Fish Tale Leviathan Barleywine - Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub

mikeys01

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

November 2004 Ediition, served from a 12oz bottle courtesy of a recent trade with Weefisheads, thanks! Poured into my glass a quite clear darkish amber color with just a hint of sunset red. Faint wisps of tight white foam make cloud patterns at the top of my glass. Aroma is super fruity and almost slightly Brett funky , with a hint of spice. Rotting plums, sweet dark grapes, and tart cherries come to mind, lots of vinous goodness in the nose. Tasting reveals much more malt character than expected from the nose. Starts off with a slightly bitter and almost like toasted oak, though I don’t think this one is barrel aged. Takes a bit and a little more warmth to let the fruit flavors blossom, with strong cherry and tart apple featuring prominently. Finish has a palpable alcohol heat, a hint of bitterness, and a lingering hint of vintagesque fruity funk. Nicely put together, this barleywine bodes like it would age very well. Body is medium, for a barleywine, and it’s a sipper to be sure, but quite tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2005 02:41:34 | More by mikeys01

mdaschaf

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-28-2013 23:32:03 | More by mdaschaf

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%

11-19-2012 02:15:04 | More by t0rin0

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, batch #5.

Pours chestnut brown with a ruby hue and a thin, whispy head of beige. A thin bead around the edge of the glass and zero lacing for the duration.

Aromatics lead off with sugar-dusted fruit, sweet malt, figs, and caramel. Hints of apples and raisins follow through.

On the fuller side of medium bodied with a sticky, tacky mouthfeel.

Sweet, juicy malt with undercurrents of red fruit and caramel start the palate. Hints of jam, candied apple, and vineous alcohol step forward.

Finishes with lingering sweet malt, toffee, and warming alcohol.

This beer is holding up very well for it's age, no cardboard or wet paper to be found. Hops are non-present so it's fairly one dimensional. Sweetish and warming otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 00:22:14 | More by brewandbbq

MisterE

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

09-26-2012 01:47:54 | More by MisterE

beerpadawan

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%

08-26-2012 22:54:56 | More by beerpadawan

harpus

Alabama

4/5  rDev +2.3%

07-24-2012 14:16:35 | More by harpus

BillHilly

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.3%

07-07-2012 14:40:17 | More by BillHilly

dmorgan310

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

03-09-2012 18:03:11 | More by dmorgan310

ygtbsm94

Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.3%

01-30-2012 07:20:12 | More by ygtbsm94

jera1350

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The month on the label is notched November. I've had this one for at least two years now, so guessing this is about a 2009 vintage.

A lovely clear amber body with a creamy little head which is tan. Leaves some very generous lacing on the glass.

A great smelling beer. Lots of malty goodness with scents of brown sugar, toffee and caramel sweetness. A little hop scent in there also.

Very pleasant taste of the aforementioned sweets with some bitter citrus peel hops. Quite mellow and nice. A touch of warm alcohol towards the end, but not much.

The carbonation is lower, probably due to the aging, but overall it feels really smooth and soft. The finish is dry.

A very nice barleywine that has done well with the aging process. Drinks very easy for the style at this point. A very good experience with this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 02:16:09 | More by jera1350

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +2.3%

11-18-2011 20:07:36 | More by Rochefort10nh

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.3%

11-18-2011 18:50:56 | More by FreshmanPour77

BlackWednesday

New York

3.7/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured a clear deep copper color ale with a small foamy head with limited retention. Aroma of sweet malt is domination with some very subtle dry figs and fruits. Taste is dominated by sweet malt on the verge of being disgustingly sweet with again some light dry figs. Body is a lot more watery then I would expect with some low carbonation. Ending is quite bitter but does not attenuate some of the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 03:34:15 | More by BlackWednesday

Gobzilla

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured a dirty orange brown with pale pineapple yellow highlights that had a very very thin white head and left almost no lacing sticking to the glass.

S: caramel malts and booze are quite noticeable on the first whiff alongside slight honey, brown sugar, toffee, and faint chocolate notes.

T/M: upfront on the palate caramel malts and a mild hop bite strike first with dark fruits, slight honey, and brown sugar accents but it did have some booze as well. The brew was medium in body with a low amount of carbonation which had a sweet, boozy, and sticky finish.

D: it drank really good considering the ABV and was noticing that the booze has been mellowing out with time; pretty tasty barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 03:01:50 | More by Gobzilla

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to FooFaa for sharing this growler on 3/5/10.

A - Poured a clear reddish orange, copper-tinted body with half an inch of frothy off-white head that reduced to a patchy film and delicate, web-like lacing.

S - Tea-like hops and herbal notes mingle with caramel malt and a warm alcohol presence. Further back in the mix, some perfumy notes and a hint of citrus oils also emerge.

T - Hoppy up front with a perfumy character and sharp herbal notes, as well as an oily citrus character. Sweet malts balance the bitterness with caramel and toffee notes. Finish is warm and boozy with a bit of phenol alcohol character partially disguised by sweet caramel notes.

M - Medium bodied with a syrupy texture and fair amount of carbonation, although the mouthfeel is a tad thin and oily overall. Finishes warm and boozy on the palate.

D - Pretty solid barleywine overall. Although the alcohol was a little obtrusive and the hops a bit sharp, this was still pretty tasty.

Serving type: growler

03-13-2010 20:56:06 | More by ffejherb

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a clear dark amber color with a small head. Nose is dark fruit, booze, licorice, and caramel. Taste is malty, caramel flavor with dark fruits and booze. Also boasts a ceetain earthiness as well. 10% abv is well hidden. Very good and just how I remember it.
///
06 Vinatge on tap.
Spured and funky. Thin ad past its prime fire sure.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2010 02:02:19 | More by barleywinefiend

Parrotbeak

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dirty amber with no head, no legs. A lot of sediment floating about. Three years ago I wouldn't have touched this beer.
Bitter hops and fresh, earthy, watery malts. Toffee.
Despite the aroma, there is very little hops profile in this one. A slight bitterness, but heavy stale malts, and some toffee and perhaps some stale milk chocolate. Little bit of alcohol presence, but surprisingly low considering the ABV.
Very smooth for a barleywine. Flat and a little thick and sticky.
Fairly drinkable, though not remarkable enough to make me seek out another bottle of this one.
I found it interesting though. I wish I knew when it was bottled. Something tells me it was at least a couple years ago.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 00:31:54 | More by Parrotbeak

augustgarage

California

3.65/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I think this was the first barleywine I ever had, back in 2002 or so. Glad to finally see this again where I live. "Spawned" (bottled) in November, probably of '08, but I'm not sure. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter.

Glassy rust colored liquid with a thin off-white collar and iridescent skin, punctuated by a large raised bubble that looks uncannily like the eye of a large octopus. A swirl spreads the collar across the surface. Lacing chatters down the glass rapidly leaving a few thin globules behind, suspended in clear legs.

Intense malt aromatics present as soon as the bottle cap is popped. Dark fruit esters, suggesting old raisins and dates reconstituted in light sherry join the chorus.

The initial taste is of apricots and figs suspended in alcohol served in a leather goblet - with a dash of orange bitters. Biscuity malt in large quantities and very faint cocoa and clove mid-palate. Throughout, there is a dusty note, like a room no one has lived in for several years. Dry and somewhat bitter finish, the hops only really making an appearance in the after-taste.

Low but adequate carbonation, and a bit thin, especially considering the ABV.

Very mild as far as barleywines go, though the flavor profile is enjoyable and unique enough. Would love to try this on cask someday.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 04:40:33 | More by augustgarage

slaintemhor

Oregon

3.13/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This was the 2004 Leviathan which I had on tap at the Bailey's Taproom anniversary in August '09. The colour was cloudy amber with no head at all. The nose was sweet and similar to refined white sugar. On the palate, it was slightly bitter up front with some hops that quickly faded and were followed by a wave of sweetness. The finish was bitter and quite quick.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2009 04:19:36 | More by slaintemhor

MPLS

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A brewery that Minnesota once got distribution for but now does not from my understanding. I must say the name is amazing, Leviathan, a great reference to Moby Dick and consequently one of my personal favorite metal albums from Mastodon.

A: Cloudy brown/orange accented body, with 3 cm white sea foam cap, lacing is layered, and a small head remains. Perhaps in part to my Duvel glass.

S: sweet Malt, orange citrus, your grandma's perfume, and raisin.

T: Not as hoppy as I was expecting, also not sure of when this was this 12 oz was bottled (2007?) as the hop profile could have faded since then. Tastes like grain that has been wrapped up in 2 week old alcohol soaked orange peels with a cherry twist. The citrus element of this beer isn't big/bright at all and leaves me unsatisfied, but better than average.

M: Slightly thin for the ABV, but nice smooth finish.

D: I can say I found this beer good, but I feel like I have been craving bigger and bolder English Barleywines/Old Ales. Interesting beer that I just purchased tonight.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2009 05:01:12 | More by MPLS

Mdog

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Murky brown-amber, thin, fading head.

Smell: Enticing floral aroma I've never encountered in a barleywine, some deep caramel sweeness.

Taste&Mouthfeel: Pretty disappointing after the smell. Feels quite thin right off the bat, a little bit of brown sugar sweetness after it warmed up some. Mostly a dry, bitter taste.

Drinkability: Extremely light feel for a barleywine, but high price and mediocre flavor do not help it.

Picked up a bottle on sale, I'm going to guess it is Nov. 2008 bottling. It was in a refrigerator all that time--the store I bought it from keeps everything cool. Not very much to say, other than it is very light feeling for a 10% beer and seems to be lacking in malt balance for a barleywine. Smelled great but not great tasting.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2009 18:25:54 | More by Mdog

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from mikesgroove (thanks Mike). The beer looks nice, dark amber and hazy with a 2-finger tan foam. The smell is classic American Barleywine ala Bigfoot, lots of citrusy hops in a strong caramel malt matrix, orange peel and grapefruit mixed in toffee. The taste is much the same, maybe a little less rich than Bigfoot but that's not all bad. The up front citrus flavors are nice but the aftertaste is a little odd, hard to pinpoint the flavor but it seems unique and kind of bitterly dry. The body is thinner than usual for such a big beer but that helps drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2009 00:52:07 | More by TurdFurgison

GRG1313

California

3.65/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark clear red copper with a solid and nice thick and firm light tan head.

Nose of sweet creamed coffee with light maple/carmel/toffee notes, although very light and you have to search a bit. Nose is the weakest part of this one.

Nice mouthfeel-bold, full and rich with some creamy character.

Flavors are not what the nose promises! Nose invites an expectation of cooked fruit and sweet tones-not so. Flavors are of bitter light coffee with some malt and roasted grain undertones and a layer of bitter grapefruit. The flavors improve after a few sips and takes on a more complex coffee/malt character.

Finish is bitter coffee and grapefruit skin. This one really grows on you the more you drink it.

This is a quality, complex beer and one that will likely do well with many food flavor profiles.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2009 01:14:13 | More by GRG1313

illidurit

California

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of bulletrain76. Pours a slightly hazy amber-orange with an ecru head. Aroma is caramel-based with hop notes of orange and grapefruit, some woodiness, and a little nuttiness. Flavor is woody and earthy in addition to the sweet caramel/toffee from the nose. Bitter lingering finish, somewhat tannic and astringent. Maybe a little too ambitious with the hopping here.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2009 19:07:39 | More by illidurit