Flying Mouflan - Tröegs Brewing Company

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Original score: (4.5/4.0/4.0/4.5/4.0)

22 oz. bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

After finding another bottle of this, I decided to put it down for a couple months and see how the hops fade/malts come out. The end result balances out damn near perfectly, becoming even less harsh and more drinkable. There are still hops on the finish, but it's a subtle quality that rounds out the initial maltiness. It's not hyper-complex like some Belgian ales, but subtly complex (moreso than a younger bottle) as a good barleywine should be. The texture, naturally, is thick and a little syrupy, but the hops provide a great touch of dryness. If it weren't for my preference against toasted caramel malt backbones, this would score even higher (read: into the fabled 4.5+ range) Still, I love the savory leather/tobacco qualities it develops at a warmer temperature.

End result? Troegs does it again. I'd love to see a BA version of this in the near future.

---

22 oz. bottle poured into a glass.

A: Pours a very dark burgundy color with low clarity. The head is a two finger light mocha color with impressive retention and thick sheets of lacing down the side of the glass. A good looking barleywine that showcases its amber ale roots nicely.

S: Lots of tropical fruit - mango, grapefruit, apricot, pineapple - with a bit of an herbal/pine kick as well. Darker fruit are also found when concentrating for aromatic nuances, as well as its caramel malt base and some alcohol. It doesn't break ground, but it's a great scent.

T: First thing I notice is how well the hops and the malt backbone coalesce with one another - it's not a harsh barleywine despite the notable presence of alcohol. The malt backbone provides strong caramel/toffee flavors along with a bit of charred ash, tobacco and smoke. Some powdered dark chocolate on the finish. Slight resiny buildup on the aftertaste, but nowhere near to the level of Bigfoot. Alcohol is prevalent throughout, occasionally becoming a little overbearing at times. Rather than completely relying on subtle malt nuances, this chooses to create a simpler malt base, and allow the citric hops to work in harmony together. In this regard, balance is crucial, luckily it features just that.

Having said that, allowing it to warm up will reveal some malt subtleties - however minor they may be - in the progression of flavors. Had there been a little more nuance in the malt base, this would have received a higher score. It's great right now, but I envision this being even better with about a year of age on it. (Shame on me not buying multiple bottles of this...)

M: Thick, rich, and silky smooth, with a lingering bitter aftertaste, both from the malt and hop profiles. Hints of a finishing dryness pop up. Alcohol nicely warms the throat and stomach. Carbonation and drinkability are low (in a good way); this is meant to be sipped slowly, and it's perfectly aware of that fact.

O: It isn't perfect, but it's a hoppy barleywine that does a great job of refusing to forsake its malt backbone for hop domination. On a personal note, I'm not terribly fond of the burnt caramel malt backbone, but reviewing it objectively, it still works well with everything else going on. Not what I expected from a barleywine - but exactly what I expected from a revved up Nugget Nectar. In spite of its numerous merits though, I'd take NN over this quite easily. Still a very nice barleywine, though.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 21:02:30 | More by ThisWangsChung

IMSPEAKNOENGLISH

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-23-2013 03:09:19 | More by IMSPEAKNOENGLISH

megamass

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-22-2013 22:53:10 | More by megamass

NJBeer265

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-22-2013 19:39:26 | More by NJBeer265

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-22-2013 01:23:34 | More by mikeincharleston

Birdmarg741

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

05-22-2013 00:35:21 | More by Birdmarg741

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-21-2013 15:27:41 | More by JAHMUR

MGodduclan5

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-20-2013 21:44:37 | More by MGodduclan5

blmar311

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-19-2013 05:19:35 | More by blmar311

beernads

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-18-2013 08:14:43 | More by beernads

Pelican5

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-16-2013 07:16:58 | More by Pelican5

sandiego67

California

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-16-2013 00:00:39 | More by sandiego67

BeerRunner77

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

05-14-2013 17:43:35 | More by BeerRunner77

bconsidine

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-14-2013 17:30:12 | More by bconsidine

ThickNStout

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle. Looks to be bottled 05/01/12. Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Pours deep mahogany red with two fingers of fluffy head that leaves significant lace.

Subdued caramel nose.

Sweet smooth flavors of caramel, biscuit, syrup, mild toffee and a little booze.

Medium heavy, syrupy feel with subtle carbonation.

I've never had this fresh but this aged bottle tured out to be a great extra. Sweet, smooth caramel goodness.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 04:38:17 | More by ThickNStout

Ivegotmule

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-11-2013 23:07:41 | More by Ivegotmule

csurowiec

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-10-2013 22:46:59 | More by csurowiec

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-09-2013 02:05:45 | More by pcsnyder

MrBuckHigh

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-08-2013 21:43:32 | More by MrBuckHigh

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-08-2013 02:29:34 | More by Holland

sweenbeen

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-06-2013 22:06:07 | More by sweenbeen

gillagorilla

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle into a Flying Dog goblet (2012 vintage)

A: There is a nice gradient that is mainly dark brown but goes to a nice ruby around the edges where the refraction is. The lacing is very nice and the head was a caramel color.

S: Not too many notes here, it is all malt sweetness. It smells like a standard BW and there is no complexity here.

T: It is good and plain. There is now wow factor here for me. It is pretty sweet with a lot of caramel and syrup to it. However, it does get better as it warms up. Troegs taste description for it is good, but I got none of the Nugget Nectar, but this is a year old.

M: There is a nice combination of smoothness and subdued crispness. It is a great amount of carbonation.

O: I was really excited for this because of the high hop content, which I thought would make it taste like Bigfoot. I would say that it makes for a decent backup BW, but if it only comes in bombers then shoot for something else.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 03:36:05 | More by gillagorilla

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-04-2013 21:49:02 | More by ZEB89

Joe610

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-04-2013 21:42:54 | More by Joe610

jameyp

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-03-2013 23:07:27 | More by jameyp