Heavy Seas - Below Decks (Cabernet Barrel Aged)
Heavy Seas Beer

Heavy Seas - Below Decks (Cabernet Barrel Aged)Heavy Seas - Below Decks (Cabernet Barrel Aged)
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From:
Heavy Seas Beer
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 11.96%
Reviews:
94
Ratings:
191
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 24, 2019
Added:
May 18, 2010
Wants:
  17
Gots:
  34
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Sludgeman
Reviewed by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

3.67/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A 2016 keg tapped on 2/23/19 at the Mad Fox Barley Wine Festival. The wine barrel aging is clearly evident. At first I was a bit taken aback, but this barley wine turned out to be a nice beer but certainly not to style in my mind. The wine acidity certainly cut through the maltiness of the barley wine to give it a more balanced presentation.
Feb 24, 2019
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2012 vintage, buried in the cellar and realized I never reviewed it. Hopefully it's still good.

Pours a decent small fizzy head that fades very quickly, no lacing but nice long legs, very dark brown molasses color

Nose a touch of oxidation but I'll try to ignore that, plenty of dark aged malts, sweet candy, caramelized everything, toffee, a touch nutty, some mild dark fruits, maybe a touch of red wine but hard to tell, so toasted mild buttery oak notes, hint of alcohol, and a touch yeasty

Taste starts super rich, a big nougat caramel candy, tons of candy bar, caramel candies and toffee, a touch nutty, sweet candy coated apple, chewy almost, soft aged malt characters, mild toasted oak, a bit of vanilla, faint faint red wine but more dark fruits mixed in, dried fig date kinda thing, raisiny too, caramel raisin candy. Finishes with a touch of alcohol warmth and tingle, loads of caramel and candy lingering, mild dark fruits, a bit of a condensed red wine jam lingering.

Mouth is fuller bod, rich chewy like caramel but smooth, decent carb, very light warming alcohol

Overall this was a nice beer, lots of aged effects going on, alcohol is hidden well, nice soft aged malt, tons of caramel, dark fruits are there but muted, same with the cabernet notes are mostly gone but there is some especially late, very little oxidation, pretty enjoyable all around though. Wish I had more.
Feb 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by rspauldi from Texas

Dec 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.98 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Sep 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by oline73 from Maryland

Jul 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by Shawnspl from Rhode Island

Apr 09, 2017
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.96/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz 2011 bottle served in a wine glass.

Approached with some pessimism due to experience with some other ales aged in red wine barrels, but this is a very pleasant and dangerously drinkable barleywine. The aroma is dominated by the effects of red wine barrel aging, soft fruit notes, and alcohol esters.
The flavor largely follows but with less pronounced impact of the wine barrel aging. Rich and fairly complex.

Slightly hazy, dark red-brown body with a limited head.

Very smooth medium+ body with ample warming after swallowing but nicely tame warmth in the mouth.
Jan 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by kvgomps from New Jersey

Sep 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.81 by WesMantooth from Ohio

Aug 31, 2015
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.66/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
"This English style barleywine ale has been aged in cabernet wine barrels. Enjoy now or cellar it "Below Decks" as it will become more complex as it ages." Brewed in the style of an English Barleywine ale. Available in 22 oz. bottles and on limited draft. Released as a small batch variant of the annual release Below Decks Barleywine standard.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass. Served above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a medium tan color over a very dark brown body with little transparency. Retention is below average and lacing is light and spotty. 3.25

(Smell) The impact of the Cabernet barrel aging is markedly strong in the aroma, with strong earthy tannins, robust vinous characteristics and a fully dry delivery. Like the Bourbon Variation, the barrel aging is certainly a main focus rather than a component, and the normal aromas of a barleywine play a very minor role. Potency is moderate. 3.5

(Taste) The Below Decks Barleywine components of grain malt, molasses and fruit syrups are strongly accented with the inclusion of Cabernet barrels, a very unique treatment in my experiences with barleywines as well as most barrel aged beers. Strongest in the finish, the barrel impact is very bold, moderate toasted oak and strong wood tannins, finishinglightly fruity and earthy with a mild vinous and tart grape finish, moderately dry with some reserved sweetness. The slight tartness stands out as a welcoming finish. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, residual, moderately dry. Carbonation is light, generating a modest frothiness and a mildly crisp finish. Body is medium+ for the style, medium/heavy overall. Balance is slightly dry and tart over sweet. Alcohol presence is modest, and there are no off characters. 3.75

(Overall) Considerably more expensive than the Bourbon barrel aged and understandably the standard version of Below Decks, Cabernet barrel aging is simply not all that common in most craft beers, warranting no less than a sample of this beer for me. Coming out, it is my favorite variant of Below Decks by a hair due to the dimension of flavor impact it contributes to the base recipe. Even though this variation of Below Decks isn't quite rich enough to complement the flavor strength of Cabernet barrels, the barrel treatment doesn't sit entirely unmatched. I'd like to see Cabernet barrel aging make a more mainstream impact in other rich, flavorful, malt heavy beer styles, as the tannins, vinous characters and tartness of a flavorful red wine compliments this beer quite well. Stouts, anybody? 3.75

Heavy Seas Beer's
Below Decks Barleywine Cabernet Barrel Aged
3.66/5.00
Jul 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.4 by Sanderson from Washington

Jun 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by Eziel from Ohio

Jun 01, 2015
Photo of Cyberkedi
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Comes out of the tap an opaque chocolate-brown with a fairly thick light tan head. Malty aroma has subtle notes of chocolate and cinnamon. Flavor has a strong, fruity alcohol bite that still lets through malty, chocolate and toffee notes. It is somewhat sweet, but not overly so. Texture is quite thick, almost syrupy, with subtle but persistent fizz. Drink with care, lest you end up "below decks"! ;)
Apr 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Apr 12, 2015
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.96/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2010 Bottle from Mike's Barleywine tasting brought by Todd, thanks for the opportunity!
Huge grape almost jelly like aroma with a fair bit of caramel and oak tannins to balance. Nice Aged Barleywine.
Apr 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by yeaprolly from Washington

Mar 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by 1KEVIN1 from Massachusetts

Jan 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.34 by RichD from Rhode Island

Jan 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.05 by SlothB77 from Virginia

Dec 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by aasher from Indiana

Dec 12, 2014
Heavy Seas - Below Decks (Cabernet Barrel Aged) from Heavy Seas Beer
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 191 ratings