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Grand Illumination
Alewerks Brewing Company
- From:
- Alewerks Brewing Company
- Virginia, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
Ranked #153 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #15,066 - Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 9.46%
- Reviews:
- 109
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 01, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 20, 2007
- Wants:
- 30
- Gots:
- 53
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ThisWangsChung:
Reviewed by ThisWangsChung from Maryland
4.16/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22 oz bottle (2013 vintage) into a tulip.
A: Pours a clear copper color. The head is a one finger pale yellow shade. Not only is the retention good, but it leaves behind some nice rings of lacing.
S: The hops here seem to be more citrusy than piny. I even want to say they're kind of berry-forward, suggesting this has Mosaic hops. Caramel and toffee malts are present, but thankfully are subdued. Actually, subdued is a good way to describe the general aroma; still decent, though.
T: Holy crap, where did all this blueberry flavor come from? And not the pure Fruity Pebbles you get in, say, Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat, but actual friggen' blueberries. This note hits the palate immediately and I love it. There's no way this isn't brewed with Mosaic - as well as this brew shows off the berry notes, how can't it be? It finishes with some more piny hop flavors, caramel, toffee, and a twinge of alcohol. Just an all-around excellent barleywine.
M: This is relatively light and crisp (for the style), yet still retains well-concealed alcohol. It's not overly dry, either. It does an excellent job of covering up the 10%.
O: I admit, when Bitter Valentine let me down, it made me take pause over this offering. I was dead wrong: this is freaking fantastic. There's just enough 'balance' to display the berry-forward goodness without overpowering the palate. One of my favorite hoppy barleywines to date.
Jan 23, 2014A: Pours a clear copper color. The head is a one finger pale yellow shade. Not only is the retention good, but it leaves behind some nice rings of lacing.
S: The hops here seem to be more citrusy than piny. I even want to say they're kind of berry-forward, suggesting this has Mosaic hops. Caramel and toffee malts are present, but thankfully are subdued. Actually, subdued is a good way to describe the general aroma; still decent, though.
T: Holy crap, where did all this blueberry flavor come from? And not the pure Fruity Pebbles you get in, say, Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat, but actual friggen' blueberries. This note hits the palate immediately and I love it. There's no way this isn't brewed with Mosaic - as well as this brew shows off the berry notes, how can't it be? It finishes with some more piny hop flavors, caramel, toffee, and a twinge of alcohol. Just an all-around excellent barleywine.
M: This is relatively light and crisp (for the style), yet still retains well-concealed alcohol. It's not overly dry, either. It does an excellent job of covering up the 10%.
O: I admit, when Bitter Valentine let me down, it made me take pause over this offering. I was dead wrong: this is freaking fantastic. There's just enough 'balance' to display the berry-forward goodness without overpowering the palate. One of my favorite hoppy barleywines to date.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by yesterdayfaraway from Missouri
3.83/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: pours dark amber color with a film of head that fades. In a the glass it looks like it poured and maybe leaning towards a light rust color.
S: sugar coated raisin purée.
T: the sweetness reminds me of caramel coated raisins.
F: a syrupy feel, medium to light thickness
Mar 01, 2017S: sugar coated raisin purée.
T: the sweetness reminds me of caramel coated raisins.
F: a syrupy feel, medium to light thickness
Rated by Grackos from Florida
3.77/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pretty good but there's much better.
Dec 10, 2016
Grand Illumination from Alewerks Brewing Company
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
254 ratings
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