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Old Bad Cat Barleywine 2005
Wolf Brewing Company
- From:
- Wolf Brewing Company
- British Columbia, Canada
- Style:
- English Barleywine
- ABV:
- 10.5%
- Score:
- Needs more ratings
- Avg:
- 4.03 | pDev: 8.93%
- Reviews:
- 9
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 23, 2008
- Added:
- Dec 28, 2005
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 0
Aged in bourbon barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by Crosling:
Reviewed by Crosling from Colorado
4.18/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.18/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Orange color with a full head. Nice malty accented nose. Loads of vanilla and sweet fruits, toffee, caramel, cake icing, orange and tangerine. Awfully complex, malty and creamy. Balanced in the oak aging. Full and concentrated. Impressively flavorful. An awfully fine beverage.
Jun 23, 2008More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas
3.31/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.31/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Very clear, deep amber with reddish highlights and a very light tan head. Excellent head retention with lots of beautiful, chunky lacing. Cakey aroma, some caramel and toffee, vanilla, very buttery and a bit cheesy. The flavour was really buttery with some caramel and mild bitterness. A little bready too, some dates as well. Full bodied with moderate carbonation, a little less refined in texture than the 2004 but still quite nice. I found this year's to be far too buttery. The addition of a little cheesiness didn't work well for me either.
Apr 06, 2007Reviewed by grub from Canada (ON)
3.91/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
DrJay was nice enough to share this one. thanks jay!
22oz bottle, reviewed side by side with the 2004 vintage.
pours deep reddish copper in colour with a big very dense fine white head. the head drops fairly quick and leaves lots of lace.
aroma is nice. fresh, with a bit of funk. touch of caramel. bit of alcohol. hint of toffee. seems younger and unrefined than the 2004, but the touch of funk makes it feel like a different recipe too.
taste is better than i thought it would be from the aroma. nice caramel and a bit of bready malt. bit of toffee. light sweetness. less refined and younger than the 2004, but still quite good.
mouthfeel is good. slightly higher carbonation than the 2004 version. good body.
drinkability is good. not quite as balanced and mellow as the 2004, but still quite good.
Mar 26, 200722oz bottle, reviewed side by side with the 2004 vintage.
pours deep reddish copper in colour with a big very dense fine white head. the head drops fairly quick and leaves lots of lace.
aroma is nice. fresh, with a bit of funk. touch of caramel. bit of alcohol. hint of toffee. seems younger and unrefined than the 2004, but the touch of funk makes it feel like a different recipe too.
taste is better than i thought it would be from the aroma. nice caramel and a bit of bready malt. bit of toffee. light sweetness. less refined and younger than the 2004, but still quite good.
mouthfeel is good. slightly higher carbonation than the 2004 version. good body.
drinkability is good. not quite as balanced and mellow as the 2004, but still quite good.
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)
3.91/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Big thanks to BC native Viggo for this one. 2005 bomber, carefully aged a good year and a bit by this point. A second Canadian barley-wine of the evening.
Carbonation appears well intact; an anxious head would rise quickly, level off, and stay put. Big white bubbles over sunset orange coloured body. My finger shows up only as a shadow on the other side of my tulip stem. Plenty of alcohol in the aroma over top of a complicated blend of flavours fill the nose. A twisted vanilla note, distinctive sour milk or a buttery toffee. An incredibly dense and filling body for the style. A lot of strong yeast especially nearing the finish. Held up more than well, an easy candidate for aging. Nice bourbon like flavour profile. Flavours of banana standout. A caramelized malt with some of the barrel aging evident. Distinctively caramel on the finish. Doesn't drink like 10.5% exactly, but still works as a great sipper, especially on this cold, snow-filled January evening.
Thanks Eric!
Jan 17, 2007Carbonation appears well intact; an anxious head would rise quickly, level off, and stay put. Big white bubbles over sunset orange coloured body. My finger shows up only as a shadow on the other side of my tulip stem. Plenty of alcohol in the aroma over top of a complicated blend of flavours fill the nose. A twisted vanilla note, distinctive sour milk or a buttery toffee. An incredibly dense and filling body for the style. A lot of strong yeast especially nearing the finish. Held up more than well, an easy candidate for aging. Nice bourbon like flavour profile. Flavours of banana standout. A caramelized malt with some of the barrel aging evident. Distinctively caramel on the finish. Doesn't drink like 10.5% exactly, but still works as a great sipper, especially on this cold, snow-filled January evening.
Thanks Eric!
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)
3.78/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.78/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
I picked this up at the brewery (when it was released around Christmas). They recommended cellaring for 6 months... so here it is:
A: Pours with a bunch of fluffy, slightly off-white head. VERY impressive for a barley wine! There's not a lot of retention, but it leaves a really nice lace. Liquid is very clear, with a little copper/caramel colour.
S: I LOVE bourbon barrel conditioning! (I always think it's like candy for adults). Plenty of bourbon & toffee/caramel in the nose, with a little sulfur & earth; a slight hint of cotton-candy-like fruity esters. The aroma is really great.
T: Initially it seemed overly sweet, but once my tastebuds adjusted, the bitterness kicked in, bringing it into balance. Alcohol is quite assertive. I think it would benefit from some more age... it seems a little sharp/harsh, and not very well rounded/integrated. Plenty of piney hop flavour, fairlyh American-like, though there is a slight hint of fruity esters, which you typically don't find on this side of the pond. Sweet caramel & toffee flavours, presumably from a fairly light crystal malt. I think it's predominantly pale malt though... of the North American variety.
M: Very well attenuated, though strangely, the moderate body is a little syrupy, but also a little dry. Carbonation is quite high for the style.
D: Very enticing, but bomber's are big! I'll save a little in the fridge for tomorrow (maybe it'll de-gas a little too).
Jun 18, 2006A: Pours with a bunch of fluffy, slightly off-white head. VERY impressive for a barley wine! There's not a lot of retention, but it leaves a really nice lace. Liquid is very clear, with a little copper/caramel colour.
S: I LOVE bourbon barrel conditioning! (I always think it's like candy for adults). Plenty of bourbon & toffee/caramel in the nose, with a little sulfur & earth; a slight hint of cotton-candy-like fruity esters. The aroma is really great.
T: Initially it seemed overly sweet, but once my tastebuds adjusted, the bitterness kicked in, bringing it into balance. Alcohol is quite assertive. I think it would benefit from some more age... it seems a little sharp/harsh, and not very well rounded/integrated. Plenty of piney hop flavour, fairlyh American-like, though there is a slight hint of fruity esters, which you typically don't find on this side of the pond. Sweet caramel & toffee flavours, presumably from a fairly light crystal malt. I think it's predominantly pale malt though... of the North American variety.
M: Very well attenuated, though strangely, the moderate body is a little syrupy, but also a little dry. Carbonation is quite high for the style.
D: Very enticing, but bomber's are big! I'll save a little in the fridge for tomorrow (maybe it'll de-gas a little too).
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)
4.15/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.15/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Beautiful beige in glass with foamy long-lasting head. Abundant creaminess and amazing mouthfeel. Taste like a fresh draft. Bourbon and barleywine tastes significant with good C hop citrus taste. Nice malt and toffee. So drinkable you ram right through and do not feel the 10.5% Great for sharing.
A masterpiece for its style-thanks Viggo.
Mar 12, 2006A masterpiece for its style-thanks Viggo.
Reviewed by sitbooboosit from Canada (BC)
4.02/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
The bottle says it's 10.5% and aged in bourbon casks.
Pours a nice ruby red/copper colour. the head foams up and the disappears, but does leave some nice lacing.
Has a strong carmel, treacle like aroma to it. maybe the slightest hint of some EK Goldings..maybe.
very carmely, nice malt flavours, heavy crystal? could use a good injection of hops, but to a point that's personal preference.
It is a bit cloying and would find it too much if it wasn't for it being well carbonated.
over all a nice beer i'd wish i'd bought more.
Jan 29, 2006Pours a nice ruby red/copper colour. the head foams up and the disappears, but does leave some nice lacing.
Has a strong carmel, treacle like aroma to it. maybe the slightest hint of some EK Goldings..maybe.
very carmely, nice malt flavours, heavy crystal? could use a good injection of hops, but to a point that's personal preference.
It is a bit cloying and would find it too much if it wasn't for it being well carbonated.
over all a nice beer i'd wish i'd bought more.
Reviewed by BDTyre from Canada (BC)
4.7/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.7/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Definitely a sipping beer.
Two complaints: a tad high on the carbonation and a bit too syrupy.
On to the good points: A beautiful reddy-orange colour with an almost pure white head that fluffs up but shrinks fairly quickly. Smells of toffee, vanilla, mixed fruits and strong woody and bourbon essences. Almost like a wine, but not quite. Hints of hops and malts. Very sweet and pleasant. Definite traces of alcohol.
Vanilla and oak tastes, with bourbon hints and a strong alcohol presence as it warms. Malts and toffee are detectable, as are some fruit-hops flavours. A good mix of flavours, with a perfect balance of sweet vanilla and toffee flavours and alcohol bitterness.
I've never a bad thing to say about Fat Cat, and this is by far my favourite brew. I only wish I had bought more than two bottles.
Jan 05, 2006Two complaints: a tad high on the carbonation and a bit too syrupy.
On to the good points: A beautiful reddy-orange colour with an almost pure white head that fluffs up but shrinks fairly quickly. Smells of toffee, vanilla, mixed fruits and strong woody and bourbon essences. Almost like a wine, but not quite. Hints of hops and malts. Very sweet and pleasant. Definite traces of alcohol.
Vanilla and oak tastes, with bourbon hints and a strong alcohol presence as it warms. Malts and toffee are detectable, as are some fruit-hops flavours. A good mix of flavours, with a perfect balance of sweet vanilla and toffee flavours and alcohol bitterness.
I've never a bad thing to say about Fat Cat, and this is by far my favourite brew. I only wish I had bought more than two bottles.
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)
4.28/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.28/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Vintage 2005 aged in Bourbon barrels. Pours a clear orange, with some reddish hues, medium sized off white head forms, settles quick to a thin layer with a nice ring around the glass and spotty lace, also leaves some nice rings all the way around the glass, looks fantastic. Smell is sweet, really buttery caramel, some alcohol, perfect amount of Bourbon was picked up, just a hint, with a nice nuttiness and some vanilla from the oak. Taste is powerful, lots of caramel and vanilla, oakiness, bourbon, some floral hops come through in the end, a decent amount of bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is full bodied, the carbonation is a little too high I think, the alcohol heat as it goes down. This is real nice stuff, the Bourbon barrel adds a lot of complexity. This is definately a beer to be put down for quite a few years. Will review the 2004 soon.
Update: Been sipping this one for almost 3 hours now, and it still tastes great. The carbonation is a little too aggressive at first, so some downtime really helps out.
Dec 28, 2005Update: Been sipping this one for almost 3 hours now, and it still tastes great. The carbonation is a little too aggressive at first, so some downtime really helps out.
Old Bad Cat Barleywine 2005 from Wolf Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.03 out of
5 with
9 ratings
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