Barbarian Barley Wine - Bourbon Barrel Aged - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

ehammond1

California

3.45/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On Tap

Pizza Port
Carlsbad, CA

Dark brown with a small brown head. Leaves messy spiderwebs of stick down the glass. Appropriate for the style, though nothing particularly pretty.

Sweet aroma, along with some oak character, very mild bourbon, grain, and root vegetables.

The flavor is similar to the aroma, though the vegetable character is far more present than I was hoping for after smelling it. Some complementary caramel and mild bourbon, and the alcohol is hidden very well. A let down. I was expecting something much better.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Probably wouldn't seek this one out again, though still not bad by any means.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2013 03:46:12 | More by ehammond1

Halcyondays

California

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours a ruddy red brown to umber with a small white head which leaves good lace.

S: Bit of cloying malt, some good barrel character, oak wood.

T: Heavy vanilla and rich malt, everything really comes together. Enveloped in a delicious ethanol undercurrent this is a really lovely beer.

M: Rich, full-bodied, spirituous in a good way where it really works with the beer.

O: Lots of fun, very well made, it's nice to find these gems when you least expect it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2012 04:36:06 | More by Halcyondays

HopHead84

California

4.65/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12/07/2012

On tap at Strong Ale. Supposedly this is the original batch that rested in kegs for a while then was barrel aged for 2-3 years.

A: Ruddy reddish dark brown with a fleeting beige head. Some alcohol tears are evident with a swirl of the glass.

S: Dark toffee bourbon vanilla. A bit of plum with earth and lots of brown sugar. Well hidden alcohol. Beautiful rich malt profile with a killer barrel influence.

T: Rich dark toffee with brown sugar, vanilla, and bourbon. Pretty incredible flavor with a very tame alcohol presence. A dash of chocolate as well.

M: Lower full body with upper low carbonation. Sticky and silky mouthfeel with some warming.

Overall: Stellar. The highlight of Strong Ale 2012.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2012 05:50:38 | More by HopHead84