Mother Of All Storms
Pelican Pub & Brewery

Mother Of All StormsMother Of All Storms
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From:
Pelican Pub & Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
Ranked #12
ABV:
14%
Score:
98
Ranked #300
Avg:
4.45 | pDev: 8.54%
Reviews:
523
Ratings:
2,170
Status:
Active
Rated:
Yesterday at 05:17 PM
Added:
Dec 25, 2008
Wants:
  1,575
Gots:
  645
First Release - November 2008 'The Perfect Storm'
2007 Stormwatcher's Winterfest Barleywine, aged in 1998 Evan Williams Bourbon Barrels.

Second Release - October 2009 'The Perfect Storm'
2008 Stormwatcher's Winterfest Barleywine, aged in 1998 Evan Williams Bourbon Barrels.

***NOTE - Third Release - November 2010 The name was changed to 'Mother of All Storms' for trademark reasons.***

There are many storms out there, all of them perfect in their own way. But there is only one Mother of all Storms and it only happens on the Oregon Coast. Based on Stormwatcher’s Winterfest, our English-Style barleywine, Mother of all Storms spends a year aging in Kentucky bourbon barrels. Now at its peak, Mother of all Storms delivers deep flavors of toasted malt, bourbon and oak. The finish rewards with whispers of vanilla, toffee and caramel. We suggest you hunker down, this beer is best enjoyed with winds in excess of 60mph.
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Available seasonally in 500ml bottles, and on draft in select locations.

IBU: 40
Plato: 32°
Ingredients: Golden Promise Malt, Munich Malt, Melanoidin Malt, Caramel Malt, Torrified Wheat, Magnum Hops, Glacier Hops, Pure Ale Yeast, Pure Coastal Water
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerAdvocate:
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Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

4.33/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
From BeerAdvocate Magazine #73 (Feb 2013):

While it may be English is style it displays a bit of rebellious Americana with the bourbon barrel aged character. Much mellower than previous years, not saying it is any less flavorful but perhaps a bit easy going on the palate. So many layers, very complex and with each sip comes a new nuance to pick out. Exceptional.

STYLE: American Barleywine
ABV: 14.0%
AVAILABILITY: Limited

LOOK: Dark brown, red glow, minimal lace, has legs

SMELL: Wood, toffee, barrel juice, fusel, figgy, sweet, very aromatic

TASTE: Chewy, creamy, full bodied, toffee, toasted wood, vanilla, boozy, rose water, ripe cherries, christmas pudding, brown sugar, hint of spiciness, woody dryness, roasted cocoa nibs, semi-sweet finish

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From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume III, Issue II:

You can hear the head crackle as the remnant fusel oils lower it quickly, not uncommon depending on the freshness of the barrel from spirit to beer. Mahogany darkness in the glass, good clarity when brought to the light. Big bourbon nose from the first whiff, boozy with charred wood and vanilla. Some caramel and ripe fruitiness in the aroma as well. Semi-syrupy, full body; prickly, moderate carbonation. The taste buds scream of bourbon from the first sip--soon after is the Barleywine alcohol with its fruity esters that tag along with the fusel bourbon character. Sweet maltiness plays off of the note of vanilla. Modest hopping, though the alcohol and wood keep any trait from going cloyingly sweet. The wood flavor actually cuts deeper than we thought, but not to the point of puckering, just at a perfect level. Finishes with some residual sweetness, peppery alcohol and a smack of wood.

Nothing subtle about this beer. If you are going to name a beer "The Perfect Storm," it better live up to it, and Pelican without a doubt came through. Beer geeks, hunt this one down.
Sep 10, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of Luscious_Malfoy
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
poured from a 500mL bottle into a levante brewing snifter. pours a lighter brown but gathers in the glass deeper brown with a thin layer of shiny brown foam that recedes into nothing. light bourbon, toffee, dark fruits, vanilla and dark bread. taste follows with more bourbon as it warms than the nose would lead you to believe. thick, syrupy mouthfeel. super good. very english barleywine with the malt being in the forefront. the bourbon and oak appear more as it warms.
Yesterday at 05:17 PM
 
Rated: 4.47 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Feb 24, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by JamesLeung from Florida

Feb 07, 2024
 
Rated: 4.31 by Nyoder

Jan 29, 2024
 
Rated: 4.46 by MJSFS from Florida

Nov 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.31 by BSW from California

Aug 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

May 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.37 by Blogjackets from Ohio

Mar 27, 2023
Photo of UWDAWG
Reviewed by UWDAWG from Washington

4.59/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2020 vintage:

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a snifter.

Look- Ruby brown, sudsy medium brown head, opaque, visible particulate at edges, extremely below average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Toffee, bourbon, oak, vanilla, medium strength of scent.

Taste- Molasses, toffee, bourbon, oak, vanilla, boozy, sweet, very high strength of flavor.

Feel- Between medium and full body, highly mouth warming, low bitterness, boozy, below average carbonation, syrup like, mildly creamy, highly mouth coating, sweet.

Overall- Look was ruby brown with well below average head retention and lacing. Bouquet had a good mix of toffee, bourbon, oak and vanilla with medium strength. The flavors of this beer absolutely punched me in the mouth with strength. It had a very complex and pleasant flavor profile that showcased molasses, toffee, bourbon, oak and vanilla. The feel was also complex with plenty of mouth coating/warming properties that lead to a great consistency. Overall this beer provided a wonderful drinking experience.
Feb 25, 2023
Photo of M-Fox24
Reviewed by M-Fox24 from New Jersey

4.31/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: A deep to thickset tone on Raven per the decant, while highlighting an array on gunmetal, before addressing an old burgundy cast. Accompanied by, a blurredness that’s eased in the move(s) towards an above – serene – perspicuity. The nucleation is minimal over the discharge, which is principled to provide a shallow – tawny – collar, as the brim finely hems under the ¼ inch. Due to the fact, agitation is applied on the protected suds to encourage an engraving point on the quick/delicate webs, while viscosity offers slow-dripping fingers in strides

S: Malt sets the tone with an involved intensity, as the casks caress carefully. The recordings pursue surgarcane cola to offshoot Monin, while denoting toffee near buckwheat, aside the blackstrap qualities. Moreover, leathery raisins atop prunes and figs, which get fondued thru caramel, when the spices populate a foundation around anise at Cedrinca. Oak insinuations glean a durable popularity among tannin gifts, which is promoted at an hourly rate, while the frame administers/broadens the dry & sweet tones. In this sense, the barrel element proficiently addresses the lipids inside the wood, and conveys a hint to coconut, when advancing the oak stave presence. This movement also delivers a relaxed receptivity to acetates, as the barrel structure continually works alongside the malt facets. Here, a propensity to hammer in cherry cordials at a time allowing alertness, for televising complex polymers by vanillin. The ≥70°F step offers a civil charring on Kentish Huffkins, while smoky mountain taffy neighbors dried licorice roots. Successively, encircling parched fruits with a partiality on red, as tarry calfskins position an eternal cessation

T: The culmination on hops is equitably masked, by the forbearing malt drivers. Chiefly, Golden Promise with wavering complexities behind Munich, Melanoidin, and Caramel. A profiling that delivers on strong, malty rich passages covering toasted nuts, besides honeycomb bread & a warming caramelization on Toffee Ettes. Even so, the hop impact does provide a calm bittering benefit to the malt(s) influence, while furthering the wooded subtexts ascribing the barrel(s) essence. Additionally, a lingering backend on citrus yields, for tackling sundried orange peels, just under the earthy herbs. The output is predominant on old-time molasses, which is utilized as a dried fruit coating per raisins + the arid state on plums via prunes, while assorted currants prospect below. In steps, a layer towards Cracked Cacao, by way of Hemicelluloses, which drives bourbon on cherry – cola – liquorice, before browning sugar to an inflamed comfort. Clocked sips include mulling the chalky tannins, from a medium platform, while insinuating camber wear along cherry oak baccy. Albeit, a softer density than the whiffs string along, yet a concealed growth that benefits the hour(s) accordingly. Those hours approach a pleasant aridness on neat cognac, for cuing a sophistication on bruised produce, while symbolizing an arson crime to old villas. An untarnished growth ≥ 4hrs/78°F, where the nuances lie in the wooded cask structure, seeing a thick phenolic aldehyde ad-lib. That is to say, an eugenol echo on stale wheat + English taffy, when delivering ancient shoe laces & beaten haversacks over bourbon, while pitching caramel on dead fruit. A cessation that shifts from a piped leaf to an unsealed/drenched dip, before remarking on the (scents) calfskin pull

M: A silky-smooth sharpness to the biting heat, which planes a late velvety mannerism. Nonetheless, a flammable presence that’s not so much forgiving in the later stages, yet a milky cooperation to keep warmth in check. The carbonation is neatly sawed-off to favor the underpinnings, where the conditioning frames to principally benefit. Notwithstanding, an attenuated tidiness to the dry reverberations

O: Embodies the malts expertly, as the barrel perception grows to a more known maturity. Individually, a shadowed hop effect that nears neglection, in the bittering application. That effect is not a complete afterthought, considering the aids to kick the tannin derived postscripts: the coriaceous dry tailpieces
Dec 18, 2022
Photo of mushroomcloud
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas

4.36/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2021 vintage. Opened 9-16-22.
1/4" sand colored head that hangs as a ring and island on a dark brown body. Rich nose of big wood, dark fruit, and a diesely note. Lots of brown sugar and vanilla. big malty beast with a boozy finish...not super hot even at 14%. Very smooth and balanced with a unique zing on the tongue in the finish. Outstanding.
Sep 17, 2022
Photo of eric5bellies
Reviewed by eric5bellies from Australia

4.57/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2010 Vintage and drank with my good friend Simon. Have had this sitting in the wine fridge for a very long time.
A - Pours the classic dark cola colour with a Beige head that dies quickly(and understandably)
S - OK here is where this beer starts to impress. Sweet burnt sugar caramel, toffee and dark chocolate
T - Massive toffee and caramel up front, with an almost Ice cream flavour the finish is a massive boozy kick from the bourbon and wood. Excellent
M - Chewy full body and surprisingly medium carbonation which is pretty close to perfect.
O - I'd love to taste a fresh one because I'd bet my house that it would not be as good as this. Aroma, Taste and Body pretty much perfect
Aug 28, 2022
Photo of Spade
Reviewed by Spade from Pennsylvania

4.52/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2021 bottle. Strong bourbon flavor with hints of oak and vanilla. Minimal carbonation and the hops are completely buried in the malty sweetness. Nearly perfect.
Jun 24, 2022
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.67/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
500 ml bottle, 2021 release. Poured into snifter glass at cellar temperature.

Pours very dark chesnut brown with some garnet highlights. Thick tan colored head. Pretty good head retention. Wonderful aroma of soft oak, rich boozy vanilla, toffee, and caramel. Maybe a touch of fig. Similarly complex taste, not too sweet, and some warming alcohol in the finish. Smooth mouthfeel with a sticky finish.
May 24, 2022
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.3/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Deep, dark brown body; thin, wispy head, light tan color, creamy and lasting; thin, sustained sheets of foam drape down the glass. Mild chocolate and wood scent; mild booziness. Light cocoa and booze flavor; malty; cocoa; strong bitterness; phenols. Heavy body; alcohol burn and heat.

This is a whopper of a barleywine. Malty - yes. Boozy - yes. Off-kilter balance yet still desirable - yes. Yep, a fine, powerful barrel aged ale.

Pouring temperature: 49 °F; bottling data: 2021
Apr 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4.12 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Mar 26, 2022
 
Rated: 4.54 by o29 from Texas

Mar 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.23 by smithj4 from New York

Feb 25, 2022
 
Rated: 4.44 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin

Jan 17, 2022
Mother Of All Storms from Pelican Pub & Brewery
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 2170 ratings