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Barleywine
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
- From:
- Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
- United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
- ABV:
- 9.6%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 16.05%
- Reviews:
- 15
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 21, 2018
- Added:
- Mar 21, 2004
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 3
Traditional brown, English-style Barleywine with intense, complex malt sweetness and a sherry-like quality. Full-bodied with balanced bitterness and a warm finish.
70 IBU
70 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bros:
None found.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MsRif from Pennsylvania
2.24/5 rDev -41.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.24/5 rDev -41.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Had on-tap at Iron Hill in Media, PA. Poured a dark amber color with a thin off-white head that receded slowly throughout the session. Spotty lacing. Had an aroma of booze, cherry cough syrup and sweetness. The taste was...well, to me, straight up cherry cough syrup. Such a pretty looking brew with such a disappointing taste. I tried several sips of it before passing it off to my husband to finish. Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of barleywines, but this one was even less quaffable than most.
Medium bodied with low carbonation. I couldn't finish my 4oz sample. If you are a big barleywine fan, try this...but I don't know how anyone could taste anything other than cherry cough syrup in this one. I'll pass.
Dec 18, 2011Medium bodied with low carbonation. I couldn't finish my 4oz sample. If you are a big barleywine fan, try this...but I don't know how anyone could taste anything other than cherry cough syrup in this one. I'll pass.
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First had: on tap at Iron Hill, Media, PA
Not retired.
Poured a light rusty-red-brown, slightly hazy, with a thin white cap of head. Sweet aroma of caramel and cherry candy. Taste was imbued with sweetness, but not sickeningly so, like in some barleywines. Sweet malts, caramel, cherries, a touch of brown sugar, and I picked up a definite pervading sensation of semisweet chocolate. Finished nice with nearly no aftertaste, gentle earthy hops, and the alcohol is well hidden. Medium body, a bit chewy, but not syrupy; quite drinkable, though I'd probably say one glass is quite enough.
Dec 17, 2011Not retired.
Poured a light rusty-red-brown, slightly hazy, with a thin white cap of head. Sweet aroma of caramel and cherry candy. Taste was imbued with sweetness, but not sickeningly so, like in some barleywines. Sweet malts, caramel, cherries, a touch of brown sugar, and I picked up a definite pervading sensation of semisweet chocolate. Finished nice with nearly no aftertaste, gentle earthy hops, and the alcohol is well hidden. Medium body, a bit chewy, but not syrupy; quite drinkable, though I'd probably say one glass is quite enough.
Reviewed by seeswo from Ohio
2.53/5 rDev -33.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
2.53/5 rDev -33.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
Bottle shared with a buddy recently.
Almost a gusher, this bottle was over carbonated (non-infected edition) and filled the three-inch tulip with a 2 inch head. Looks right for a barleywine otherwise, hazy golden amber, tannish head. Smell is pretty vacant, malt, dark fruit, a bit of brown sugar. Worrysome in its lack of expression. The taste - well, watery was the first word my buddy and I mentioned after taking a sip. Like, really watery. Devoid of flavor. A small amount of brown sugar, dark fruit, a mild bitterness in the back intended for balance, but there is nothing to balance. Subtle is the wrong word here. Lacking is more appropriate. The mouthfeel is not as thin as the comments above imply, medium body, heavy, heavy carbonation. Overall, we didn't finish all 750 mL and the disappointment led me to pop an Abacus, which was the right call (amazing beer). There is no off or offensive flavor in this beer, it is just way too timid for the style.
Jun 13, 2011Almost a gusher, this bottle was over carbonated (non-infected edition) and filled the three-inch tulip with a 2 inch head. Looks right for a barleywine otherwise, hazy golden amber, tannish head. Smell is pretty vacant, malt, dark fruit, a bit of brown sugar. Worrysome in its lack of expression. The taste - well, watery was the first word my buddy and I mentioned after taking a sip. Like, really watery. Devoid of flavor. A small amount of brown sugar, dark fruit, a mild bitterness in the back intended for balance, but there is nothing to balance. Subtle is the wrong word here. Lacking is more appropriate. The mouthfeel is not as thin as the comments above imply, medium body, heavy, heavy carbonation. Overall, we didn't finish all 750 mL and the disappointment led me to pop an Abacus, which was the right call (amazing beer). There is no off or offensive flavor in this beer, it is just way too timid for the style.
Reviewed by JAXSON from Pennsylvania
3.7/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.7/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark guava ruby with an oddly thick, creamy head. Nose is big, round, chewy malt, bubblegum, some dates and raisins, a lot of sugars. Mouth is a lot of sugars up front, bubblegum. The mouth on this doesn't express the malt as well as the nose does, but there's nothing really wrong with it either. Just tasty. Little complexity or depth of flavor. Brown sugar all around, and a touch of hops in the finish. I think this was a recent vintage, I've had this before and it blew this bottle away. Not sure what's going on but at this point it's one of their weaker heavy beers.
Dec 21, 2010Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2005 vintage bottle. Thanks to FooFaa for sharing.
A-Deep orange tinted dark copper body with a thin light tan head that left spotty lace,
S-Rich caramel and bitter orange peel. Aromas are light and are negatively affected by a touch of oxidation.
T-Light caramel with a nice boost from candied orange peel. Flavours are moderately complex with lesser notes of plum, raisin, and brown sugar.
M-Medium bodied, quite smooth with good lingering flavours and a surprising amount of bitterness.
D-Soft and subtle with flavours that meld together quite well. Not really sure if age has helped or hurt this beer but...
Mar 30, 2010A-Deep orange tinted dark copper body with a thin light tan head that left spotty lace,
S-Rich caramel and bitter orange peel. Aromas are light and are negatively affected by a touch of oxidation.
T-Light caramel with a nice boost from candied orange peel. Flavours are moderately complex with lesser notes of plum, raisin, and brown sugar.
M-Medium bodied, quite smooth with good lingering flavours and a surprising amount of bitterness.
D-Soft and subtle with flavours that meld together quite well. Not really sure if age has helped or hurt this beer but...
Reviewed by ffejherb from Pennsylvania
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2005 vintage 750ml bottle. Thanks to FooFaa for unearthing this from his cellar for our weekly get-together on 5/6/09.
A - Poured a cloudy, rusty orange/light copper body with one-finger bubbly white head.
S - Candied oranges and caramel malt comprise the base of this barleywine, although the aroma is quite subdued overall. Subtle alcohol notes and mild oxidization round out the nose.
T - Complex flavors abound with tangy dark fruit reminiscent of apricots, plums and raisins, in addition to sweet caramel, sugary candy notes and subtle perfumy hops. A touch of citrus is also noticeable. Alcohol presence is pretty restrained, obviously mellowed by cellaring.
M - Medium bodied with a syrupy texture and soft, virtually non-existent carbonation. Sweet on the palate.
D - Very subtle and mellow for a barleywine. Upon cellaring for a few years, the hops were replaced by a thick, rich malt presence and a pleasant dark fruit tang.
May 08, 2009A - Poured a cloudy, rusty orange/light copper body with one-finger bubbly white head.
S - Candied oranges and caramel malt comprise the base of this barleywine, although the aroma is quite subdued overall. Subtle alcohol notes and mild oxidization round out the nose.
T - Complex flavors abound with tangy dark fruit reminiscent of apricots, plums and raisins, in addition to sweet caramel, sugary candy notes and subtle perfumy hops. A touch of citrus is also noticeable. Alcohol presence is pretty restrained, obviously mellowed by cellaring.
M - Medium bodied with a syrupy texture and soft, virtually non-existent carbonation. Sweet on the palate.
D - Very subtle and mellow for a barleywine. Upon cellaring for a few years, the hops were replaced by a thick, rich malt presence and a pleasant dark fruit tang.
Reviewed by BigMcLargeHuge from Arizona
3.55/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Courtesy of RB's very own GMCC2181.
Pours amber copper with minute long tan head. The aroma has notes of raisins, prunes, figs, crystal malts and some mild alcohol heat. The taste is much the same as the nose with fruity esters like raisins, prunes, apricots and pears. Behind that are solid notes of sweet malts and mild caramel candy. Then a modest sense of alcohol murmurs up and hangs on into the finish. Nice brew that could use a few more years of age.
Jan 10, 2009Pours amber copper with minute long tan head. The aroma has notes of raisins, prunes, figs, crystal malts and some mild alcohol heat. The taste is much the same as the nose with fruity esters like raisins, prunes, apricots and pears. Behind that are solid notes of sweet malts and mild caramel candy. Then a modest sense of alcohol murmurs up and hangs on into the finish. Nice brew that could use a few more years of age.
Barleywine from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
28 ratings
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