Rudyard's Rare Barley Wine - Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up a bottle of this at Belmont Station in Portland, Oregon ($3.29). Nice label in bold red and yellow. It says it's a "Special Limited Edition Release! December 2007". I'm not sure about that, but I didn't see anything on their website about it. So...

Roughly poured into a half pint it displays a very dark brown - (almost opaque) body with glowing chestnut highlights at the base wen held to the light. The frothy tan head holds a height of about an inch and a half for mere moments before it starts to steadily slide back, leaving behind a magnificent ring of creamy, craggy lace. Unfortunately, the lacing beyond that is far less impressive.

The limited lacing is somewhat understandable though once you've tasted it. The carbonation is restrained, and quite smooth at somewhere around 2.0 volumes CO2/liter. I'm guessing that this is bottle conditioned as it reminds me of a soft, cask-conditioned ale.

The aroma expresses red fruits, both dark and light, amidst a medium-dark caramel malt base. If you swirl the glass it releases its hop character, and it's softly floral and leafy (I'm thinking East Kent Goldings).

The flavor backs that up. It's initially fruity with just a suggestion of subtle tartness wrapped in some medium-dark caramel. Then, as it warms across the middle the hops come out, and the caramelish malt-base widens to express softer notes of brown sugar, and darker notes of molasses. Some alcohol appears, and it becomes a bit leafy with an added note of anise as it slides into a dry, and somewhat bitter, lingering finish. It's a bit nutty, woody, and leafy with alcohol fumes hanging about in the background.

As an English-style barleywine I'd say they've hit the mark pretty much right on. I'd love to see the alcohol toned-down a bit, but this is an older bottle and I'm not sure how it really is fresh. This sample may have dried out, and lost some maltiness - maybe even lost some carbonation. Still, it's an enjoyable sipper!

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2009 01:32:25 | More by NeroFiddled

froghop

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

pours a very dark brown with little to no head and a little lacing.

smell of barley, burnt caramel, and some roasted nuts.

taste is watery, malt, roasted nuts, and some caramel, end is on the dry side.

overall average lacking on the appearance and mouthfeel, would expect it to be a little thicker.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2009 01:25:38 | More by froghop

belgbeerdrinker

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a: thick brown color, nice thick head settles to a beige ring, little lacing
s: dark sweetness--molasses and some malt and alcohol
t: sugary - not quite molasses sweet in taste but not far off, some other aged sweetness in there with the alcohol and moderate bitter finish
m: medium body with little carbonation
d: a fairly moderate flavors make for an approachable barleywine, but that said it wasn't smooth, full-bodied enough or memorable

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2009 00:33:56 | More by belgbeerdrinker

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.78/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The mark of a good bewer is his Bwine.
Poured a flat deep amber color. Nose is spicy, deep malts and caramel and alcoholic. Taste is spicy, boozy with deep caramel with brown sugar. Mouthfeel is thick and a little boozy. One of my favorite Englush bwines

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2009 03:03:32 | More by barleywinefiend

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2007 December on the label.. Picked this up in November of '08 at Belmont Station .. looking forward to this tonight as part of the ongoing cellar clearing project.. poured into my shaped SA glass.

3/4" sorta tan yellow head... leaves only touches of lace atop a surprisingly brown brew.. much darker than expected.. yet still clear and certainly fine... a careful pour kept a bunch of crusty sediment in the bottle.. sorta close to a lite porter for sure..

Nose is rich and malty.. caramel and toasty malt notes.. some hoppiness combines with some alcohol that reminds me of cinnamon...

Flavor is malty caramel sweetness that immediately gives way to a fairly sharp bitterness.. the palate has a significant amount of fruitiness..

the flavor gets better after I let it sit on the counter for a long while.. a bit of a mishmash of BW flavors that are going in the right direction.. cocoa is present along with dried sweet cherries.. finish is a bit tannic .. the body is fairly lite for the style.. yet still good .. I guess.. the carbonation is fairly dialed in.. but overall.. I still say this is pretty good and some time in the bottle has helped.

I like Hale's and am damn glad they are in Boise but it is a tad astringent.. tannic qualities should not be there.. I can see how this one would age well.. but Christ.. this is my first bottle that I can remember having in years... and think it is gonna age very well.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2009 09:22:54 | More by JohnGalt1

midaszero

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dec 2007 vintage

A - Cloudy mahogany body with pretty much no head at all. A few bubbles gather on the edges

S - Nice rich dead caramel and malts with some good hop notes bouncing around as well

T - Nice and sweet caramel with some smokiness to it. Dark fruit and mellow hops bounce around in the back ground

M - Medium body with little carbonation

D - Very easy to drink and damn enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2009 07:09:23 | More by midaszero

Murchmac

California

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Arnie for leaving this beer in my trusted care.

December 2006 it says on the bottle.

A: Thick, cloudy center, syrupy, brown. with thin ruby highlights. Kinda the opposite of Sir Mix a Lot's famous quote "Little in the middle but it's got much back."

Smells of caramel, dark sugars, licorice, sherry. Like a Chocolate twizzler made by a drunk Willie Wonka.

Sweet, annis, bourbon, vanilla? caramilzed brown sugar taste. Complex.

Medium carbonation still, thick bolus that sits on your tongue waiting to ride the double dutch bus smoothly down.

It was a very good beer. It's posse's on Hale St.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2009 04:13:01 | More by Murchmac

ccrida

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz screw-top bottle from the recently released 2007 vintage poured into my Delirium snifter, Rudyard's Rare (one of my favorite barleywine name's of all time in fact!) is a pitch black amber with a small light tan head that leaves a lasting collar and very light, scattered lace. Super dark, but the slight red glow around the edges is enough to entice.

Smell is lots of sour citrus hops and dark caramel malts, dark fruits and a touch of cocoa. Familiar yet flirting with the exotic, very nice.

Taste is also pretty hoppy, enough to clearly be in the (West Coast) American style, in spite of the impressively smooth viscosity. Big malty flavor, semi-sweet with a bitter, dry, boozy finish.

Mouthfeel is dry, sharp, medium bodied, could use a bit more carbonation to cut the thickness.

Drinkability is

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 07:28:28 | More by ccrida

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.78/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2007 vintage pours chestnut/mahogany with a pinky of tan head. Average head retention 7 above average lacing

S: Dark fruit & leafy hops, both fade as this warms

T: Leafy hops, plums & a touch of oakyness up front. More of the same as this warms. Finishes dry with more leafy hops & plums, sound kind of boring, but tastes melded well

MF: Semi-chewy, low but noticeable carbonation, skews fruitty with good balance

Drinks a bit slow, due to the malt heft & lack of interesting flavors. I could still drink a few before calling it a night...

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 18:30:42 | More by russpowell

BigMcLargeHuge

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12/02/06 Walk the Line Barleywine Festival, Dunedin, FL. 2001 vintage. This beer poured out a murky brackish brown color with a tan head. The aroma has lots of caramel. There seemed to be sweet caramel and maybe a more burnt caramel too. Nice aroma for this five year old beer. The flavor was tasty with the caramel that I smelled as well as toffee, dark grapes and a tad of pine hops. Very nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2008 21:23:36 | More by BigMcLargeHuge

wagenvolks

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Single 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass; listed at 9.2% ABV.

Rudyard's Rare pours a bit darker than expected, with a hazy, plum hue backed by mahogany edges. A well-retained khaki head recedes to a patchy and thin cap of foam, with a ring of large bubbles surrounding a sheet of uniform smaller ones. The aroma is excellent, and instantly reminds me of SN's Bigfoot, with earthy, floral hops balanced by big notes of caramel and toffee malts, fig, and raisin.

The flavor is a bit thin, although powdered chocolate and sweet caramel combine for a nice malty presence. Mocha coffee bitterness arrives on the finish, although the hops almost disappear, along with the dark fruits that were present in the aroma. Some oxidized, cardboard off-flavors chime in as well---not a fan. A kiss of musty hops finally show up on the finish, but it's too little too late. Body is thick and heavy with a decent carbonation level. Overall, this is nice english barleywine, but not one I'll likely reach for again.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2008 03:46:35 | More by wagenvolks

rye726

Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2006 Vintage

Quite dark for the style. Medium brown with a tan head. Poor retention. The nose has sweet malts and a touch of bitter hops. The taste is nicely balanced with a full body. It is a bit roasty and has a good helping of fruits, candies and hops.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2008 04:34:16 | More by rye726

jkdrummer

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dec 2006 vintage. Pours a nice thick tawny head - nice and dark ruby color. Aroma has hints of plum and cherries. Exceptional BW, strong malt presence and some bitterness. Alcohol taste isn't that bad with nice sweet roasted aftertaste. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2008 00:38:17 | More by jkdrummer

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

December 2006 bottling. Hoping the hops haven't diminished too much in one year...

Pours a very dark, oily brown/ruby color, with a beige head. Unsurprisingly, for the style and ABV, the head doesn't stick around long, reducing to a thin crown quickly.

Aroma is big, caramely, chocolatey and woody, but not in a barrel-aged way. A wonderful Twizzlers-like smell shows through. Mild sherry further back.

Flavor is wonderful...smooth sherry; fresh-cut wood; liqueur-drenched black cherries & prunes; toffee; vanilla; piney hops. The warming glow from the alcohol is just perfect, tamed but present, definitely not overpowering. It's only helped by a creamy, thick, sticky feel, which is how I prefer this style to be.

The first Hale's beer I had was very different than this--a cream ale on cask; it was excellent. Seems Hale's is just as comfortable with the big stuff as much as the lower alcohol beers. Hail Hale's.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2007 23:40:22 | More by Metalmonk

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Deep mohoganny, tan head, very little retention & lace.

S: Pine and slightly floral hops, bready malt, molases, dark toffee, alcohol.

T: Warming alcohol up-front, sherry, dark rye bread, chocolate, piney bitterness, hops come in the middle and remain throughout.

M: Well-attenuated, moderate body, lower than moderate carbonation.

D: Warming, but good drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2007 03:02:49 | More by Derek

brentk56

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a mysterious dark chocolate color with an ecru head that resolves into a bunch of big bubbles but leaves a splashing lacing around the glass

Smell: Rum-soaked raisins, burnt caramel and grapefruit pith

Taste: Starts out with a fruity combination of raisin and grapefruit flavors that build in the direction of the bitter hop flavors by mid-palate; after the swallow, the sweet caramel and cookie flavors emerge with a touch of honey on the tip of the tongue as a residual delight; the bitterness fades into the background but remains as a reminder of the starting flavor profile

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation; some warmth after the swallow

Drinkability: Overall, I'm pretty impressed by this barleywine; at first I thought it was going to be in the Bigfoot genre, but after a few minutes it settled down and became a very pleasing after dinner companion

Thanks, TheBungyo, for the experience

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2007 01:16:56 | More by brentk56

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours a two finger light tan head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Deep mahogany color. Medium carbonation and heavy bodied. Burnt caramel nose. Flavor is burnt caramel, some sweetness, smooth. High ABV is hidden. Brewed Dec 2005, $1.99 for a 12oz bottle from John's Market Tigard, Or.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2007 00:26:00 | More by jdhilt

BigJTrucker

Oregon

4.6/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12oz bottle marked Dec 2006, so i'm drinking it relatively fresh. Pours with a thin mocha colored head that disipates quickly. Very dark, color reminds me of molasses. Smells faintly sweet, of vanilla perhaps? Tastes of toasted malt. Very smooth, very nice. Hard to believe it's almost 10% abv... VERY easy to drink... Retired? Hmm....if that's truly the case then i guess i should consider myself lucky to have found this.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2007 06:05:46 | More by BigJTrucker

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Marked "Special Limited Edition Release December 2005"
Chestnut brown in color...very cloudy.
Wow...fantastic aromas going on here...citrus, cherries, raisins, cinammon.
Taste is really good too...the flavor is not as distinguished as the smell, but this barleywine has aged quite well in the two years plus since bottling. Fruity, with orange and fig most prominent...still packing quite a hop punch with floral notes to dry it up as each sip runs off the pallet.
Mouthfeel is medium-bodied...carbonation is perfect. No oxidation going on and the alcohol is covered up nicely.
A definite sipper, but I'd opt for a couple snifters of this gem any evening.
Well done Hale's...my first brew from you and already impressed.
Thanks to skyhand for the rare treat.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2007 00:40:24 | More by warriorsoul

Vancer

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep amber brown pour, and some large bubble frothy tan foam. Different and nice. Tons of sheet lacing.

Holy smokes, the INFAMOUS sweet caramel malt meets my snozola. I can tell in a heartbeat from it that it’s gonna be a good evening. And yes, I’m not disappointed in the first sip of this nectar – the sweetness is balanced with a woody and vinous hop.

Very dry and sharp for a BW – it draws me like a moth to a flame. And the underlying alcohol stings like a hornet nest – but quickly dies as the New Belgium snifter approaches for another run.

I’m sipping too fast, this will be gone soon – and then I’m done. But I’m a better man for it,

thanks to Dubbercody for sending this 2005 version bottle to me on my BA anniversary.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2007 00:52:39 | More by Vancer

DogFood11

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

December 2002 edition. A little more than 4 years under its belt. I purchased it at a beer store that is very reputable and they assured me this has been under cellar conditions for its entire life. After the first pull I know that they told me the truth. This beer has rounded itself out very nicely.

Poured into a tulip it forms a bubbly tan head that pops down to an outer ring. Brown body and super fine carbonation.

Vinous and Fruity. Figs and prunes come to mind. A bit tart late in the aftertaste. Very smooth. Velvety texture. Tad bit of bakers type chocolate flavor and bitter backside.

Notes: A delicate barleywine. Nothing over the top here just some well mended soft flavors and a nice bellywarmer. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2007 04:03:43 | More by DogFood11

czechsaaz

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2006 edition, bottled less than a month ago.

Deep fruity aroma of plums and cherries. Really nice estery yeast effect. There's also a good hop aroma but not overwhelming. Citrussy and spicey. Nice malt/hop interplay. I also get some roast malt character but it's really in the background. There's a very slight alcohol nose when it warms up.

Deep red/ruby colored. Smallish tan head but lasts as a nice ring around the edge of the glass that leaves a small amount of lace.

Flavor starts off sweet malty and fruity. The fermentation character is very strong with lots of berry and plum and other fruity esters. Then the hops kick in, a nice biting bitterness. Hop flavor lingers in the aftertaste too with a little grassy character and some roast malt also sticks around in the aftertaste too. There's a pretty strong alcohol flavor which would probably fade with some bottle aging. It's my one complaint here.

Good full bodied ale with nice carbonation level for the syle, a little light but a long way from flat. There's a solid alcohol warmth in the mouth and the stomach.

Really enjoyable and I'd recommend it. It's very young so the flavors aren't as blended together as I'd like. And the alcohol flavor and warmth are a little too strong. It's the little things that keep me from feeling this is a GREAT barleywine instead of a really good one. I'm totally looking forward to aging the rest of the bottles I bought.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2007 05:47:53 | More by czechsaaz

ReebShorts

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2003 sample picked up recently at Bottleworks. Poured into a Westmalle Chalice, virtually no head to speak of. Color is a murkish reddish brown.

Aroma is sweet, brown sugar, cola, molasses, caramel, and sweet malts.

Mouth is thick and chewy, caramel is prominent, but the sweetness is not cloying. This may be aged about right, although I do not have other samples to compare and verify that. I'd get this again if I could find it.

Side note, my roomate said he smelled soy sauce in it, and i'll be damned if I didn't agree that there was a hint of soy sauce in there. Tasty treat.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2007 09:08:18 | More by ReebShorts

IntriqKen

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an extremely dark amber with a half finger tan head that melts to a nice ring of sticky lacing.
Aromas of dark fruits (raisins, prunes) and alcohol with distinctive cherry scents.
Taste is sweet dark fruit, a touch of alcohol soaked cherries, and then a light touch of citrus hops. As it warms prunes and cherries become more prominent.
Aftertaste is clean and smooth with lip-smacking sweetness and lingering tastes and a pleasant alcohol warming.
Thanks to weefisheads for this wonderful surprise.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2006 03:55:48 | More by IntriqKen

TheBungyo

Washington

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

Pours dark nearly the hue of a stout. Head is tiny and barely caps the surface. A little lacing traces the progress on down. Nose is super sweet like concentrated maple syrup and piney hops, very nice. Taste is at first pine from the hops, and then syrupy. There's some nice lacing following my progress down. Mouth is very even. I can see myself buying a lot of this. I really like it.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2006 08:15:53 | More by TheBungyo