Alaskan Barley Wine (Pilot Series) - Alaskan Brewing Co.

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.08/5  rDev -26%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2011 Vintage

A= Pours a rich amber color with a half finger tannish cap on top with some decent retention and spotty lacing on the glass.

S= Nice mix of hops and sweet malt. A little quieter than I like in a barleywine. It almost has a woody character despite not having wood in it I think. Smells like something familiar but I can't put my finger on it.

T= The taste is again a little quiet for my liking in a barleywine. The light flavor and lack of alcohol flavor makes this a dangerous drinker for sure. There is sort of a solid malt hop mix throughout the drink without too much of a staged drink. The sweet malts definitally take the hops over and seems to be a bit overly sweet for an American BW but too hoppy to be a true English BW.

M= Lightly carbonated with a solid weight.

O= I was a little dissapointed with this beer. Not that it's bad but it just wasn't what I thought it would be with all the talk about it. Alaskan has yet to really impress me outside of their smoked porter. This seems to me like an average barleywine with dangerous drinkablility. It just doesn't have the depth or complexity that I expect when I hear barleywine. A solid drink and worth trying but I won't be putting too many side for later.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 05:07:43 | More by jjanega08

JackieTH

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage.

Pours a clear, dark cola brown with an inch of khaki foam that persists with loads of lace. Very inviting appearance. Smells are floral, fruit, tropical elements, caramel malt. Taste vanilla, fruits including plums, dark cherries, blood oranges; toffee malt, with a slightly resin/earthy hop that keeps it all tied together. Mouthfeel is luxurious with a medium-heavy body that's perfectly carbonated. Very, very nice. Overall, an excellent big barleywine and the best crafted beer I've had from this brewer, hands down.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 04:06:20 | More by JackieTH

Dope

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage.

A: Pours a dark brown with a good sized dense tan head. Fades at a medium pace, leaving splatters of lacing everywhere.

S: Loads of caramel, vanilla, brown sugar and some toffee too. Some nice floral aroma as well.

T: Again, loads of caramel throughout. Some bread and earth in the middle with a brief hit of alcohol. A tiny bit of nuttiness along with stronger toffee in the finish and aftertaste. Some hops are notable, I get some pine bitterness in the lingering aftertaste especially. Sometimes get a brief hint of dark fruits in the middle as well, might just be the spicy alcohol esters.

M: Fairly heavy but smooth and clean.

O: Definitely a fresh american barleywine. Fairly notable hop taste and bitterness as well as some booze in the nose and in the middle of the taste. It's quite good, lots of complexity with a good balance of flavors to boot. I enjoyed it a lot. I think with a few years on it it could be even better.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 02:39:13 | More by Dope

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

09 vintage generously shared by shadowane. Thanks again Rich!

Pours a dark ruby/plum color with mahogany edges and one finger off white head that quickly settles into a thin ring.   Spotty lacing left behind.

Musty, earthy aroma with leathery malt, spicy rye, toffee, caramel and dark fruit.   Also picking up some subtle piney hops.

Medium bodied and still surprisingly hoppy with resinous, bitter and dry piny hops.  This is countered by a prominent earthy malt character. Leathery and slightly boozy with caramel, toffee and faint dark fruit notes.  Malt becomes more prominent as it warns.  Waves of sweet booze come and go and even though the abv is relatively well masked,  I get a strong ethanol rush in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 05:46:37 | More by corby112

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011

Nice Barleywine. Good tones of sweet malts that aren't overdoing it. Does seem a little fresh and could use some age to mellow out the slight hot tone (and I do say slight). But I feel like that is applicable to so many barleywines since they are always released so soon after brewing. Easy to drink. I like it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2012 08:27:14 | More by RblWthACoz

Scotchboy

Idaho

4/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008-vintage bomber poured into a Jackie O's tulip.

A: Murky golden brown with hints of amber and a surprisingly resilient light khaki head that leaves some lacing...definite alcohol feet on the glass.

S: Tons of caramel, sugary bready notes, berries, dates, figs, miles and miles of malt.

T: Sugary and almost syrupy malt...toffee and caramel obviously, with a definite presence of some type of berry...no hop presence at all, this baby tastes just like an English-style BW now...a bit of alcohol burn.

MF: Light bitterness...fuller 'syrupy' mouthfeel, low carbonation, light alcohol burn.

O: Couldn't drink a lot of this beast, its still kind of a monster at this age. Though its rounded nicely, I prefer it fresh with a more robust hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 14:21:27 | More by Scotchboy

jdense

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased in Boise ID shared with beer buddy in The Big OR.

Deep reddish amber body, clear, one finger tan head. Not much going on in the nose, a bit of roast, lot of hops, citrus. Taste is much more complex than the nose, hop forward, citrus, some light brown sugar, molasses, honey. Mouthfeel is medium, decent effervescence, a bit sticky. Unfortunately, I drank this too young, would be interesting to see how this cellars.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 18:00:28 | More by jdense

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Excellent brew! Served at a good temperature and with a nice, light tan, thick, foamy head and plenty of lace. Color is a clear, dark red amber. Aroma is malt, hop, fruit, taffy. Flavor is like nose, but with a lot more going on - malt sweet is on top with plenty of hop and yeast bitter under, then a little carbonic tang to complete the experience. Body is full and lush but with ever so slight bitter points. Carbonation is spot on. Finish is just as it should be for the style: long, boozy, and satisfying. One or two would be just right. Very well crafted product.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2012 03:44:08 | More by drpimento

morimech

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 Vintage

Dark crimson color with a solid two fingers of head that had excellant retention. The head settles to a thick cap. Moderate amount of sticky lacing is left down the glass.

Aroma is an interesting combination of tropical fruit, caramel, and floral elements.

The flavor seems to be hop dominated. I get a lot of tropical and floral hop flavors. Underlying caramel and sweetness. Neither overly sweet or bitter.

Good carbonation that compliments the bigger body. Enjoyable texture.

Did not really expect the tropical fruit elements to come from an Alaskan barleywine. Still a very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 20:16:36 | More by morimech

UnknownKoger

California

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Been saving this one for a few years. 2009. Time to crack it. Poured into Bruery tulip. Appearance is a hazy copper. Still very well carbonated. One finger foam head quickly dies down.

Smell is great. The hops are still there. Slightly fading into the malt background and mingling nicely. Some toffee sweetness and sweet fruits.

The taste is outstanding. No flavor dominates. They all mesh perfectly. This is an American barleywine through and through. It's got enough hops in there, but they're not overpowering. Age has done wonders for this beer.

Mouthfeel is nice. It's a bit chewy but nothing big.

Overall this is outstanding. What a great barleywine. I wish I had more of these. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 01:04:25 | More by UnknownKoger

lurpy1

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tough night. Faith in humanity gone. Where to go? Town Hall Tap! Ordered this Guest Tap, poured into some sort of faggy goblet. I took a lot of crap for the cup. Those who took a sip of this stopped giving me crap.

Pour is a bit of a mahogany stain color. Can't pick up on strong odor, a little bit of burnt grain, caramel, fruit. I just think my despair was getting in the way of my nose. Taste, on the other hand, is great. Alcoholic as it should be, with grain, caramel, figs and what I believe to be a bit of apples. Great. Smooth and a little thin, good for guzzling, but the alcohol won't permit it.

Excellent beer. Alaskan nailed this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 21:28:36 | More by lurpy1

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2009 Vintage enjoyed 04/03/2012.

Three years of age has done nothing to tarnish the beauty of this polished russet-amber ale. It remains spectacularly clear and, although its tone is fairly dark and reserved, it leaks glowing golden and ruby highlights onto the hand.

There's not much missing from the aroma either. With a maltiness that smells of molasses and dark, sticky fruits and a hoppiness that smacks of orange marmalade and pine serum, we can safely say all parts remain accounted for. It resembles a good quality wild honey, one you'd likely pay a small fortune for at the farmer's market.

Alaskan Barley Wine soaks the mouth in flavors of red grape, date, fig, golden raisin and a mellow brandy-like warmth that is disrupted by a brutish pungency courtesy of some notably bitter hops. For all its caramelly and molasses-like features, the beer's toasty malt base just doesn't stack up against the piny, Pacific Northwest style hopping.

Barleywine is a style that wears many hats. This offering falls somewhere between what we consider 'traditional English' varieties and the aggressive American ones. It has a spicy hop bitterness that is almost scathing (especially when compounded with the near 11% alcohol) yet it drinks with mellow composure; a potent yet soothing tipple.

Labels often make embellished claims. But when the brewery says this ale is "perfect for sharing with friends" take them at their word. Not only is it potent stuff, but it's a drink that encourages slow, pensive sips and warm reminiscences. Its candied-cherry and apricot notes and port-like aftertaste are definitely the stuff to be savored.

A 22oz bottle of Alaskan Barley Wine is basically the adult version of a pacifier. Burp me and I'm ready for bed. All is right with the world and Good Night. Indeed, the sweet, syrupy, honey-like coating on my lips will last long after I turn the lights out (which, truthfully, is the only logical thing to do by the end of the bomber). Sweet dreams!

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 04:44:28 | More by biegaman

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep and clear dark cherrywood with a lofty tan topping of creamy foam sitting about a finger high. It keeps its seat for great length and laces out lots of patchy sheeting patterns.

Aroma is plump of dark caramel malts and dark fruity accents, as it's quite soaked with dates, figs, and raisinyness. Hops add some dark orange marmalade and deeply set pineyness.

Taste is warm and malty with a solid smooth and gooey portion of dates, starfruit, figs, and some maple thrown in there. A touch of vanilla and some orangey piney hop tones way in the background. Lots of malty goodness seducing itslef in caramel and dark fruity stickyness.

Fairly chewy full body; smooth, warm, girthy, and lengthy with lots of cheek sticking malts and a nice little graxing touch of palate squeezing hoppyness.

Overall, this stuff is very solid, it has an enjoyable balance and hefty, warm, malt laden body that i tend to like more out of a Barley Wine. I really liked this stuff and will most definatley pick up more of it.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 23:09:57 | More by tavernjef

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 Vintage.

Appearance – Pours into a hotel cup with a dark mahogany color. Little head and little lacing.

Smell – Sweet dark fruits, caramel and molasses, lots of raisin and brown sugar.

Taste – A sweeter barleywine. Caramel and molasses up front which is then taken over by the dark fruits. Slight oxidation and metallic flavors? Heavy crystallized brown sugar.

Mouthfeel – Medium bodied, decent carbonation.

Overall – Sadly not really impressed with this beer. There was an off-putting metallic taste that I couldn’t get past, and it was a bit too sweet for my liking. Curious how very old vintages taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 05:26:54 | More by SpdKilz

adrock7309

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Obtained a 2011 bottle from Pairings in Eden Prairie, MN

Poured into a bells tulip glass. Initial pour drew no head but as the beer settled about a fourth of inch of head developed and then quickly fell back. No lacing on the glass but a thin strap of bubbles along the edge of the beer where it met the glass.

Aromas of red grapes, muttled piney hops, some butterscotch and caramel. There was something vinous and fruity about the smell combined with a strong presence of alcohol that was just fantastic.

Taste was rich and sweet. Again with the faint hops and caramel notes. I was surprised how much i was picking up a dark fruit and juicy grape profile. It was fantastic. The fruit gave way to the caramel toffee flavors as it warmed. I also thought there was a nice warming from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel was smooth and velvety and a bit hot on the finish. I think this would definitely benefit from another year or so in the cellar.

Glad I have another to age a while - overall a fantastic brew!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 14:55:59 | More by adrock7309

harrymel

Washington

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2011

Pours a dark brown with a finger of latte foam which falls slowly to a quilt of the same. Spotty lace. This beer smells chewy, like toffee and bubble gum and sweet caramel. They talk about the hops being added for balance, malarky - this malty with english influence. It smells beautiful for a fresh barley wine IMO.

Malt, cola, hints of burnt sugar and stone fruits. This beer has me at first taste. I have had this a few times, almost always with a year or three on it. This beer leaves the shelves in this area, and now I realize why, it's great fresh! Malty and sweet with a slight bitter/dry tone, it hides the alcohol like an opaque condom as it slides down my throat. Off-full bodied with moderate carb, the finish is semi dry and inviting.

Really a nice beer. I have a hard time telling folks about this beer, as it's a nice hidden PNW secret.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 18:14:48 | More by harrymel

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

According to Alaskan Brewing, Alaskan Barley Wine was introduced in 2003,brewed yearly and even won a Bronze medal at the 2008 World Beer Cup. First time I've been able to get a bottle thanks to Alaskan being distributed in Minnesota now.

Thin dirty tan head was tough to pull up. Even with a hard pour down the middle, the head fell quickly to nearly nothing. Iridescent ale that moves between copper and mahogany. Dry hopping apparent in the nose along with a strong alcohol hotness from the 10.7% ABV. Hops smells like a combination of English and northwest hops. Not listed on the website--just a guess. Dark cherry, figs, raisins, and a strong caramel malt--but still hangs below the hops. Heavy fruit and alcohol continue in the taste to support a strong hop bite. While not a lightweight ale, the beer has a subtle balance between big hop, malt and alcohol. Everything is big but balanced, so the effect is sweet and mellow. As it warms, all three elements open up and invade the senses. Drink it slow and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 23:30:31 | More by FightingEntropy

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Three year old 2008 properly cellared bottle. Pours a deep ruby amber, half finger medium to fine light brown head that fades slowly to a ring around the glass. Aroma of caramel malt and dark fruit, very well integrated, a prototypical aged barleywine aroma. Flavor follows with caramel malt, dark fruit and a definite hop presense on the finish. Nicely integrated and tasty. Body has become creamy and pleasant. Very nice. Tasted with a fresh 2011; see that review for comparison. There is no doubt that aging this beer is an excellent decision. I like the fresh one a lot, but this is very nice.

Hmm, appears that we can't review a beer twice, so here is my 2011, fresh bottle review:

Pours a deep ruby amber, half finger medium to fine light brown head that fades slowly to a ring around the glass. Aroma of caramel malt dark fruit, light hops dominated by alcohol. Flavor has sweet malt, light and dark fruit with a neutral hop finish and a bit of alcohol burn. Paired with a 2008 aged bottle. The newer barley wine has much more pronounced light berry like fruit flavor, but not as well melded with the malt and a more pronounced alcohol presence throughout the taste. The flavors are nice and only docked for points because of the booze component.

I gave the fresh bottle a 4.5 3.5 4.5 4.0 4.5; a slightly lower score, but this is very nice. A great barleywine that is good fresh and better cellared.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 04:15:35 | More by LiquidAmber

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011

A: Nice Reddish/Brown color, quarter inch creamish head, decent lacing

S: Some sweetness, hops smell nice, some malts coming through, touch of cherry in there

T: Grapefruit hops, some fruits, touch of dark cherry, spice, and booze

M: Light, tasty

O: Exceeded my expectations, I can't complain, good stuff

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 06:07:28 | More by derkfromwi

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22 oz. bottle into a Surly Darkness Chalice glass. 2011 Bottle.

Appearance: Pours a deep dark brownish mahogany red with a moderate amount of bubbles. Decent two finger off white head fades into a thin patchy layer. Decent amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: Aroma is fairly sweet with some dark fruits including prunes and dark cherry. Hints of citrus grapefruit hops and molasses. I'm even getting a little whiff of apple and banana. Sweet caramel malts round it out. Smells good.

Taste: Like the smells leads, a fruity and sweet taste. Sweet caramel malts with some toffee and dark fruits. Notes of prunes, cherry, apple, and banana. A light taste of citrus hops with some grapefruit ester. Hops are fairly tame and not very bitter. Sweet but not cloyingly sweet. Tame but pretty good.

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy bodied with a light to medium level of carbonation. Very smooth for the abv. Feels like its already aged a couple years.

Overall: Overall this is a pretty good barleywine. For a fresh bottle it is very smooth with no noticeable alcohol heat. Could of used a little more hop bite, but the fruity flavors are pretty nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 07:38:31 | More by MattyG85

Mdog

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Red, purple highlights, big head, good lacing. Basically perfect looking.

Smell: Very nice dark fruits, more caramel in later sniffs.

Taste: Dark fruit, rich darker caramel, hint of citrus. Very balanced and very tasty. Awesome.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: Feels great, no alcohol burn, extremely tasty.

Wow, this beer is off-the-charts good in my book. I usually like to age barleywines but this one would not last in my fridge. Just excellent look and taste. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 23:30:17 | More by Mdog

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into tulip, 2009 vintage - thanks to beerandraidersfan

Pours a deep chestnut brown color with bright reddish hues shining through. A crop of beige head retains on top of the brew while drinking, leaving patchy lacing on the glass. Very nice.

Very faint notion of faded citrusy and piny hops. Caramel, bread and sweetness with a mature malt complexity. Soft boozy warmth.

A little citrusy and sticky on the tongue up front, light touches of piny resin. Thick caramel and syrup touches with some bready notes. Layers of malt flavor with a smooth sweetness followed by pleasant warmth. Some hints of raisin and cherry. Finishes warm and citrusy.

Fuller medium body, milder carbonation, creamy and slick on the tongue. This really aged nicely, with minimal oxidation and improved malt flavor. The heat has subsided as well, making it even more enjoyable. I'd definitely like more of this.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 15:49:26 | More by xnicknj

cofeeguru

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Having had several barley wines, I was excited to try this on tap. The aroma is sweet with a definite boozy note, a little stronger than the typical barley wine. The taste was very much the same, sweet, boozy, and a little lighter than others I've had. The alcohol was noticeable, as was the hoppy bitterness at the end. A tasty mid-range barley wine, but definitely not my favorite of the style. I'll have it again, though, as an inexpensive version of one of my favorite beer styles.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2012 02:52:34 | More by cofeeguru

Nerudamann

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a snifter glass.

Look – ruby tinged dark brown in color, with about half a finger’s worth of beige-colored foam that dissipates somewhat quickly.

Smell – fruity aroma, almost like grapejuice. A bit earthy in its presence.

Taste – fairly fruity in the initial taste as well. In the middle it becomes a little more mature in its taste. Bitterness from the hops arrives near the finish and lingers a bit in the aftertaste, which somehow seems to almost take your breath away.

Mouthfeel – surprisingly light and a little more toward the watery side than I would have expected from a barleywine. But even so, pretty well-balanced.

Overall – Not a bad-tasting brew at all! To be frank, it’s not the best barleywine I’ve ever had, but it’s still a pleasure to sample and think about.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 17:04:31 | More by Nerudamann

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2009 vintage poured into a tulip glass. Pours a deep mahogany along a medium tan head that dissapates quickly. Aroma of sediments/yeast, alochol, and raisins. A somewhat alcoholic punch in the flavor but not too much, slight bitterness. Picked up some cherries, bread/dough, dark fruit in the taste. Medium-bodied. Bitter finish. Overall, a quite decent barley wine, but not as mind blowing as I'd hoped it to be (such as the ratings indicate). I'd be open to trying out a fresher version in the near future.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 17:13:34 | More by CuriousMonk