Mirror Mirror - Deschutes Brewery

jegross2

Illinois

1.35/5  rDev -67.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

2009 vintage. Consumed a few months ago. Found my notes on this one. They're brief and to the point. I did not know there were prominent infection issues before I drank this.

A: Poured a hazy copper red/brown color with a half finger layer of creamy tan head. Average lacing/retention. 4/5

S: Caramel malt, brown sugar, vanilla and an off-puting fruity funkiness. 2/5

T/M: The aroma keyed me in to an expectation of something being off, but I did not expect this beer to be as so pungently unbalanced and undrinkable as it was. I took a large first sip (a big mistake) and the unholy medley of sugary and fruity funk and boozed toffee malt literally made me throw up. I've never had such a mess that I didn't brew myself. Very disappointed. Immediate drain pour. 1/5

O: To their credit, Deschutes sent me a very nice handwritten note explaining the infection issues and apologizing (they also reimbursed me for the bottle). They definitely were on top of their game in solving customer service issues related to the infection. That said, I would never trade for the 2009 vintage again.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 18:25:07 | More by jegross2

bamadog

Kentucky

3.28/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

So, I've been dipping into the cellar a bit this weekend and last night I got an infected beer, and I think that my bad luck is continuing... This one smells a wee-bit funky/tart... Dammit. Oh well, let's give it a shot anyway. Review is from notes taken on 5/13/2012 and poured from the bottle to a snifter.

Appearance: Pour is a ruddy coppery color and is reminiscent of apple code; starts with a short 1/4 finger head that lingers a bit and eventually fades to a thin, nearly complete skim; body is murky and difficult to see into, but there is decently strong tiny strands of carbonation bubbling up near the sides; some sticky oily residue

Smell: Tart, acidic green apples (likely from the infection... again, dammit...); some sweet caramel maltiness and a touch of bitter hop still lingers. All in all, not bad, but I would imagine it would be superior without the slight taint to it. Fortunately I have another that may not be bugged.

Taste: As mentioned, there is definitely a tart and acidic green apple presence to it along with a saccharine funk, and it's strong up front, but followed nicely by the big caramel malts; still a fair amount of grassy and bitter hop presence in the back; some booze as well. Not displeased, but again, I feel this would be an amazing beer otherwise...

Mouthfeel: Body is of medium weight and the carbonation is still strong, but comes across as smooth and soft; bit of a sticky coating left on the palate and teeth; belly is left warm and tingly from the acidity, funk and booze.

Overall: See above... not too bad, even with the infection, but could be sooo much better. Que sera sera. Better luck next time, I guess.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 01:04:22 | More by bamadog

SneezyAchew

Massachusetts

4.73/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Scottfrie for sending this to me awhile back. 22oz bottle split between two. Served in a Stone IRS snifter.

A: Brown with red and amber hues, like a ripe pluot.

S: Alcohol is very present as soon as I stick my nose into the glass, like a soaked whiskey cork. Oak and cloves also have a strong presence.

T: Perfect score for this. Not infected one bit. (The news of the possibility was the only reason i opened this so soon, after falling in love with this beer the first time I had it about a year ago). Hard caramel candy at the forefront. Very scotch-like beer with a sweet brandy center. Notes of banana peel, figs, and candy apple. Light to moderate carbonation. Kind of like a really intense brown ale?

M: On the lighter side. Goes down easy for me.

O: Really well balanced barley wine. 3 years was definitely a nice age, but I am sad I don't have anymore bottles. I'll be sure to grab a couple bottles next time Deschutes releases this. Highly recommended. Thanks again, Scott!

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 07:03:01 | More by SneezyAchew

Ungertaker

Minnesota

1.95/5  rDev -53.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

2009 vintage poured into a Deschutes snifter.

A- a clean, gold/copper body with a very light tan head.

S- something is definitely wrong here. There is a sour-like funk that seams out of place. Once beyond those things, a caramel/toffee-like aroma is faintly present.

T- dang it!!! It is infected. The funky flavor dominates.

M- medium to thick with a fair amount or carbonation.

O- The infection killed what would have abviously been a great brew. I would have loved to review this without having this issue, but I cannot get myself to track another bottle down. Drain pour.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 20:33:04 | More by Ungertaker

PatrickSwayze

California

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Copper and light tan head that holds itself.

S: Crazy dark fruit smells take over everything

T: I was so worried that this beer was going to be infected but holy cow did this beer taste good. Deep caramel notes followed by rich fig and fruit flavors. Ahh so good the oak comes through at the end to gently kick in more complexity

M: Fantastically dry and rich that lingers all over the tongue.

O: Deschutes doing it again. Glad this one wasn't infected like some others. Delicious easy drinking barley wine that ages wonderfully.   

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 00:23:00 | More by PatrickSwayze

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.4/5  rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Fist of all, I want to that OakedCanuck for sending me this one almost two years ago in only my second trade. Thanks Colin!

Served in a snifter.

A: Poured an extremely dark, burnt sienna brown, with a slight orange hue once I held it up to the light. I actually got about a one finger head that melted into a mere ring around the brew.

S: I got a VERY intense caramel-Mallow crème component upfront…… more so than just about any other BW I’ve ever smelled. Additionally, this ALMOST had a slight sourness to it, but not quite.

T: This was both muddy, very boozy, and ultimately uninteresting. Seriously, even for an oaked-aged English BW, this had a skimpy hop profile that didn’t pop in any way. The booze actually burned my esophagus as I ingested this.

M: Sugary and with a mild prickle. Once again, this was in dying need of some sort of high pitched hop sizzle to add complexity and wake the palate up. There was some mild, splotchy lacing, but nothing to write home about.

O: I’ve liked most Deschutes products I’ve tried in my life, but this was a big disappointment….. boring even. I guess, if sugar cubes infused with pure grain alcohol is your thing, then knock yourself out.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 13:24:09 | More by Chaney

bstave

Washington

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle (best after 4/20/10) poured into snifter.

A- Aggressive pour produced 2 finger head that dissipated quickly leaving no lacing. Hazy amber color.

S- Dark fruits, orange, oak, leather, caramel, and toffee.

T- Taste follows nose with dark fruits, oak, leather, caramel, and toffee. Little booziness.

M- Very smooth. Nice alcohol warming. Carbonation is perfect for the style. Very easy to drink.

O- I had this shortly after release and was able to find this bottle, now nearly 2 1/2 years later. Age did well on this. Very complex and solid barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 06:52:20 | More by bstave

beerbiatchMD

Maine

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle into a grand Bordeaux wine glass.
2009 Reserve.

A: Brown with orangey hues. One finger of off white head leaves good lacing.

S: The first smell I get is deet--seriously, medicinal, estery acetoney, almost like an insect repellent... Not bad though, reminds me of my backpacking equipment. Also get some roasty caramel and estery oak.

T: wow, this is unique. Initially I get a sweet roasty malt, then I get the medicinal deet, subsequetly followed by roasty nutty flavor--hazelnut. There is a subtle earthy hop balance behind the sweetness of the roasty malts, also get some oak. Very deep, very complex.

M: sweetly smooth. Well carbonated. Good mouthfeel.

O: this is a very good, very complex barleywine style ale. Nice subtleties amidst some strong characteristics. Not sure what the deet flavor/smell is going on, but overall it's good. Highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 09:46:34 | More by beerbiatchMD

Pencible

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage. Sampled Jan 2012.

A: This poured an opaque light mahogany with no head.
S: It smelled…not infected! Sweet orange and burnt sugar and caramel, with some honey wheat and butterscotch and copper.
T: It tasted like sweet orange and candied apricot, with copper hops and caramel and honey wheat, and a little butterscotch and vanilla. It had a mostly clean and sweet aftertaste, with some heat.
M: It was thick with moderate carbonation. Nice fully body.
D: I was really worried this would be infected like my '09 Abyss, so I waited a couple years to open it. Now I wish I had tried it fresh. However, it was pretty delicious after 2.5 years anyway. I'd place it somewhere between Old Ruffian and Gratitude, or call it a caramel mimosa. Great scent and taste with solid body. Alcohol in finish made it more of a sipper, but a very enjoyable one at that. So curious how this was fresh, but lovely now. Could maybe age longer? I'm so happy this wasn't spoiled.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 21:51:27 | More by Pencible

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle tried 24 Oct 2010. Served in the 0.4 L Steiner Pils snifter.

Thick light beige head. Minimally carbonated. Slight bit hazy, deep warm ruby amber in color. Aroma is pleasant, hoppy, green and herbal, reminiscent of rosemary, some tannins, touch of cherry pits. Starts a bit syrupy, morphing to sour cherry pits. Lots of dried fruit sweetness, plums, raisins. Medium body, ethanol is v warming. Touch of citronella (says A).

Becomes more sweet as it warms up.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 03:05:23 | More by htomsirveaux

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Received this in a trade back in '09, and have had it cellared since. ('Best *After* - 4/26/10' printed on the side). Have been really looking forward to this one for quite awhile, albeit with some hesitancy as there were rumblings of quality control issues. Thankfully, this one was not infected. Split this bottle with fellow BA, ClarkPinnock. Poured my allotment into a snifter.

Pours a cloudy, dark, ruddy amber. Lots of fine particles noted in the bottom of my glass. Thankfully, no large chunks. A small sheet of lace tops it off. The nose is rich with molasses, dark fruits, light booze character, wet wood. Very nice aroma. The body has not been hurt by time in the cellar at all. This one is hefty and filling. Carbonation level is moderate. Tasty beer with fig, plum, faint vanilla, toffee. Excellent beer. The flavors meld so well together. This is one of my favorite aged-Barleywines I have had. To those that are still sitting on some of these, the forecast looks good!

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 15:44:28 | More by Onenote81

matttttYCE

Arizona

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter, the head is about 1 1/2 fingers, creamy/luscious, and just barely off-white in color. The head fades somewhat, but leaves a bit more than a ring around the glass and dusting of bubbles. Slight lacing as well. The beer's color is a burnt brown-orange/copper mixture. Hazy look as well.

The aroma is full of complex layers. Figs/plums/dark fruits, candied fruit, maybe even grapes, sweetness, caramel, toffee, and muted/sort of old herbal and resiny hops hit initially. After that I get some brown sugar, hints of nuts and some lighter oak and vanilla characters, as well as a bit of light chocolate and maybe some slight oxidation. No real signs of an infection unless I'm mistaking them for other things.

Taste is alot like the aroma, nice and complex. Lots of grape, fig, plum, and candied/dried fruit like eating the trail mix fruit (like cranberries), caramel apple, toffee, muted resiny citrusy hops, brown sugar, hints of oak and vanilla, slight chocolate and oxidation from the nose. Very big and barleywine-esque. Don't quite like the flavor as much as I like the aroma.

Consistency is velvety smooth, carbonation is pretty low, while the body is medium-low, and the finish is medium, maybe on the lighter side.

Overall, an interesting and complex barleywine. I was able to have this on tap about a year and a half ago at a local bar and I don't remember it being this good or this complex. That said, I also don't think this is the gold standard of all the barleywines I've had. And for being a partially barrel aged barleywine, I think I expected a little bit more of a barrel appearance. Take if for what it's worth.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 19:24:50 | More by matttttYCE

DCon

Missouri

4.63/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bought a 1 PINT 6 FLUID OUNCE bottle of this from the BeerHive Pub in Salt Lake City, UT for $21. Poured from the Scroll label w/ "2009 RESERVE" & Black waxed top into a 16oz Samuel Adams Imperial Pint Glass. Has BEST AFTER: 04/20/10 1134L on the side of the label.

Aroma- Tons of things are well blended in here including booze, fruits, and malt. Perfect character and hits with a bit of sherry cask too. Can tell this is an aged Barleywine.

Appearance- Pours a 1 finger head that has average retention. has a dark amber colored body and is clear. Leaves good lacing behind.

Flavor- Very strong and intense flavors pucker the mouth from the beginning. Then has a ton of malt and strong fruit after wards. Has a medium bitterness level.

Mouthfeel- Medium-Full Bodied, Light-Medium Carbonation, a bit chewy and then effervescent? Very nice and as a nice alcohol warming.

Overall Impression- Like the Abyss, I recommend sharing this with a friend (or ANYONE for this matter!). Very strong and put me under the table. Enjoyed thoroughly and while never seeing this before, had to order! I am very lucky I had such good luck finding a 2009 Reserve.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 00:55:40 | More by DCon

dubinsky

California

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into a Lost Abbey stemmed tulip.

A - Pours a hazy amber/mahogany color with a thin, wispy layer of bubbly tan color head, which recedes quickly leaving behind some virtually no lacing on the edges of the glass.

S – Sweet and rich with lots of dark stone fruits. Toasted caramel brown sugar add to the sweetness of this beer. Hints of oak with bourbon and vanilla. There is a slight rusty metallic smell on the finish, but nothing too worrisome.

T – This is a huge surprise for me. I was expecting some serious booziness at 11% abv, but found this to be nothing like that. It starts off very sweet and fruity. Brown sugar, toasted caramel malts and rum soaked dark fruit are hugely prominent. There is a bit of oak and vanilla in the background as well, but its so well blended and aged that its kissed with oak and vanilla rather than saturated with them. The finish continues to be very sweet with a nice mix of sweet caramel malts and brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla and dark fruits.

M - Full bodied with a mild amount of carbonation. Very decadent with a slight warming effect.

D – This is a great example of an amazingly crafted barley wine. Its so drinkable even at this high an ABV. I found myself enjoying the entire bottle by myself throughout the course of the night. I regret not trying it fresh to see what the age did to it. I was hugely turned off of barley wines at that time though.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 04:18:48 | More by dubinsky

andrewinski1

Maine

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Birthday beer time! Poured into a tulip. The head is large and foamy; about two inches. The body is blood orange colored with a good amount of haze. The head is light ecru.

The aroma has a nice punchy fruitiness to it to go with the caramel malt backbone.

The taste is just sweet enough with a nice dose of caramel malt. The finish lends a nice note of fruitiness and a hefty bitter hop finish.

The body is medium to full; with a nice fluffy smooth carbonation. This feels good on my tongue.

I'm loving this barleywine. Great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 04:41:23 | More by andrewinski1

Bendurgin

Maine

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Alec for swapping beer with me and setting me up with this one. Poured into a tulip. This one pours a slightly hazy copper color with about an inch of beige head.

Butterscotch in the aroma giving it a nice sweet edge with a big raisin aroma. Dark fruits with a sweet edge, really enjoyable. Brown sugar and toffee on the pallet with some dark fruity characters. A bit hoppy on the finish giving it a bitter pine edge.

The body is smooth with soft carbonation. A little bit on the sticky side. Overall, this one is drinking like a champ. A little hoppier than I had imagined it to be, but this is a real treat.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 04:38:29 | More by Bendurgin

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2009 Vintage, best after 4/20/10

A: clear, tawny red color, poured with a head that quickly dissipated
S: nice roasted malt with slight sweetness and aged quality
T: well-balanced barleywine with noticeable aging well-beyond its years, subdued EtOH, nice barrel quality that is ever-so-slight
M: very drinkable, well-rounded beer slight cloying and aging with 2+ years on it

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 15:11:59 | More by wisrarebeer

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.05/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle shared by Thorpe429. Thanks Mike.

2009 vintage

The beer is copper/orange hued with a thin, off white head that leaves sparse lacing on the tulip. The aroma offers brettanomyces, alcohol, oak, vanilla, and candied malt. The beer is just ok, and unorthodox for the style. An odd mix of sweet and sour. I don't dislike the beer, per se, but this hardly resembles a barleywine of any sort. Deschutes needs to fix these quality control issues and stop releasing infected beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 22:04:13 | More by Huhzubendah

ibbjamin

California

3.18/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Paid $11.99 for a bomber from BevMo in San Jose, CA. I pour into a large snifter to review. This is the 2009 reserve and I am tasting in December 2011, so it has been cellared for approximately 1.5-2 years.

Pour is moderately thick with a 3/4" dense, light beige head after a relatively aggressive pour. A nice layer of retention remains which thickens up quite a bit on the inner rim of the glass. A murky brownish amber color. Great lacing.

Taste is boozy barleywinesque. Lots of caramel malts and muted grassy/herbal hops. The hops smell as if they have really toned down over the cellaring time. Fruity aromas of white grape, candied fruit and plum add moderate complexity. Oak, rum booze and even hints of butterscotch are detected. The alcohol seems a bit too noticeable for this being 11%.

Taste is quite sweet with lots of caramel and rummy booze. Not quite a hot mess, but certainly hotter than I would like. Not sure the cellaring of this has helped it, the alcohol is not really tamed and the hops have faded. Candied raisin is strong with more hints of butterscotch. The oakiness is detected, but more of a presence would certainly benefit its taste.

Full body and excellent level of carbonation which I am happy with considering the age and style of the beer. Pretty smooth drinking and it has a medium length finish of rum, caramel and candied raisin.

Overall, a seemingly average barleywine which I do not think improved with cellaring.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 03:14:16 | More by ibbjamin

ngeunit1

California

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a just slightly clear mahogany color with a thin finger of frothy tannish head. Fades fairly quickly leaving behind just a touch of lace.

S - Sweet rich toasted caramel malts with lots of residual brown sugar sweetness. Bit of oak with some vanilla and bourbon. There is a faint tartness that could be from an infection.

T - Starts off with rich sweet brown sugar and toasted caramel malts. There is a bit of oak and vanilla in the background as well. Touch of sweet dark fruits as well. Through the middle, the bourbon comes through more clearly with some nuttiness and a bit more vanilla. Finish is a mix of sweet caramel malts and brown sugar with some bourbon and some and light dark fruits alongside that linger.

M - Full bodied with a mild amount of carbonation. Feels very rich and sweet with a warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. I really like the richness of the brown sugar and malts alongside the barrel elements. The light dark fruit actually works well.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 05:46:01 | More by ngeunit1

Jettanbass9

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2009 edition, waxed cap, stored on the basement floor in a closed cardboard case.

A - slightly hazy from roused sediment, reddish/brown, tightly knit, last head. beatifully matched to the style.

S - strong malt aroma, very maris otter like, nutty, toasty, bready, dark fruits linger, slightly sharp from the apparent high alcohol, briney, charred, soaked oak, vanilla, coconut, light citrus and resin notes. very complex. briney/charred notes were mistaken several times for brett B-like character.

T - Big malt profile of nutty malts, bread, dark fruit, then vanilla, citrus, resin, brine, charred oak, warm alcohols, coconut and lingering resin and vanilla notes. complex, with waves of flavors... beautifully constructed.

M - chewy malt and sweetness, carbonation is light but provides a medium to open up plenty of flavors on the palate. Slightly astringent from the oak and hop character however, not cloying... just present enough to be known.

O - Highly recommended Barleywine. Description says that it is English, I would float this one more towards American due to the citrus-like character. Do not expect hops like a Great Divide Old Ruffian, think more like Green Flash's Barleywine. Big malt character, vanilla and lingering bourbon provide a myriad of flavors. This is a reflection beer, expect to block some time out for this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 03:39:40 | More by Jettanbass9

draheim

Washington

4.47/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle (2009 Reserve, best after 4/20/2010) poured into a snifter.

Pours a gorgeous syrupy amber w/ a rich khaki head that settles pretty quickly. A black chunk of wax from the top washes up on the side of the glass.

Aroma is fruity, boozy, and sweet. This is a fairly new style to me, so words are failing. Suffice to say, complex and interesting.

Taste is sweet, almost syrupy with a nice alcohol burn. Bourbon-soaked apricots, buttery toffee, caramel. Coats the tongue but oak gives it a nice dryness too. Can also detect the hops in a kind of abstract way.

Overall this is a really nice sipping beer - rich, complex, and delicious. Glad I've got one more to cellar for a while.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 06:48:50 | More by draheim

rapidsequence

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle, annoyingly waxed. 2009 reserve, best after 4/20/2010.

Appearance: Its a burnt orange color with a fair amount of chill haze-- clearing as it warms. Short lived head, spots of lacing.

Smell: Rich and sweet with lots of boozy fruit and candylike malt. Lots of caramel and hints of vanilla. Can't get my nose out of this one.

Taste: Its surprising how un-boozy this is for such a big beer. Very sweet and fruity. Rum soaked fruit covered in melted caramel. The oak is present, but subtle, giving a little wood and some vanilla. Finish is long, delicious.

Mouthfeel: Its not quite so big and lush as it probably once was. A little on the syrupy side. Not bad.

Overall: Pretty damn great. You gotta love a sweet beer though. I wish I would have had one fresh too. I don't think this one needs any more age, its smoothed out quite a bit I assume.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 02:48:09 | More by rapidsequence

jbakajust1

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Lucky to score a 12oz pour of the 2005/06 into a tear drop @ Bier Stein... 6 year old Mirror Mirror, umm, yes please.

A - Pours a hazy burnt orange w/ 1 finger beige head that fades quick to a ring and slick, no lace, has legs though, and the carbonation is rolling up the glass.

S - Smells of big sweet malts, toffee, caramel, sweet alcohol, dark dried fruits, light spiciness, light chocolate, light vanilla and oak. Oxidized.

T - Big toffee and caramel tastes, chocolate, fruits/dates & raisins, spicy alcohol, oxidized/sherry notes as well.

M - Medium/full body, firm, but not intense, bitterness, sweet, spicy, coats the entire mouth, alcohol is there and warms, but isn't harsh or hot at all.

O - Awesome. I love a good English BW, and this one takes the cake for sure. Little oxidized, but what do you expect from a 6 year old beer? Big malts, smooth, alcohol is nice, bitterness isn't tongue scraping. Oakiness is present but not dominant. Another score for Deschutes.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2011 19:44:53 | More by jbakajust1

Neffbeer

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead Tulip.

A: The body of the beer yields a hazy amber color with some good looking orange hues. There is a decent one finger off white head that shows minimal retention and leaves a bit of spotty lacing.

S: As I stick my nose into the tulip I am greeted with a the pleasant aromas of a healthy barleywine; caramel, figs, raisins, vanilla, and a touch of wood from the barrels. It appears to have aged gracefully with no signs of infection.

T: Wow, this one delivers in a big way. A smashing onslaught of caramel, oak, brown sugar, apples, figs, raisins, and a huge vanilla finish. Absolutely divine. The booze is incredibly well integrated with only a subtle touch of heat on the finish.

M: Thick and super viscous. I found myself trying to take a bite along the way.

O: One of the best barleywines I have had the pleasure of trying. The barrels have smoothed this one out and yet the oak remains subtle and pleasing. Cheers to Deschutes for such a remarkable brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 00:32:12 | More by Neffbeer