Barleywine - Thirsty Pagan Brewing

JRdaSconnie

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +19.3%

06-07-2012 03:24:33 | More by JRdaSconnie

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thirsty Pagan Barley-wine, Superior, Wisconsin.

Sat on this for over seven months, hope it's worth the wait. Paid $20 for it. Chose one of these instead of a growler. But the owner of the joint pointed it out to me, so I felt obliged. Kinda.

Very clouded, deep magenta hue, under next to no head to speak of. Oh, well.

Aroma: sweet malt, some caramel and toffee, some dark fruit, molasses, tobacco, plenty of richness here. Nice, fairly typical aromatic notes for a barley-wine.

Taste: Floods the mouth with deep rich maltosity. (A new word I made up.)Caramel malt up the yin/yang, plenty of dark fruits, tickles of treacle, molasses, licorice, just a little hint here and there. Sweetness abound, hops are ne'er to be seen or tasted. I'm putting the alcohol at at least 10%, and I'm starting to feel it. I mean, really feel it. Boom, boom, here it comes. …

Tast-eee stuff, my friends. There isn't much carbonation, but the flourishing flavor makes up for that. Dense and delicious malt. Yum-E. I have to wonder how it was earlier, but imagine it won't be much better later. Could be more refined, more ooh, more mellow.
All in all, a good attempt at a barley-wine, but several shades short of greatness.

For the moment, I forget flaws and enjoy what it is.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 02:01:36 | More by feloniousmonk

tewaris

Minnesota

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

Shared by dc55110, thanks!

Deep amber and disturbingly clear. Aroma is malty, boozy and toffee like. Tastes somewhat dark (roasted malt?), but still fruity, caramel-toffee, and plenty flavorful. The body is rather thin and the booziness in conjunction with it gives a liquor like feel that I am not resenting at all.

Pretty good and surprisingly so considering how mediocre their other beers are.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 09:10:14 | More by tewaris

dc55110

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +0.5%

11-05-2012 21:09:55 | More by dc55110

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -24.6%

10-06-2012 16:08:31 | More by NilocRellim

jera1350

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle 107/320 picked up on a Jan. trip to Duluth.

Pours a very deep coppery brown color with a minute amount of head which doesn't really leave any lacing. Very syrupy look.

Rich sweet smell. Lots of sugar and a light fruitiness.

The flavor is wonderful. Very sweet. Caramelized sugar, toffee and some light candied fruit. Sweet as can be, but delicious. Hint of earthy hops, but that's about it in the hop department.

Really feels like an aged barleywine with low carbonation. Seems all of Thirsty Pagan's brews are lower carbonation beers though. Syrupy and sticky.

Love this beer. Like a well aged barleywine. Not hoppy, but very sweet which I'm okay with. Actually drinks very, very easily. I would love to have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 17:08:16 | More by jera1350

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

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

Thanks to my friend Lori (lkarau) who picked this bottle up along with a pint glass for each of us. The bomber was marked with the signature of the brewer and an indication that only 320 bottles were released to the public.

A - A purple and brown mixyure make up the color to the body and the head is moderate at best.

S - I pick up plums, dates, molasses, cherry and booze.

T - Malt, brown sugar and molasses. Unfortunately this barleywine is weak in the hop character.

M - The feel is by far its best characteristic. It is rich, thick and sticky.

~ This brew would have had some serious potential in the cellar. It is good now but I would bet in a few years it will be great. Either way, thanks Lori!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 02:59:22 | More by cdkrenz