a snifter

A: bronze/amber opaque with a half finger head that dissipates rather quickly. Leaves big bubbles. Great lacing.

S: A hop/malt combo that's oh, so smooth on the olfactory.

T: Rustic, hop/malt blend with a touch o' honey on the finish. Sweet. That 10.5% alcohol wends its way through, leaving a mellow finale.

M: medium, creamy. Medium carbonation.

O: A great barleywine; one that should be captured and stored. The honey really works well. Great with cheddar. Robust and satisfying. Thanks, Evan!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 18:25:43 | More by brewskifan55

alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a nice copper with a stick resiny head that sticks to the edges.

S: Aroma of fruity yeast, a good bittering hop profile and plenty of malt sweetness

T: Wow, surprised me here. Extremely fruity tasting and a nice english yeast to boot. I have a soft spot for English barleywines and this did not disappoint. Plenty of cotton candy flavors mixed with cherry jolly rancher. Delicious and refreshing. Honey adds a bit of sweetness and complexity as well as adding floral notes to this very hoppy brew.

M: High level of carbonation with a medium body.

O: Color me impressed. A very solid english barleywine with plenty of body and flavor. Not too much boozy presence after warming, but a bit is there with a high abv here. Very well done IMO

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 02:51:40 | More by alpinebryant

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out as a golden orange color with a soapy white head on top. The retention is pretty good as well as the lacing. The smell of the beer had a good amount of floral and citrusy hops with some mild malt sweetness on the nose. The taste had a powerful bitterness and sweetness blended together. The mouthfeel had a medium body, it also has a solid amount of carbonation as well. Overall this beer to be seemed more like an American Barley Wine than an English one. It's a very nice beer though and I could see myself drinking this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2012 01:32:53 | More by Knapp85

jwc215

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark ruby with a head that has decent staying power, especially for style/abv. Some trailing lace sticks.

The smell is of rich toffee-like maltiness with a hint of tart fruitiness and a touch of honey.

The taste is of rich, sweet toffee/caramel-like maltiness balanced by tart fruitiness and an earthy hop spicing. Just a hint of honey adds to the complex taste. Alcohol is well-hidden.

It is full-bodied and very smooth. Drinks "too" easily for its alcohol level and richness. This is a well-balanced, well-made, enjoyable barleywine!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 18:02:12 | More by jwc215

beerluvr

New Jersey

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

Pours with a light tan head that settles quickly, over medium amber colored liquid. Nose is quite malty/sweet, with alcohol noticible. Taste reveals astringent hoppiness with malt laying in wait immediately afterwords, followed by more hop bitterness. The label states that honey is used in brewing...but I'm hard pressed to taste it! Finishes long and bitter...well made, and a good candidate for cellaring for Fall/Winter.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2002 20:19:29 | More by beerluvr

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow. Very nice. Barley wines are not my favorite, but this is pretty damn good. The alcohol burn comes off more similar to a fine scotch than a super-hyped alcohol beer. The beer pours a perfect penny color. Crystal clear. Thin head that vanishes all together. Aroma is full of malts with some nce hops in the background. Slight varnish aroma too. Taste is malty with a very substantial hop presence. Lots of honey present too, which leaves the mouth with a nice dry finish. But not with an overhopped burn finish, just honey sugar finish. Some wood hanging around the edges too. Mouthfeel is very full. Hints of a creamy presence are trying to break through and I wonder if with a bit of aging this beer would change much. Very agreeable beer for drinking.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2005 02:03:06 | More by MuddyFeet

goodbyeohio

Oregon

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

bottled 2 of oh-five.

clear like glass with a reddish-orange autumn tint. streams of haze ride the top of the beer, lacing is minimal and slippery at best. big, sweet developed malt aroma with rocket fuel notes and a bit of something resembling seawater.. maybe potato chips. mild wood hints. smoother drink than one would imagine, nice example of the english style. plummy with brown sugar candy explosiveness. big warmth and buzzy burn in the throat. hops are fresher tasting and more prevalent than i would have imagined.. perhaps too young at this stage. aftertaste is rather fruity, i can sense some peaches here as well as sugar cookie and cherry. vanilla runs through the brew faintly and ties it all together.. not a bad offering. one i would surely try again down the road at an elevated age.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2005 23:29:48 | More by goodbyeohio

barleywinebrewer

New Hampshire

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

Thanks to aprilluvsbeer for this via trade. This barleywine is a nice example done in the style I enjoy. I would classify it as JW Lees harvest - light. Very enjoyable, very drinkable and deceptively strong. No need to cellar for years in the hopes it will age right. If you are in the area where this is readily available, consider yourself lucky! If you have a chance to get one, go for it.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2006 14:07:29 | More by barleywinebrewer