Kraken (French Oak Aged Sisyphus)
Real Ale Brewing Company

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Real Ale Brewing Company
 
Texas, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
11.5%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.38 | pDev: 8.68%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
69
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 30, 2016
Added:
Mar 25, 2010
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MisterGrizz:
Photo of MisterGrizz
Reviewed by MisterGrizz from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a snifter at The Holy Grail Pub in Plano 03-09-2012

Initial first impression is love at first sight. Nice sticky 1/2 inch head that just hugs the inside of the glass. I mean this thing is like liquid candy. Cloudy dark amber color with a cream white head. Oh boy.

First smell reveals honey and loads of it. A second reveals biscuit-y malt, citrus, hint of clove, small bite of hops and a crazy balance between them all. Not one element overpowers the other and it just feels right.

Taste is loads of smooth honey up front. Just wow. A small piney hop bite follows and the creamy biscuit-y malt flavor I mentioned in the smell finishes it out. Fantastic. I could drink this all night till the cask was empty, but we all know that I wouldn't be standing if I were to go that route.

Overall, this is probably the best barleywine, aged or no, that I have ever had. The regular Sisyphus is quite good on its own, but the French oak treatment turns this into a completely different beer. Easily Real Ale's best offering to date. I want it bottled. Now.
Mar 10, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.21 by sd123 from Georgia

Aug 30, 2016
Photo of GreatStoutman
Reviewed by GreatStoutman from Texas

4.36/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Very sweet, lots of raisin and molasses, and there's something else I just can't decipher that might be apple and might come from the barrel, but it's really good.

Drinks easy for a big Barleywine. I would definitely have this again.
May 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.39 by Gatordaddy from Maryland

May 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.85 by nathanmiller from New York

Mar 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.42 by sirhc3034 from Texas

Dec 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.96 by thereal_adam from Texas

Dec 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Martyrob from North Carolina

Nov 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by permian-boozer from Texas

Nov 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by TX-Badger from Texas

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Kram3r from Texas

Nov 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by spycow from Illinois

Oct 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.4 by Bimmers from Texas

Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ldhughes3 from Louisiana

Aug 16, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Can_has_beer from Texas

Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by blastoderm55 from Texas

Jul 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by djteiwaz

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by LehighAce06 from Pennsylvania

Jul 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by archero from Texas

May 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by IrishGermanAmerican from Texas

May 17, 2014
Kraken (French Oak Aged Sisyphus) from Real Ale Brewing Company
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 69 ratings