Heavy Seas - Below Decks (Barley Wine Style Ale) - Heavy Seas Beer

Katahdin

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured a deep dark mahogany color with a small, subtle head that was creamy. Did not smell like your typical barley-wine.

taste was excellent with lingering dry fruit possibly black currants on the tongue. Nice smooth texture. Very drinkable. Hides the big alcohol in a complex taste.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-09-2010 17:17:47 | More by Katahdin

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.19/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured 2012 year from 22oz bottle into crooked stave snifter. $4.99 at total wine in Norwalk, CT. Pours a deep maple syrup looking brown with red hue. Super sweet toffee and dried fruity buiscuity malt aroma. Some alcohol stings the nose...
taste is sweet biscuit malt with lots of sweet dried fruit, caramel, and molasses with a hint of tobacco bitterness. this is very very sweet...but still pleasant and the (assuming) noble hops really balance the sweetness with a nice bitter finish without an overpowering hop flavor or aroma. Its a big beer for sure...and just what I was in the mood for on this chilly rainy day.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:34:41 | More by DrinkSlurm

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.26/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

22 oz bomber (2012 vintage) into a tulip. From notes.

A: Pours a clear dark burgundy color. The head is a one finger light mocha shade. Nothing too noteworthy here, aside from the clarity.

S: Sweet. It's about as sweet as I expected, with many of the expected notes - caramel, raisins, figs, currants, and even a touch of bourbon. Aromatically, it should seem generic, but I find its sugary nature to be very enjoyable here.

T: There is a ton of dark fruit sweetness to start, later supplanted by a chocolaty, caramelly sweet finish. It's fairly uneventful with no real complexity - and no real flaws either. Just an average barleywine designed for dessert purposes.

M: The palate doesn't carry the sweetness that well; it only has decent viscosity and lacks the soft creaminess that would have given it a decadent feel otherwise. The gentle carbonation actually gives it reasonable drinkability.

O: Aside from the aroma, this one is average. I can't complain about it being overly sweet, as it's a pure dessert beer...I can complain about its lack of depth and middling feel, though. In addendum, the one I drank this with REALLY enjoyed it - then again, he isn't a fan of barleywines. Take that however you like.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 17:31:29 | More by ThisWangsChung

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.83/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2011 Vintage

A- Very dark amber body with virtually no head, just a ring of white bubbles around the edges of the glass. Light comes through the body slightly.

S- Big sweet toasted caramel malt. Some sweetness comes through along with big bready malt aromas. Pretty much on par for an English barleywine.

T- Huge malt presence, mainly caramel malt flavor all the way through. The sweetness comes in towards the middle and leaves a pleasant sweet bread flavor. Finish is somewhat boozy, which is surprising for a beer that has been aged for about a year and a half.

M- Somewhat syrupy, but overall pretty good as a sipper. Drinks better as it warms up.

O- Pretty good barleywine. Nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed this one as much, if not more than the variants.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:40:12 | More by stephenjmoore

davey101

Connecticut

3.89/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

2011 vintage, 22 oz bomber into a DFH signature glass.

A - Pours a clear burnt red/brown color with a finger of light tan foam which fades away quickly. Average lacing.

S - Toffee, caramel, raisins, and some brown sugar. Light alcohol heat.

T - Similar to the nose with some toffee and caramel drenched raisins. Very much an English style BW. A bit boring and plain but still pretty tasty. Chewy and a bit slick, abv is well hidden.

O - For a $6 bomber of a very traditional English BW this is pretty solid stuff. Its also held up very well to two years of age (unlike their stout...)

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 03:43:49 | More by davey101

DovaliHops

California

3.61/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

2012 vintage. Interesting beer I have on my hands here. The nose is nothing to point a stick at... very normal. Malty with some hops. You would think you were sniffing Alaskan Amber at first. Surprisingly, the nose on this beer doesn't grow. After it warms, it still smells malty and grainy. Taste is much different. Sweet vanilla and bourbon. Lovely oak flavors. This beer tastes delicious, just really lacks in the nose. Overall, not much complexity to this one. It has depth... but only when you're searching for it. No puns with the "sea theme"... just not a great beer. A tasty beer at best.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 08:10:21 | More by DovaliHops

tdm168

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - dark brownish amber with a huge, dense, soft, brownish head that has great retention

S - big bready aroma, caramel, some faint dark fruit

T - very bready, heavy caramel, some dark fruit, alcohol

M - sticky, full bodied, warm, well carbonated

This is somewhat disappointing compared to the two barrel aged versions. This one is very malty which I loved, but the bready malts dominate and the caramel adds more to the sticky mouthfeel than it does to the flavor. The dark fruit notes are there, but they're subtle. I did enjoy this beer, but I think their are better versions of it out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 02:20:07 | More by tdm168

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bottle into snifter, Fall 2011 bottling. Pours slightly hazy reddish brown color with a 1 finger dense cream colored head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of caramel, raisin, toast, brown sugar, light roast, brown bread, floral, light pine, and herbal earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance, strength, and complexity. Taste of caramel, toast, brown sugar, raisin, brown bread, light toffee, floral, light pine, light roast, and herbal earthiness. Minimal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, toast, brown bread, brown sugar, raisin, light roast, light toffee, floral, and herbal earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice flavor balance and complexity; though it is not as robust as I would expect for the style; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a fairly creamy and slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish; very smooth to sip on. Overall this is a very nice barelywine. Good balance and complexity; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 05:25:54 | More by superspak

streetcommander

Virginia

4.09/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Served at 51F, into a stemless wine glass... Yes, because I am a heretic.

Appearance was pleasant, with fantastic mahogany color and gray rim-only head.

Smell was malty with an oaky roasted caramel scent. Kettle corn, and burning ethylene glycol on the deep waft -very pleasant, and wholesome.

Taste is fantastic. Certainly malty, with well balanced bittering hops pared well with sweet malt. Impressive balance for a peasant priced brew --nice surprise. No syrupy or cloying flavors common in "also ran" beers. No flammable booze flavor. Never extended itself farther than its substance could back up.

If it was a woman, and you accidentally got her pregnant, you would be marrying-up, and certainly be doing your gene pool a favor. Don't really care if it is true to its EBW labeling because it just too damn good to matter.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 00:29:15 | More by streetcommander

Mantooth

North Carolina

4.11/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter, straight from the cask.

Deep amber brew with a small creamy head that quickly fades; the lacing is thick and sticky. The nose is malty, hints of black cherries and some wood are present. The taste follows suit, and the beer is a bit boozy... but hell, it should be. The mouthfeel is oily, really nice. This is a very well concieved brew, grab some if you get a chance; on cask if you can find it.

Serving type: cask

01-28-2013 23:32:04 | More by Mantooth

McNealc31

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a surprisingly crisp mahogany with ruby edges. Inviting aroma full of malt that you’d expect from a barleywine. Really interesting flavor. Rye, raisins, cedar at first. Hops take hold for a bit, then hints of currants and cherries. Lots of warmth and heat from the 10% ABV. Each sip I’m trying to find a different flavor, and it’s there.

Take some time with this one. Savor it.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 03:46:55 | More by McNealc31

FosterJM

California

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1670th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
22oz

2012 Release
Thanks to MikeReaser for this one

Split with my brother in law

Side by side by side with Bourbon/Cabernet

App- This was the normal color of a barleywine. A good and deep mahogany and tinged with red/browns. A bit of a cordial looking beer. A lighter center. Maybe a 1/4" to a 1/2" head. No cling.

Smell- A bit of a fresh barleywine to me. A large amount of phenolic to it. A bit citrusy with some large orange zest and a balanced amount of malts on the nose. A bit boozy as well, just being so fresh.

Taste- This was a pretty good barleywine. A bit fresh. A bit citrusy. A bit of a hoppy bitter intermixed with a bit of spices. It was thicker on the flavors than I wouldve thought and had a nice balance to it with the malts.

Mouth- A lighter medium body with a slightly bubbly medium carbonation. A bit of a sweet, citrusy and hoppy residual flavors.

Drink- I think this one needs a bit of time. I am anxious to try the 2007 I have at home now. This was #2 of the day behind the bourbon and in front of the Cabernet.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 16:56:55 | More by FosterJM

weeheavybutdieting

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler from Ale Yeah, Roswell, GA into a Sam Adam's perfect pint (just cuz I wanted to use it.)

A: A fairly average barley wine appearance with muted browns and a slight lacing that sticks with the beer throughout.

S: Yes it does :-) Not very complex. It mostly carries the carmel malted notes to the nose with a slight roasted scent.

T: Quite an enjoyable and drinkable beer. There is a hint of that sweet carmel goodness that barley wines carry but just like any good BW it dries quickly to not be overly sweet. In the middle is all sweetness. What I really like about this rendition is that little bit of heat and alcohol on the back end. It gives it almost a winter warmer feel. Do yourself a favor and let it warm before consuming.

M: Not overly sticky with some drying feel to the tongue. Good for the mouth bad for the fact that it makes this beer drinkable while it weighs in at 10% ABV, danger Will Robinson!

O: A really enjoyable Barley Wine that is balanced yet potent. Definitely carries the monicker well of the English rendition as opposed to the dried up and occasionally hoppy taste of BW's from the Northwest US. Find a cold night and a warm fireplace to enjoy the warming and sweet goodness. Or find a stormy lake, a pewter stein and get wrecked below decks with the crew.

Serving type: growler

12-25-2012 04:22:55 | More by weeheavybutdieting

MadScientist

New York

3.83/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A dark copper with good clarity. The light tan head is low and thin.

S: Interesting, moderately fruity like oranges and peach esters from the yeast with a moderately-strong earthy and flowery hops aroma. There is also a moderate toasty malt aroma with some sweetness. The alcohol also comes through with a light sweetness to it and a little bit of diacetyl.

T: A rich and sweet malt flavor that is has a lot of toast with a fresh grain and bready taste and some treacle. The moderate hops flavor is earthy with a moderately-strong hops bitterness. There is more of the yeast's fruit ester like oranges and pairs. The balance and the finish are slightly sweet.

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: A pretty good English Barleywine sure to take the chill of on a damp December evening. There is a decent amount of bitterness but it still ends up being a bit sweet for my liking however it's well with in style.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 22:54:13 | More by MadScientist

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bomber was aged for two years and poured into a crystal beer mug.
The color is a deep clear mahogany , a creamy light tan head builds about one finger high, and actually sicks arround, leaving good lacing, considering the ABV.
The complex smell is of dark fruit, caramel, malt and honey.
Tasting the beer the caramel, honey flavors hit first, being met by dark fruit like fig, plum and raisin. Malt as well as a fruity hop builds the middle, which gives good balance to the beer. The finish is actually remarkable. Great balance if he sweet notes, not overpowering at all. The alcohol is also well hidden.
Great aged brew!

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 03:07:05 | More by Hopfenpeter

claspada

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2010 release.

Pours a dark amber color with a modest khaki head that quickly fades but leaves quite a few whisps of lace on glass.

Aromas begin quite straight forward for a barleywine. Highlights include toasted raisin bread, caramelized sugars and a faint hint of earthy, rustic faded hop characteristics.

The tastes begin with the same dark fruits and toasted breadiness. Solid caramelized malt flavors throughout. Some light herbal/earthy bitterness still remains from the hops to balance the flavor profile.

The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, with low, gentle carbonation. Finish isn't too sweet surprisingly and the alcohol is faint presumabley thanks to the 2 years of cellaring.

Overall this was a pretty solid English-style barleywine. Not up to the top class examples of English or American styles; there is nothing inherently wrong or bad with it, it just lacks a pop to make is special or something I want to revisit again and again. I wouldn't refuse it but I won't be seeking it out anytime soon. Definitely some bonus points for the low price tag and abundant availability.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 15:07:51 | More by claspada

bluetravlr

Colorado

3.35/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Jake the Big Mistake!

A: Dark mahogany coloration. No head. No lacing. Very few bubbles.

S: Woody, scents of licorice and molasses. Baked bread and alcohol.

T: Molasses, alcohol, figs, raisins and dark fruit. Big plumb. Slight hop bitterness. Almost port like.

M: Very little carbonation. Medium body. Slightly lingering. A bit syrupy.

O: Decent barley wine. Drinkable but not amazing. Nothing I'd seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 05:18:16 | More by bluetravlr

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours very dark. Looks like soda. Nearly no head involved here. Not much light penetration.

S-Deep, robust and malty. This version was aged on toasted pear wood, and the aging really comes out in the nose. Nice hoppy balance too. Really rich and sugary.

T-Syrupy and sweet. Hop bitterness. Woody and pears, Quite rich and almost sappy. A very interesting flavor.

M-The cask makes this one smooth and flat. Actually more enjoyable than I was expecting it to be. Heavy body. Alcohol is noticeable.

O/D-Interesting take on this beer. Very rich and full bodied. I only had this as a part of a beer flight, and the small glass was more than enough. Too syrupy and boozy to warrant more than a small glass in my opinion.

Serving type: cask

05-20-2012 15:23:29 | More by VelvetExtract

ChadQuest

Illinois

2.48/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

2008 bottle. Post training ride reward.

pour is a translucent dark amber color, head is dense before fading into large bubbles around the edges, looks healthy.
Aroma is faded a lot by now, there is some light malts, and a soft fig newton nose.
Flavors are a little past prime, or maybe in a "dumb" phase as the call it. There is an odd tart cherry note up front that has a quick cut, some alcohol, fruitcake flavors are thrown around, and light toffee flavors to round out the sweet side of the map.
Mouthfeel is thin to medium for the style.

I remember liking the 2009 & 2010 bottles a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 02:53:19 | More by ChadQuest

jtierney89

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Deep deep amber color with a two finger off white head and impressive clarity. Dark fruit bowl scents, figs, undertones of licorice and vanilla. Effervescent and creamy mouthfeel yet stringy and somewhat thinner as well. Stays consistent through out though. Big malt bomb but some bitterness as well, not sure of how fresh this is though.

Dark fruit bowl flavors stay present through out and some tasting notes of an oak aged beer oddly enough. Certainly vanilla, as well as oak or something like it. Detectable booziness plays with the other flavors to give off an imitation bourbon like note underneath it all. Lots of jammy dark fruits. Well concentrated flavors that kind of present themselves all together. They all kind of work together too. The booziness hurts the beer a little as well as the fruitiness as its a big too fruity and can be cloying at times. Not bad though and good value for the price.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 01:37:18 | More by jtierney89

mltobin

Connecticut

3.48/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On cask at The Real Ale festival in New Haven.

Appearance is a murky orange, short, light brown head. The nose has dark fruit, bread malts, some caramel. Below Decks has a taste of raisins, malts, caramel and salt. The mouthfeel leans towards full with a rather dry finish. A pretty good barleywine, but nothing special imho.

Serving type: cask

02-16-2012 02:11:03 | More by mltobin

russwbeck

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours actually a lot like a can of pop would. Fizzy, with a bubbly white head atop a clear-ish brown pour. Not a lot of retention or lacing.

S: Sugary malts, molasses, plum, caramel, and perhaps some roast as well. Not getting a lot of booze.

T: Taste is sort of muted. Sugar and caramel malts mostly. Some dark fruits maybe. Overall very sweet, and not a lot there.

MF: Low carbonation, medium body with some creaminess. Pretty drinkable for 10% ABV.

O: This was pretty average overall. Just nothing special, price was $5 for the bottle, so I'd say pick it up and try it for yourself. Don't expect much more than what you pay for!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 00:18:23 | More by russwbeck

beerenjoyer1

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +29.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I purchased this bottle at Peabody's Beer & Wine in Boone, NC.

A - Medium dark caramel color with carbonation with a thin foam.

S - Rich malty caramel with the scent of bourbon and alcohol but clean with no mustiness.

T - Nice malts with good blend of bourbon from the barrels with a shot of alcohol in each taste but blended in nicely.

M - Very nice and full of flavor that continue through the taste but is not over powering or intense.

O - This beer is very good and I hope to get more of this. The flavors and ingredients come through each savoring taste without being overpowering. if this beer is purchased as recently bottled it would a good idea to let it age as this bottle is close to 2 years old.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 23:47:39 | More by beerenjoyer1

StayWounded

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Nice reddish brown with a little lacing of what would have been head around the glass.

S: Nice and sweet, maybe some toffee and some plum. Very pleasant.

T: I've had both the Bourbon and Cabernet aged versions years ago so I'm slightly disappointed. Still very good. Good example of the style with a lot of sweetness throughout. Distinct toffee and maybe burnt sugar taste with darker fruits. There is definitely an after taste of alcohol.

M: Lack of carbonation with some distinct thickness. Very smooth. Not fantastic, but not bad by any means.

O: Not a beer you are going to break out on a special occasion, but not bad for after a long day when you want to relax.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 22:47:44 | More by StayWounded

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Off tap at Hop Heads this beer was a ruddy copper color with one finger of white head. The retention was not very good and it left scant lacing. The aroma was a blend of caramel malt, figs, a little honey and general sweet malt. The flavors were rather blasé for a big beer. The caramel and sweet malts were present along with a touch of wood and some balancing citrus and herbal hops. Very middle-of-the-road. The mouthfeel was a bit slick, the body full and the carbonation light.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2012 11:38:38 | More by thekevlarkid