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Single Batch Series - Barleywine
Sebago Brewing Company
- From:
- Sebago Brewing Company
- United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
- ABV:
- 9.2%
- Score:
- 94
- Avg:
- 4.26 | pDev: 7.98%
- Reviews:
- 70
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 18, 2017
- Added:
- May 01, 2008
- Wants:
- 91
- Gots:
- 30
This beer is a blend of Old World influence and modern day ingredients and technique. Domestic malt and distinctly American hops produce this rich, full bodied ale. On top of it all, this beer was barrel-aged in charred oak bourbon barrels for over eight months. The end result is an unfiltered dark ruby colored ale with very intense aromatics.
60 IBU
60 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by xanok:
Reviewed by xanok from Connecticut
5/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This bottle was a late 2011/early 2012 I think
Bomber poured into my Smuttynose tulip.
A-Light brown, hazy body with moderate, off-white, bubbly head with moderate lacing
S-Lots of bourbony deliciousness. Vanilla and oak and caramel and booze. Hoppiness is existent, but I think a year in the cellar has tamed that a bit. Quite sweet smelling as well.
T-Fairly bourbon forward, despite the year on it. This is a good thing though. This beer is mega-smooth and balanced. The American hops have toned down a bit. The bourbon gives way to a vanilla, toffee, and caramel (among other things) taste that is just fantastic.
M- Medium to low carbonation. Aftertaste dissipates fairly quickly. Smooth as hell though.
O-Just outstanding. Truly a standout beer from an underrated brewery. This barley wine is up there with the Sucabas and the CW BBBWs of the world, probably even better. The next bottle is going to get drank side by side to a Sucaba. I think this one will win out. I hope Sebago makes this one again soon. I can't praise this beer enough.
Mar 09, 2013Bomber poured into my Smuttynose tulip.
A-Light brown, hazy body with moderate, off-white, bubbly head with moderate lacing
S-Lots of bourbony deliciousness. Vanilla and oak and caramel and booze. Hoppiness is existent, but I think a year in the cellar has tamed that a bit. Quite sweet smelling as well.
T-Fairly bourbon forward, despite the year on it. This is a good thing though. This beer is mega-smooth and balanced. The American hops have toned down a bit. The bourbon gives way to a vanilla, toffee, and caramel (among other things) taste that is just fantastic.
M- Medium to low carbonation. Aftertaste dissipates fairly quickly. Smooth as hell though.
O-Just outstanding. Truly a standout beer from an underrated brewery. This barley wine is up there with the Sucabas and the CW BBBWs of the world, probably even better. The next bottle is going to get drank side by side to a Sucaba. I think this one will win out. I hope Sebago makes this one again soon. I can't praise this beer enough.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Flounder57 from Massachusetts
4.39/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Served in a snifter at the Union Brewhouse in Weymouth.
Appearance: A one finger head was poured that reduced to a thin layer. It is a dark crimson color with no vision of anything.
Smell: Caramel, toffee, toasted, roasted, dark fruits, molasses, vanilla, herbal, and warm boozy alcohol.
Taste: Awesome barleywine flavor and bourbon barrel characteristics too. Light bitterness and super smooth warm alcohol.
Mouthfeel: Silky smooth, medium to full bodied, warm alcohol, medium carbonation, and light tingly bitterness.
Overall: Have to admit that this beer has aged well out back at the bar plus bourbon barrel flavor on top of that. Delicious stuff. I look forward to the next glass if it lasts.
Jun 11, 2016Appearance: A one finger head was poured that reduced to a thin layer. It is a dark crimson color with no vision of anything.
Smell: Caramel, toffee, toasted, roasted, dark fruits, molasses, vanilla, herbal, and warm boozy alcohol.
Taste: Awesome barleywine flavor and bourbon barrel characteristics too. Light bitterness and super smooth warm alcohol.
Mouthfeel: Silky smooth, medium to full bodied, warm alcohol, medium carbonation, and light tingly bitterness.
Overall: Have to admit that this beer has aged well out back at the bar plus bourbon barrel flavor on top of that. Delicious stuff. I look forward to the next glass if it lasts.
Reviewed by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts
4.18/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2014 Bottle. Toffee, caramel, brown sugar, dark fruits, vanilla and oak. Smooth. Lower carbination. On the thin side. Dry. Not too sweet. Pretty good.
May 31, 2016Reviewed by Hoppy_Time from Maine
4.21/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.21/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2015 series, 11.8% ABV, Bourbon Barrel Aged
Look: Pours a nice dark copper color with a finger of tan head, lacing is good.
Smell: Smells highly of bourbon and alcohol.
Taste: Starts off with bourbon and alcohol following the nose, then mellows into rich chocolate and caramel notes with a hint of toasted oak.
Feel: Light body for a barrel aged beer, medium carbonation, some alcohol burn, a little dry.
Overall: High bourbon character from the barrel aging, alcohol diminishes over the first few sips, complexities develop as you drink, a fine barleywine.
Feb 02, 2016Look: Pours a nice dark copper color with a finger of tan head, lacing is good.
Smell: Smells highly of bourbon and alcohol.
Taste: Starts off with bourbon and alcohol following the nose, then mellows into rich chocolate and caramel notes with a hint of toasted oak.
Feel: Light body for a barrel aged beer, medium carbonation, some alcohol burn, a little dry.
Overall: High bourbon character from the barrel aging, alcohol diminishes over the first few sips, complexities develop as you drink, a fine barleywine.
Reviewed by bishopdc0 from Maine
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is a very nice barleywine.
On draft at the Portland pub a nice tulip, the beer is deep ruby in the low light almost looks black. The head remains but on the glasses edge pretty good at almost 12%.
The nose is sweet malts bourbon and an almost gram cracker maltyNess very nice.
The taste matches the nose, malt is forward sweet and caremel, a nice sweetNess reveals the oak and vanilla boutbon, very nice. Aso it warms the bourbon better meldd. This is world class
Jan 08, 2016On draft at the Portland pub a nice tulip, the beer is deep ruby in the low light almost looks black. The head remains but on the glasses edge pretty good at almost 12%.
The nose is sweet malts bourbon and an almost gram cracker maltyNess very nice.
The taste matches the nose, malt is forward sweet and caremel, a nice sweetNess reveals the oak and vanilla boutbon, very nice. Aso it warms the bourbon better meldd. This is world class
Reviewed by Boccu from New York
4.13/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours nice rich dark Amber color. Great aroma. Very nice barley wine with a light bourbon throughout it.has an oily feel. Not as complex as most other barley wines.
Dec 28, 2015Reviewed by SomethingClever from Ohio
4.56/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2014 bottle poured into snifter
A: fairly good clarity, brownish red tint not much head but soapy quality to it
S: butterscotch, toffee, vanilla
T: very similar to the nose you can get a rush of hops but it is crushed by the vanilla, toffee quite quickly can taste the alcohol decent amount of heat a little nutty on the end and a little bit of a sourish aftertaste
M: tingly lays on the tongue a bit but not syrupy
O: interesting and impressive the look with that amazing clarity had me thinking this was going to be tasteless but it's amazing love it with the toffee and vanilla the hops are very dialed down or the barrel has overwhelmed them quite impressively except for the little bit of heat this beer is amazing
May 10, 2015A: fairly good clarity, brownish red tint not much head but soapy quality to it
S: butterscotch, toffee, vanilla
T: very similar to the nose you can get a rush of hops but it is crushed by the vanilla, toffee quite quickly can taste the alcohol decent amount of heat a little nutty on the end and a little bit of a sourish aftertaste
M: tingly lays on the tongue a bit but not syrupy
O: interesting and impressive the look with that amazing clarity had me thinking this was going to be tasteless but it's amazing love it with the toffee and vanilla the hops are very dialed down or the barrel has overwhelmed them quite impressively except for the little bit of heat this beer is amazing
Single Batch Series - Barleywine from Sebago Brewing Company
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
157 ratings
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