Lower De Boom Barleywine - 21st Amendment Brewery

Commodore69

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

02-26-2013 05:42:58 | More by Commodore69

garfscores

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-22-2013 03:50:53 | More by garfscores

powdersoldier

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-21-2013 22:17:00 | More by powdersoldier

brez8791

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -22.1%

05-21-2013 18:25:13 | More by brez8791

IRONRakkasan

California

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

05-21-2013 04:25:08 | More by IRONRakkasan

mxchap

California

3/5  rDev -22.1%

05-21-2013 04:16:02 | More by mxchap

gillagorilla

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

8.4oz. can poured into a Flying Dog goblet (canned on 2/5/13)

A: Very hazy/cloudy deep brown with no head and minimal lacing

S: Strong hop nose, reminiscent of Bigfoot with just a whiff of the balancing malt sweetness of the barleywine style.

T: All of it seems subdued. The hops and malts are there, but mellow and not particularly pronounced with flavor. Aftertaste is a nice malty resin but has something a little off, or odd to it. It gets better with a bit of warmth, but there is still something keeping the full flavor down. The alcohol is well hidden and the hops are there but almost inseparable from the malts, unlike some other BWs.

M: There is a subdued carbonation that seems like it is going to dominate, but quickly subsides. You feel a lot of bubbles and coarseness as you are taking your sip, but as soon as it is fully in your mouth it is gone and very minimal, quite ethereal.

O: It is a good BW, but it comes in a weird can size that only has 4 in the pack. However, it packs quite a punch for its size and a 12 oz. bottle might have been a bit much. I was recommended it by my local shop after I came in asking for something similar to Bigfoot. Its got the hops, but you can already tell it is a BW this early in the maturation, compared to the IPA qualities of Bigfoot early on. I will say it tastes good and goes down easy.

Serving type: can

05-21-2013 02:03:36 | More by gillagorilla

nmann08

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-20-2013 21:56:15 | More by nmann08

Rekrule

Massachusetts

1.75/5  rDev -54.5%

05-19-2013 20:19:37 | More by Rekrule

marlinsfan4

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-19-2013 19:10:29 | More by marlinsfan4

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-19-2013 12:55:37 | More by InspectorBob

BilbosNuts

California

3.29/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Poured from a 8.4FL oz into a tulip glass.

A: Pours dark ruby in color with an off-white , one-finger head that stays around for nearly the entire drink. Some very light bubble streams give it an appearance that is not quite still.

S: Very sweet and fruity aroma up front. A toasted malt backbone finishes off the aroma.

T: Not nearly as fruity or sweet as the aroma leads you to believe. It also has a bigger alcoholic finish that isn't as prevalent in the aroma.

M: Medium bodied, and lightly carbonated. There is a significant burning effect from the big alcohol finish.

O: This offering didn't really impress me too much. I'm convinced the majority of their offerings are much better on tap at the brewery than out of their cans and this one confirms my theory. This beer left a lot to be desired, not much better than an average barleywine.

Serving type: can

05-19-2013 00:27:27 | More by BilbosNuts

atone315

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-18-2013 03:51:15 | More by atone315

irish01980

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

05-17-2013 23:32:20 | More by irish01980

Brenden

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a looker. Poured from its tiny can into my glass, it rests a thick, murky, rich orange-red. It grows a lightly tinted head to two fingers and the diminishment is never beyond one finger. This is a rich, creamy, frothy head that pillows the beer beautifully. As the beer subsides down the glass, the foamy creaminess that's left in a barely-tattered sheet is more head than lacing, coating the glass entirely.
Toasty breads with hints of caramel mingle with a pithy hoppiness. There's actually a very interesting (not offensive) note of cheese, sort of medium cheddar, in there too. I think it's just how my nose is picking up the pith and resin playing with the malts.
This is simply an excellently constructed barleywine. The way the flavors play out together just works so well. Along with the bread crust and toasty notes and dark fruits and caramel that never get too sweet balancing so well with floral and resinous hops bitterness that never gets too bitter, I have to wonder how difficult it is to keep it from going too far in either direction yet marvel that it doesn't. The flavor ends up favoring the hops, though they never overpower, and alcohlic warmth and flavor certainly makes itself known.
It's almost hard to believe how exceptionally creamy this beer is. Thick and rich, I expect some smoothness, but this exceeds my expectations in that regard. Combine that with a crispness that doesn't go overboard but gives support and liveliness every sip, and the feel of this beer is nearly perfect.
This may be my new favorite American barleywine, reviews be damned. Old Ruffian's not easy to upseat, but whatever people are missing here is gain for those who know what this beer should be.

Serving type: can

05-17-2013 14:12:45 | More by Brenden

JoeLacy

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-16-2013 05:28:15 | More by JoeLacy

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

05-16-2013 02:59:51 | More by browniewithnuts

mtalley999

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-15-2013 00:41:22 | More by mtalley999

gpblackgt

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-13-2013 23:10:43 | More by gpblackgt

Ivegotmule

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-11-2013 23:13:00 | More by Ivegotmule

sharpski

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-11-2013 20:10:32 | More by sharpski

Pineal7

New York

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

05-11-2013 04:11:01 | More by Pineal7

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

05-10-2013 19:16:08 | More by ShanePB

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-10-2013 12:28:09 | More by FUwolfpacker

Zimm

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-10-2013 11:48:02 | More by Zimm