Batch 1000
Upstream Brewing Company - Old Market

Batch 1000Batch 1000
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From:
Upstream Brewing Company - Old Market
 
Nebraska, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 9.92%
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
24
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 08, 2015
Added:
Nov 07, 2006
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by orcasteve:
Photo of orcasteve
Reviewed by orcasteve from North Carolina

4.73/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
shared this bottle with my roommate phil as a new years celebration, review from notes. poured a cherry apple cider brown, cloudy and heavy, the smell was sour and fruity, the taste is figs, carmel, bread, rasins, a wet suggery sweet surip then hops of a grapefruit tone, warm alchoal and a flavor of acid like if you stick a 9 volt battery on your toung. this is a meal in a glass and a great companion for a cold winter night. i want more of this one for sure
Jan 10, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.13 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Jan 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

Nov 10, 2013
Photo of HopHead84
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California

2.66/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
3/19/2011

Bottle shared by Bman1113VR, thanks Andrew.

A: Turbid dark reddish orange with a pretty nice beige head.

S: Dried dates, apricots, brown sugar, and a little black pepper. The fruit is overripe and seems to be rotting. Pleasant caramel notes in the background, but the rotten fruit character is distracting. Heavily oxidized with some cardboard notes.

T: Caramel, brown sugar, leather, dates, sherry, figs, earth, and more of that overripe rotting character I got in the nose. Also, cardboard is stronger in the flavor. Booze is heavy in the finish. Bitterness is moderate throughout.

M: Upper medium in body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is full and sticky. Warming is evident on the palate.

Overall: It's nice to try another Upstream beer, but this isn't one I'd revisit. It seems well past its prime.
Mar 24, 2011
Photo of katan
Reviewed by katan from Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
750 ml into a pint

A - Pours a deep brown, with a little bit of orange highlights. Quite opaque, but not very hazy - doesn't appear to have much suspended yeast. Head formation is about nil, only a light white.

S - Super malty, toffee, caramel, perhaps even some raisin. Extremely sweet smelling. Some orange like hints present, and a little bready yeast.

T - Starts off extremely sweet, lots of caramel and malt. Builds in some bitterness, some orange floral notes - perhaps from some well aged alpha acids. Overall, hopping seems to be restrained or well hidden into the sweetness. Finishes extremely hot, lots of alcohol warmth and bready malts.

M - Thick and full bodied beer, but very little carbonation. Could be a little more airy. Finishes with a big sugary cling and some alcohol warmth.

D - Very potent beer, a little bit too sweet at times. A nice smooth sipper. Not very filling for its full bodied nature.

A good beer - interesting to see what this would have been like instead of cellaring for almost 2 years.
Nov 26, 2010
Photo of JohnGalt1
Reviewed by JohnGalt1 from Idaho

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Received this 2007 750 a couple of years back from Jhammerly... shared last weekend with the Boise Peeps.... Jimi threw down big time!!

Pours very pretty... hazy yellow head... the brew is clear orange... smallish head but holds a firm cap and reveals nice crusty lace as the glass drops with each sip.

Still a surprising amount of C hops after all this time, but the caramel and toasty malts are the stars of the show after a few years in the bottle.

Flavor also has a nice hoppy bitter bite up front... yet the hops are way in the background as mainly some herbal grassy elements... thick toasty caramel maltiness.... malty yet not quite sweet.... some fruity esters show quite a bit with warmth... some apricot and bits of cherry .... a bit of EtOH to let you know what you're drinking and should be sipping... Medium body and full carbonation that remains small bubble even on the tongue... Age has treated these bottles well... Glad I still have another or two...

Thanks for the awesome trades Jimi!! We should rekindle old relationships again sometime!!

4/4/4/4.5/4
May 28, 2010
Photo of gford217
Reviewed by gford217 from Georgia

4.12/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750mL bottle from 2007 courtesy of bu11zeye.

Pours a hazy caramel brown with reddish amber hues when held up to the light. There's a smallish off-white head that recedes slowly to a small collar and leaves almost no lacing.

The aroma is excellent and dominated by the caramel malt sweetness with some hints of toffee and even a bit of port character. There is evidence of hops in the nose, though they have clearly faded quite a bit. The booze is also present in the nose.

The taste has an interesting spiciness that hits right up front on the palate which caught me off guard a little bit. The sweet caramel malts and brown sugar form a big thick backbone which gives way to the boozy sweet finish. Oddly enough, the taste seems slightly hot, which is odd considering the age of the bottle. Maybe it's just the earthy spiciness I'm getting...

The mouthfeel is fairly full bodied and sticky sweet on the palate with that lingering spiciness hanging on the tongue after each sip.

This is a very good barleywine from a a brewery that I haven't heard much about. The spiciness in the taste makes it unique tough I haven't decided if it adds or subtracts from the beer.
Oct 10, 2009
Photo of wagenvolks
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas

4.39/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Many thanks to northaustin for sharing this at the BA July tasting. My first Nebraskan beer!

Pours a golden copper hue--clear, and capped by a thin layer of beige head that leaves behind some slight lace. Aroma is heavy on toffee & caramel with sherry & vanilla from the oak barrel-aging.

Flavor is spicier than expected, with an estery yeast presence that blends well with a delicious backbone of caramelized brown sugar and rich toffee sweetness. Resinous hops on the finish drop some bitter notes across the back of the palate. There is an ethanol heat on the end of each sip, but it's not overly powerful and actually compliments the residual sugars. Chewy, medium-thick body with a soft carbonation level. I would definitely have this again if given the chance...an excellent American Barleywine.
Jul 06, 2009
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.97/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Poured out a copper/rust color with a small, thin, off-white head. If left soapy residue of lace.

S - It smelled of brown sugar and maple syrup with a slight floral aroma.

T - It tasted very sweet and malty with a spicy, hot alcohol flavor. Some mild bitterness from some hops.

M - It was soft and smooth with a dry finish. A medium to full-bodied beer with a warm alcohol presence.

D - This is a pretty good barleywine. I'd like to try another one that has aged longer.
Jan 22, 2009
Photo of BigMcLargeHuge
Reviewed by BigMcLargeHuge from Arizona

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Huge thanks to tbd975 again. Greg you are amazing bringing this triple threat beer to the tasting, new state, barleywine tick and big beer tick. YES. Pours clear copper with gold edges and near tan thin ring of foam. The aroma has light amounts of crystal malts to go along with raisins, prunes and a bit of chemical alcohol heat. The taste has some thick maltiness moving into moderate dark fruity esters. Midway and to the finish caramel goodness and bits of vague hop bitterness rise up to be heard. There is just a mild sense of the big ABV. Nice. Will certainly shine with some more age.
Jan 10, 2009
Photo of tpd975
Reviewed by tpd975 from Florida

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a beautiful golden hue very clear with an above average head. The retention is good with some nice patches of lace.

S: Tons of sweet caramel malt up front with notes of brown sugar and grass.

T: The caramel malt plays a big role in the flavor along with caramelized brown sugar. Hints of dark fruit peek thru along with a nice blast of grassy citrus hops in the finish.

M: Full in body, smooth.

D: Not bad for the style, and the taste is one I enjoy. If you want a Nebraska brew this is the one.
Jan 01, 2009
Photo of baha773
Reviewed by baha773 from Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a nice coppery amber color with a creamy head. Plenty of lacing as you sip on it. This barelywine has some nice hop snappiness to it and isn't overly sweet. Malty sweetness is there, but it's not overpowering. The alcohol hit is subtle and not hot at all. As you drink this beer, you get a nice warming sensation.
Dec 24, 2008
Photo of daledeee
Reviewed by daledeee from Iowa

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I purchased this after dining at the downtown Upstream Brewing Company in downtown Omaha. This was made in 2007 and appeared to have been stored properly. I bought this in June and am enjoying it now.

Pours a very clear rusty brown with a big head. Nose is subtle malt and fruits.

Taste is warm, malty, some hops and caramel.

Not real carbonated bite on the tongue. The flavor could be a little more balanced, but it got much better after the beer was open. The taste is really over the top but not as piny or hoppy as many other barleywines. Lots of malt.
Dec 22, 2008
Photo of Donnie2112
Reviewed by Donnie2112 from Alaska

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Nice reddish dark blonde in color light filmy head retention and lacing

heavy notes of raisins, figs and and brown sugar on the the nose

balanced light notes of raspberries as well as caramel finishs with a slightly piney lemon zest hop finish and a bit of peppery alcohol

full in body, slightly creamy, snappy and lightly astringent on the finish

very drinkable, I would love to have another bottle after a couple of years on this bad boy.
Oct 09, 2008
Photo of barleywinebrewer
Reviewed by barleywinebrewer from New Hampshire

4.01/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
thanks to redhaze for the chance to try this via trade! I'm assuming it's the last batch as there's no release date on the label. corked and caged bottle noting 10.2% abv for this release.

A - nice auburn color, solid long lasting off white billowy head.

S - mild caramel malts, not muc helse.

t - solid caramel malts, toffee, slight hop bitter note

M - full bodied, nicely carbonated, smooth clean finish.

D - quite quaffable, smooth and easy drinking for such a stong beer.

Wow, this is listed as an american barleywine. This batch leans towards english as far as my taste buds go. Oh, and I have another to savor down the road!!!! Defintely worth trying if you have a chance.
Oct 01, 2008
Photo of wcudwight
Reviewed by wcudwight from North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Fugazeme and the baseball cards and beer BIF for the chance to try this beer.
Nice looking red/ruby/orange beer. The color kind of reminds me of leaves in the Fall. Solid 2 finger pillowy and sticky head. Fades and holds at a half inch.
The aroma is very interesting. It's soft yet still complex. Most of all the beer smells good. Toasted rasin bread. Caramel and toffee. Cooked brown sugar.
Lot's of candy sugar in the flavor. Which is interesting to me b/c I like this beer and candy sugar is not a flavor I'm usually fond of. Some citrus hoppiness. The hoppy flavor is sharp but brief. A little bit of "zing" from the alcohol on the tip of the tongue in the finish.
Mouthfeel is full and lush. It kind of coats the mouth.
Strong full bodied beer keeps me to a pint. But it is a tasty beer I'd drink anytime I got the chance and recommend to anyone.
Aug 25, 2008
Photo of Crosling
Reviewed by Crosling from Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Forest fire in the fall in color, with a thin head that fades into a ring. Malt accented nose with lots of dark fruits along with caramel and toffee. Flavor has nice balance and well aged malts. Toffee, caramel, dark chocolate with other flavors of dried fruits. Its a barley wine of great potential, but it needs work.
Jul 04, 2008
Photo of joe1510
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois

4.12/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml
$10
Upstream Brewpub

10.2%

Batch 1000 pours a surprisingly clear glowing ruby with streams of carbonation rising from spots with other spots being dead. A fingers worth of ecru head formed on the pour and fell to a slim cap with a decent ring. The carbonation bubbles seem to keep the ring alive. Leaves patchy lacing here and there on its way down. You can tell the alcohol pulls away the majority of the head on this beer.

Smell is big on the sugary sweet caramel which is basically the steals the show. There is a good amount of fruitiness involved which really adds complexity. Golden raisins, peaches, a bit of pear, and even less apricot. There's a touch of cinnamon in there although I'm not sure where it's coming from. Spicy booziness adds to the layers and ends up creating a very interesting, unique barleywine. The more I smell the more I like this big bold barleywine.

The flavor seems to follow the aroma fairly closely. The golden raisin, pears, and apricot are all caramel drizzled and delicious. The alcohol is big but never gets in the way; instead it adds spiciness and seems to bring out all the rich caramel fruitiness. There isn't much hoppiness in the flavor, more big candy like maltiness, but the bitterness grows as I drink.

A thick heavy body feels right at home with the sweet booziness of this barleywine. It's dense but moves very well over the tongue. The bitterness continues to grow until (halfway through the bottle for me) the tongue is stomped on.

This is a sipper without a doubt and one to enjoy over long periods but that being said it's a beer I could sip for quite a while. Warming, smooth, and delicious!

I would recommend letting this beer warm up to 60 degrees or so. The booziness dies down and the true flavor really pops. This barleywine grew on me as the temperature rose and ended up being an excellent sipper. If you have the chance, pick this up.
Jun 07, 2008
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

3.18/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a clear, mahogany body supporting a small ring of white bubbles.

Smell: Vague, somewhat mild aroma of caramel sauce, booze, and the juice from a half-eaten tray of diced fruit.

Taste: Ah, the sweet taste of caramel malt blended with an apricot fruitiness and taste of oily citrus peel. Peppery booziness. I will say the hop bitterness present is altogether harsh, scattering the maltiness and leaving you with an expected bitter finish. Hm.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: I'll tilt my head, shrug my shoulders, and say it's just "so-so". A bit on the coarse side, but, then again, aren't we all?
May 30, 2008
Photo of swid
Reviewed by swid from Missouri

4.07/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottled September 2006; 9.2% ABV

Upstream Batch 1000 pours a slighly hazy, tan-amber color into my long-stemmed glass. The 1/2" head lingers for a few minutes before dissipating into a soapy ring. Low carbonation, little lacing. The smell of this beer is comprised of two main aromas: an alcoholic, raisin-like sweetness and a resin-y hop bitterness.

The taste of this beer is along the lines of the aroma. The initial flavors detected are sweet: caramel, raisins, and a bit of warming alcohol. A moderate (but not overpowering hop bitterness that is a little citrus-y comes in a bit later. The mouthfeel is both light and sweet, with small amounts of hop resin stickiness. Finishes sweet, with a raisin aftertaste.

All in all, this is good, simply barleywine that, while not the most complex or extreme example of its style, is quite enjoyable.
Nov 17, 2007
Batch 1000 from Upstream Brewing Company - Old Market
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 24 ratings