Lower De Boom Barleywine - 21st Amendment Brewery

AndyP612

Illinois

3.26/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

On tap at Pizza Luce St. Paul in tulip.

A- Dark amber not overly inviting, no head to speak of.

S- Sweet nose with slight hop present.

T- Earthy with a hint of biscuit, caramel. Big heavy malt with a kiss of hops to finish. Feels like the diesel most barleywines carry yet I would not have expected the abv so high just on taste alone.

M- Medium heavy semi malt syrupy.

O- Nice hop touch. I had my doubts after the small sample the bartender insisted I tried and I was right but I didn't want to be annoying and turn down the sample and the full pour. I may order this again to give it another go. I just need to develop more of a taste for barleywines. Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2013 04:54:29 | More by AndyP612

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11 ounce pour - $7.50 at Taco Mac in East Roswell, Georgia.

Appearance: Dispensed a dark brown, opaque body with a near inch of ever-so-slightly yellowed head with surprising staying power.

Smell: Toasted, near burnt breadcrusts layered with sweet-scented notes of rich caramel and brown sugar. Some fruitiness within. Pithy, resiny hop elements, and, of course, some noted booze underneath it all.

Taste: Deep, heavy toastiness, some light accompanying roast, and a big taste of Brach's caramel cubes. It's plenty sweet, but, not too sweet. Mild ripe dark fruitiness. Citrusy, resinous hops are fighting the sweetness, pushing to be seen, to be heard, delivering a growing bitterness. Closes out dry, bitterish, and warm, with a lingering earthy, pithy quality.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonation.

Overall: A barleywine you say "sure" to.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 17:12:34 | More by ChainGangGuy

donquixote

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

This is the first beer from 21st that I actually like. The high gravity helps with this style and I believe they hit it on the head with this one. Overall a good drinkable beer and meets the expectations of the style. Looks, tastes and feels like a good Barlywine and I'm not typically a Barlywine or 21st fan. Have one and Probst!!

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2013 23:33:19 | More by donquixote

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

21st Amendment Lower de Boom Barleywine. 10.5% ABV, 92 IBUs.

And here we have a brew they've only kegged, never canned, and I was lucky enough to snatch one up. Have to take notes before it's gone.

Looks fantastic. Beautiful dark brown/ruby coloring, under a thick, pudding-ish creamy white head, lasts long, and leaves lace. Lovely. Love it.

Aroma: bright ripe fruit, rich malty complexity. Leading into something good.

Taste: Mmm! Mix of chocolate and rich dark fruits, leather, cognac, port wine, and cigar smoke. Medium bodied, a bit woody. Cherries, grapes, figs, with a fierceness that grows. The alcohol can't hide very well, as it's on the large side. A trifle smokey, as well, with growing complexity. Terribly tasty, and utterly indulgent.

Just a touch on the bitter side, and never too sweet. This is a large and in charge barley-wine that doesn't ache at the sides. Plenty of what I look for in a barley-wine, not missing a thing. Good balance, but not too balanced, if you know what I mean and I hope you do.

Here's what they say about it: "Deep, mahogany color, rich malt candied, rock sugar flavors with sweet burnt currant and fig aromas. It’s strong alcohol content is tempered by a clean bitterness and complex flavors. This Barley Wine is named for Cornelius de Boom, the San Francisco Belgian Consulate General (1850 to 1851) and surprisingly the name of the alley along-side the 21st Amendment on 2nd Street.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2012 10:02:44 | More by feloniousmonk

oberon

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Sessions yesterday.Poured a deep amber with a thinner off white head atop.Alot of brown sugar and caramel malts in the nose,a decent shot of resiny hop lingers.Quite sweet and cake-like on the palate,alot of brown sugar and dark fruit,again there is a decent shot of resiny hops in a lingering finish.It's hybrid to me between an English and American barleywine with its big sweet malty flavors and hoppedup finish,not bad but not overly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 15:29:08 | More by oberon

socon67

New York

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark copper\brown color. Thin foam head. Minimal to no lacing.

S - Smells of mohagany wood, caramel, nuts, and malt.

T - Rich flavors of caramel, sugary fruit, and malt. A typically complex barelywine, Da Boom has a slight burn in the finish with sone brandy-like qualtities.

M - Good sipping beer, and balanced well to make this a solid way to end a good meal.

O - Decent for the style, 21st Ammendment did a good job with this. Those who enjoy the style should give it a try.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 18:32:17 | More by socon67

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Served with a semi-clear, dark copper body with some red tint...the head was one finger and creamy white...it showed nice retention and actually left some decent lacing

S - The nose presents a big sweet side with caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and vanilla...but it's balanced out by a resiny hop presence

T - Just as the nose suggested, this one is very sweet...all three (caramel, toffee, and butterscotch) dominate the palate...there isn't any "malt" flavor throughout, it's all sweetness...there is a touch of chocolate that comes through as the beer has a chance to warm...the resiny hops are slightly presented, but mainly kept towards the finish...the finish is syrupy sweet with a little oiliness to it

M - Medium bodied...almost thick...syrupy sweet, slight hop oils

O - This one became overly sweet for me...this one was even fresh, but it seemed that the hops were ousted by the malt bill...it wouldn't have been bad if there was a little more balance

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2012 12:48:11 | More by thain709

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Silly name, but I can't pass up the chance to try a new to me b-wine.

a: This was a dark, murky reddish color. Looks a bit like an India black ale or whatever they are called. It was served to me with a large, firm tan head.

s: Fairly mellow but appealing. I found surprisingly strong fruit aromas of grape, plus cola, caramel, and resinous hops.

t: I've never tasted anything quite like this, but it works for me. Lots sweet caramel and cola plus kind of vinous, kind of candy like grape or cherry flavor. Strong but largely flavorless bitterness at the end.

m: Big and borderline syrupy.

o: Very different but very good.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2012 19:58:32 | More by DIM

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Bullshead Public House, Lititz PA

Poured into a 12 oz Brandy snifter, 10 oz serving, an acceptable glass.

Pours a nice ¼”, off white, head with very good lace, the head lasts briefly while the lace sticks around a little longer, both could last longer.

The aroma is malt dominated with a light, resiny hop presence, but the malt is king, distinct and rich with a pronounced caramel smell. This is followed by some faint yeast, dark wheat bread, and dried figs. The hops try to come through but are buried by the big caramel malt.

Nicely crisp, but ultimately average, entry on the palate of light resiny hops, followed by very distinct, very rich caramel malt. The hops try again to come out but are overwhelmed by the caramel malt. Hints of dried figs. Full, creamy mouth feel with average, fine, carbonation.

Medium long finish of rich caramel malt, quite acceptable.

A tasty ale, but in truth I expected more from the 21st. The aggressive caramel malt overpowers everything else making this ale somewhat unbalanced. Also it is rather sweet. There are some hops present but completely buried by the malt.
Still I appreciated the opportunity to have had this on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2012 22:18:15 | More by JTSbeerislife

metter98

New York

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear dark amber in color. It poured with a thin off white head that left lacing on the surface and a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass. There is also some lacing on the sides of the glass.
S: The nose has aromas of caramel malts.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of caramel malts and a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. Some warming from the alcohol is noticeable.
O: This is a good barleywine to sip. The alcohol is well masked from the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2012 03:29:48 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Mugs Alehouse in Brooklyn, NY

A: Pours a crystal clear copper in color with a half finger tall beige head. The head reduces to a thin layer over the entire surface of the beer with a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Significant lacing is observed.

S: Lots of sweetness present in this beer with some hints of vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch. The beer is very malty with some hints of citrus hops.

T: Up front this beer is very sweet with the caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla flavors coming through. Then the beer finishes with a citrus hop bitterness.

M: medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly creamy.

O: Enjoyable but very sweet - glad to sip on this beer but I did not want a very large pour of this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 17:15:44 | More by dbrauneis

drabmuh

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Too butterscotchy, by a lot. Beer served on tap at the Meridian Pint the other night. Beer is amber / copper and clear with a thin off white head of small bubbles, some lacing, moderate to low carbonation.

Aroma is sweet, malty, Marris Otter sort of sweet, nice, a little candy in the nose.

Beer is medium in body and butterscotch jumps off the palate at me, it dominates the midpalate by a lot and it is a little offputting, by the time I finished, I knew I didn't want more. The beer does have a nice finish, mildly dry, mildly sweet throughout. Not a repeat.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2012 14:16:03 | More by drabmuh

DevilsCups

New York

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap into a small snifter DeCicco Brewster NY.

A - Great mahogany color, crystal clear. Bone white head with great lacing. Beautiful.

S - Caramel and breast malts are pretty dominant, with a punch of citrus hops in the back seat. Vanilla is prominent as well.

T - Spot in follows the nose, but with a nice hop bite up front. Subtle, citrus hops followed by caramel, vanilla and breast malts. Great taste.

M - Perfectly carbonated for the style (your mileage may vary, as I'm drinking from draft) and great thick mouthfeel. Not too thin, not too thick. Just right, and leaves a nice coating.

O - Very, very enjoyable barley wine from 21st and I wish I could see how cans stack up to the kegs. Definitely recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2012 18:05:26 | More by DevilsCups

beertunes

Washington

3.43/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in tulip. Poured a very nice light mahogany color with about 1/2 inch of dark khaki head that had very good retention and good lacing.

There was a noticeable hop bitterness at the front of the aroma, then came a bit of spiciness (from the yeast, I think) and the expected malt and grain were providing a nice foundation in the background. On the tongue, the story was pretty similar. A lightly sweet malt base supporting an interesting bit of hop sharpness and a touch of spice. Those hops did linger a bit on the finish.

The body was good, fairly typical for the style, although the beer did have a slightly syrupy finish. Drinkability was pretty good, smooth and easy it went dangerously easy. Overall, a pretyy good, but not great, example of the style. Certainly worth trying when you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 20:13:14 | More by beertunes

nickd717

California

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review dated 2/17/2009.

On tap at Toronado barleywine fest ’09. Dark reddish-brown with an off-white head. Aroma is dark fruit, sweet malt, and sugar. Taste is more sweet malt, port-like notes, caramel, and hop bitterness on the finish (it is 95 IBUs after all). Smooth, fairly full palate.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 18:50:10 | More by nickd717

Lothore

California

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a deep amber color with a big, thick, chunky head.

S- Smell is toffee, indistinct maltiness, very sweet.

T- Generic American BW, fruit, indistinct sweetness, hints of alcohol on the back end.

M- Thick with medium carbonation.

D- A decent brew but nothing to write home about. I wouldn't repeat.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2011 08:47:12 | More by Lothore

largadeer

California

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at 21A. Chestnut brown in the glass, clear save for a light haze, with a creamy off-white head atop. The nose is a beautiful mélange of toffee malt, fruitcake, tropical fruit, toast, piney hops and a hint of alcohol. Sweetness and esters are pleasantly restrained. The taste doesn't live up to the excellent aroma, exhibiting somewhat harsh solvents alongside flavors of burnt toast, fruitcake, bitter grapefruit peel and pine. Bitter and especally dry for the style, this is an American-style barleywine through-and-through, a style I've never been able to fully embrace. A toasty and rich mid-palate leads way to a solventy, moderately harsh and overly bitter, sappy finish. Not bad, not great. Bigfoot fans may enjoy this.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2010 04:09:25 | More by largadeer

BigMcLargeHuge

Arizona

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Sampled at Toronado 2009 Barleywine Festival.
Pours deep clear copper with gold edges and persistent thin tan head. The aroma has a decidedly sugar roast malt character with dark fruity esters in the back. I also get a mild chemical alcohol note that is only slightly distracting. The flavor has an initial pulse of lightly roast malts mixing with a sugary sweet maltiness before the dark fruity esters join in. It has a pretty smooth flavor but struggles to hide the alcohol and makes for a bit of a rough finish.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2009 22:35:36 | More by BigMcLargeHuge

beerguy101

California

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted at the 2004 Pizza Port Strong Ale Fest. Medium orange color. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is orange, malt and sweet. A medium bodied barley wine. Malts are fruity and sweet, touch of orange and citrus. Hops are grapefruity and floral. Nice balance. Slightly bitter. Nice clean finish. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2008 02:27:09 | More by beerguy101

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep deep ruby color, almost brown. Little bit of carbonation and a small thin head that was a little dirty. Nose was sweet with some fruit, taste was sweet followed by some pronounced bite. Well hopped and well done.
///
A: Poured a deep ruby color with good carbonation and a small tannish cap

S: Big citrus nose, plenty of sugar, caramel

T: Has a nice smooth taste of citrus hops, caramel, light brown sugar, some dark fruits to it. The flavors are seamless and this beer is sweet and the booze is well masked

M: Big body, silky texture

O: Very good all the way around. Much better than I recall from the Toronado in 2008

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2008 18:04:48 | More by barleywinefiend

kdoc8

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this 10.6% ABV barleywine on tap at the brewery in San Francisco, CA. It had a thick white bubbly head (over an inch thick) on top of a deep red/brown color. Served in a snifter. It was cloudy had lots of lacing. The smell was both sweet and bitter at the same time - sort of like a cider or apple juice, just with more alcohol in the aroma. The taste is of strong bitter hops with a hops and alcohol aftertaste. Hops is the predominant taste though it doesn't come out in the aroma. Later in the aftertaste there is a more complex fruity and apples flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2007 21:15:24 | More by kdoc8

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

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

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

EkimGram

New York

4.16/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Thin 8.4oz can poured into a snifter. Brown-orange in colour, hazy quality, almost no head whatsoever.

Smell: Powerful malts mix with a citric hop aroma and an alcoholic sweetness.

Taste: Very strong hop presence to start. Bitter and citric flavours give way to bready malts and a strong alcoholic finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body has a silky touch. Finishes with a slight carbonated nip.

Overall: This is a rather elegant brew. The flavours are strong yet simplistic while remaining interesting.

Serving type: can

05-08-2013 02:57:08 | More by EkimGram