Blue Point Old Howling Bastard - Blue Point Brewing Company

RickS95

Indiana

4.31/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22 ounce bomber

Good looking for the style. Muddy brown and thick, looks like nasty river water after a good storm. The head is a dingy white, a finger thick at its best, and leaves a thin lace.

One of the best smelling barley wines, its full of malt with a ryeness to it. Also, there's a hit of citrus which isn't something I expected, but made for a nice surprise. Very floral with a splash of vanilla.

Very pleasant taste for a barley wine, English toffee comes to mind. Again, there's a vanillaish taste. Lots of malt as you'd guess. A caramelly finish. Hops are definitely there, but don't overwhelm.

It's smooth and buttery, and exceptionally smooth for the type. There's a hint of sweetness early on that turns to citrus before the bitterness takes over. Along the way, a buttery feel works in conjunction with the citrus and bitterness for a pleasant drinking experience. Full bodied, the high alcohol is well hidden, though you'll still want to sip it.

Overall it's a good beer, much better than their oatmeal stout I had last night. It's easy to drink and goes down smoothly.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:02:07 | More by RickS95

DevilsCups

New York

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle to tulip.

A - On the lighter side of the barleywine spectrum. Light brown/mahogany, off white head that dissipates pretty quick. Nice lacing and soapy layer on top. Only slightly hazy.

S - Big bready malts. Almost like a white bread crust. Slight red licorice in the back. Pretty nice. Not hop forward at all.

T - Bready malts with that red licorice taste. Like a twizzler. Very pleasant. Faint hops on the back end.

M - Thinner side, but not overly so. Fairly middle of the road.

O - Not too bad. Worth a try for sure. Tame for a barleywine, so it would be a good beginner brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 01:33:26 | More by DevilsCups

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is a chestnut colored liquid with a very slim head. Mostly still and very clear. The aroma is of malt and some booze. The taste is warming, sweet, and had a firm mid taste of bitter hops. Resiny hop flavor through the finish. Sweet. Full in body. A good, but not great, barley wine.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 05:07:29 | More by Suds

beerluvr

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Nice eggshell white head melts into hazy deep copper liquid contained in the appropriate 0.3l Victory snifter. Deep doughy/biscuity sweetness then the hop makes itself known in the nose...very much the "olde Englishe" style 'wine. The taste is long and complex, more biscuity notes and hefty sweetness here, hops are an afterthought yet noticeably felt on the tongue, not very much alcohol detected given its heft. Finishes long and warming, nice interplay of hop and malt, malt winning out. Very nice authentic English style. I see a malt bomb here with cellaring. Good job Blue Point!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 03:20:48 | More by beerluvr

Etan

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz.

A: Pours a cloudy light caramel color with a small off-white head.

S: A little cardboard oxidation, treacle, sweet caramel, dried peaches.

T: Cooked apples, leafy bitterness, molasses, brown sugar, some bready malt.

M: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: A decent hoppy barleywine, but it's getting a bit of a stale feel to it from the oxidation creeping in.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:58:40 | More by Etan

MickeyCass

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very nice Barleywine. Poured from a 22oz. bottle into a snifter. Hazy reddish-brown with a nice finger of pale white head. Aroma about ad good as it gets. Fresh- baked bread with a hi t of sweetness and alcohol on the nose. Fairly similar in terms of taste. A little thick but deliciously good. Not THE best Barleywine style ale I've had, but pretty high on the list!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 01:37:54 | More by MickeyCass

jt31914

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer was surprisingly good to me. It has a little bit of a light color, but the head and retention is nice. The lacing is beautiful for a Barleywine.

The smell is the best part. Nice Bready aroma that is a bit unusual for a barleywine but is very pleasant and enhances the beers flavor.

The taste is very nice and i was surprised by how delicious the beer was. it is not my favorite barleywine, but it is certainly an upper tier barleywine. A very nice bread character from the Vienna malt and a nice hop presence. The booze is not overwhelming and overall i find this to be a stellar barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 01:16:14 | More by jt31914

cvm4

Mississippi

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a bright amber but murky. Thin, one finger head that's eggshell in color.

S - Malty, candy sweet, spices and slight piney hops.

T - Spices & burnt caramel start you off. Turns fruity with maltsand ends slightly bitter.

M - Medium bodied & medium carbonation.

O - Pretty good barleywine...

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 01:49:21 | More by cvm4

weeheavybutdieting

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Growler from Ale Yeah, Roswell, GA poured in a Sam Adam's Lager glass

A: Copper penny. Closer to a pale ale than a barleywine.

S: Mostly toasted malt scent with a hint of caramel and spice.

T: You definitely get a full taste of the hoppy spiciness up front. It quickly gives way to the alcohol esters and then rolls into the creamy and sweet malt on the back end. Not an overly sweet barleywine at all. Really quite balanced for the style.

M: A light and crisp feel. Fairly refreshing. Probably from the specific gravity.

O: This is a good well balanced beer. It is a good representation of a not to sweet not to toasted malty barleywine. If you avoid barleywines for the sticky sweetness then you owe it to yourself to have a go with this one.

Serving type: growler

12-02-2012 00:49:50 | More by weeheavybutdieting

nrbw23

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a murky copper color with a faint ruby hue to it. A nice white head pops up, head has pretty solid retention and leaves some really nice layered lacing.

S- Smell is pretty sweet malty and boozy. A good amount of spices come forward and a bit of Earthy hops.

T- Quite a bit of spice up front with some burnt sugars and toffee. A fair amount of tropical fruits too.

M- Medium in both carbonation and body.

O- Not too bad by any means. Pretty solid for the style for sure.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 09:48:19 | More by nrbw23

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, no date.

appears a hazy dark copper in color, off-white head. good head retention and lacing. smell is nice mix of sweet crystal malt and earthy hops. nice.

tastes of sweet caramel, biscuity malt flavors. a fair amount of spicy hop finish. medium body, medium carbonation. appropriate for the style.

overall - a tasty barleywine, dead on.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 03:57:21 | More by jmdrpi

tdm168

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at World of Beer Raleigh. Served in a snifter.

A - dark amber with a soft, dense, off white head that has great retention

S - fruity, citrusy, candy sugar

T - citrus, bread, alcohol, bitter, piny, sugar

M - warm, medium bodied, a bit thin at times

This is a decent barleywine, though a bit thin. It has a nice hop character which helps to counter the sweet sugar. A fuller body would help this tremendously, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2012 00:46:34 | More by tdm168

Tobe

3.15/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a ruby color with no head. There is a minor haziness to the appearance.

The aroma is sweet with a nice floral quality. There is a hint of alcohol on the nose. The flavor is full and a bit earthy. The hops are present in the flavor. A dry finish and a mouthfeel of hops coats the palette. A warming effect completes this experience.

After the beer rested there was a taste of fruitiness coming through.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 20:59:30 | More by Tobe

Greywulfken

New York

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

This solid barleywine might suffer from the fact that I've been finding (and drinking, ...duh) Firestone's Sucaba barleywine lately.

A: deep amber gold, ample head

S: candi sugar, toffee, caramel malt

T: sweet caramel, toffee, some spicy vanilla

M: rich, syrupy

O: great local product, right there with other good American barleywines

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 23:40:16 | More by Greywulfken

cosmicevan

New York

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

stopped by the brewery to grab some swag and scope out old howling bastard on cask and was pretty surprised that I have no review on this one asi had it many times. brew showed up a deep amber brown with a thin creamy head. has a wonderful caramel nose and taste. the body is super creamy as I would expect on cask. cask really works for this beer. there is a subtle bitterness to the finish that is just right. one of my fav barleys and fav local beers on cask, gotta love it! what a treat!

Serving type: cask

05-11-2012 19:47:28 | More by cosmicevan

kylehay2004

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: single finger head with poor retention on a amber with golden hue hazy body.

S: light on the nose for a barleywine with mostly sweet caramel malts and candied fruits. Intermixed floral, toffee notes.

T: This one is very good. The booze aren't too prominent. The malt profile is nice and the tangy candied fruit notes mesh well with the malts.

M: nicely smooth. medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: a fairly drinkable barleywine with a complex flavor and the right degree of booze.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2012 01:16:56 | More by kylehay2004

alk3kenny

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Overall I enjoyed this beer... Smells sweet caramel notes hops are present... Great ruby color nice thick tan head, creamy... Tastes sweet pretty standard barely wine very boozy alcohol is def present in this 10 percenter Slightly above average barely wine for me not one I'd run back to get but would def pick up if I couldn't find one of my favs on hand.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 00:18:03 | More by alk3kenny

redcap45

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle and poured into a glass. Pours deep ruby/copper with a thick, cream-colored head. Aroma of strong caramel and cereal and a lot of hops. Flavor about the same, a little sweet. Smooth texture. Not bad, but nothing really sticks out and the alcohol isn’t hidden well.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 15:24:28 | More by redcap45

Pencible

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured a clear dark copper with moderate light tan head.
S: It smelled like grapefruit and candied oranges and sugary honey malt, with a little dark fruit.
T: It tasted like bitter grapefruit and citrus hops, with some resin and sweet sugary honey malt. It had a bitter aftertaste that was a bit harsh.
M: It was slightly thick with moderate carbonation. Decent body.
D: This was more like a double IPA than a barleywine, but it had a nice enough scent and taste. The body was only ok, and the finish could have been smoother, so it wasn't super easy to drink. But it was still pretty good. Age would definitely change the brew, although I can't definitely say it would improve.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 21:01:06 | More by Pencible

drabmuh

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer on draft at the Pizza P in Dupont circle, served in a snifter. Beer is yellow / dark amber with a thin white head, no lacing really, moderate retention, low carbonation.

Aroma is sweet and nice, fruity with great yeast character.

Beer is thin and sweet with a lot of fruitiness, berry flavors in the beer, it is a little hot, finish was a little dry. I don't think I'd have it again but it is a fine barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 17:56:13 | More by drabmuh

DrewZ926

New York

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2000 Vintage

Pours a cloudy cider body, light brown and ocher, about a half inch of eggshell head.

Nose is sweet fruits and candy, lots of white grape, pear, red apple, and butterscotch. A little whiff of booze and some lingering citric hops.

Surprisingly the alcohol is still quite present. Lots of caramel and malty sweetness. Some overripe fruits, more grape and apple, slightly tart, a hint of oxidation that melts quite well with the toffee sweetness. Highly unique especially for the style. Can't help shake the white grape which seamlessly meshes with the sweet malt.

Feel is slick and oily, very full body with a taste that lingers.

With 12 years of age on it, the Old Howling Bastard has evolved into an extremely complex animal. Its complexity combines fruits, hops, and sweet candied malts into one highly tantalizing body. A fantastic representation of the style that is not overly sweet or boozy, but rather highly balanced and robust.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 02:07:44 | More by DrewZ926

OldCrustacean79

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2009 22oz bottle cellared for the last 3 years

App: Pours a golden orange/rust in hue with a thin film of tan head.

Aroma: Aromas consist of honey, toffee and caramel

Taste: Smooth mouthfeel goes along with this sweet honey flavored ale. Dash of flowers are present, with some warm alcohol on the finish. Finish is slightly hoppy, and sweet.

Overall: A respectable middle of the road barley wine.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 15:04:56 | More by OldCrustacean79

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber courtesy of fthomasl pours a hazed copper color with a fluffy cap of beige head. Fades pretty quick and leaves some spoty lacing. Bonus points for an awesome label and name...love the old crusty dude on the front.

Nose is very barleywine...caramely-sweet malt with some toast and toffee. Hops are more floral than anything and a big ol dollop of alcohol.

Taste is not too shabby really...the caramel and toffe are very prominent. So is the alcohol...its a big beer. Not too sweet and has plenty of bittering hops on the end to clean things up nicely. Mouthfeel is solid, not too thin nor is it syrupy. Well carbonated, its one of those beers where the mouthfeel is never mentioned because it is just nice and flys under the radar. This is a pretty good beer, I like it. Id be more than happy to buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 01:54:01 | More by twiggamortis420

SLeffler27

New York

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brilliant clear copper with columns of carbonation and a short lived fine off-white head that leaves a veil of lace.

Opens with a strong orange aroma followed by grapefruit, apricot and a hint of smoked grain.

An intense bitter bite comes from the Dogfish Head snifter with abundant citrus and sweet malt quickly following. Alcohol and bitterness blow the taste buds off. But the tongue quickly adapts allowing toffee and butterscotch. None of the smokiness can be found. The finish is long and tetering between bitter and sweet.

A medium to full body with smooth texture and prickly carbonation. The alcohol is powerful and warming which is surprising given this is a vintage 2003 bottle.

A good sipper, Old Howling Bastard requires a commitment, but is worth the effort. Find a fire in a dark room and settle in for a long while to savor.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 22:24:26 | More by SLeffler27

nmbr0ne

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured into pint glass from tap at The House of Brews in Jensen Beach, FL.

Appearance: Reddish bronze body with an off-white head that dissipates into a good amount of lacing.

Smell: Citrusy hops with a lot of malt characters. Smells fruity and spicy at the same time. Notes of toffee too.

Taste: Figs, some citrus from the hops, grapefruit maybe. Bitter finish. A little caramel.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, good amount of carbonation. Alcohol is disguised. Not boozy.

Overall: A good barleywine. Sweet but balanced thanks to the hops. My kind of barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 01:18:42 | More by nmbr0ne