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Barleywine
Pyramid Breweries, Inc.
- From:
- Pyramid Breweries, Inc.
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
- ABV:
- 10.5%
- Score:
- 75
- Avg:
- 3.14 | pDev: 22.29%
- Reviews:
- 16
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 08, 2018
- Added:
- Aug 19, 2012
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
Our Barleywine is a rich and malty interpretation of the classic style, balancing layers of herbaceous hops with sweet malt flavors.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by joemcgrath27:
Reviewed by joemcgrath27 from Canada (AB)
3.08/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.08/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Extremely surprised to see a barleywine as part of a 12-mixer pack, but i'll take it
A - a swampy purple brown, short tan head dissipated to a thin cover leaving a decent lace ring
S - a syrupy sweet aroma, but followed by a start chemical type aroma with some booziness, its not a bad smell but definitely surprising
T - similar to the nose with ample nuttiness, but still has this undertone of a cleaning product thing going on that is just strange
M - heavy and sticky, a tad flat, just a touch of alcohol bite, finishes full
O - something about this just didn't quite work for me, not bad but not a great example of the style
Oct 21, 2012A - a swampy purple brown, short tan head dissipated to a thin cover leaving a decent lace ring
S - a syrupy sweet aroma, but followed by a start chemical type aroma with some booziness, its not a bad smell but definitely surprising
T - similar to the nose with ample nuttiness, but still has this undertone of a cleaning product thing going on that is just strange
M - heavy and sticky, a tad flat, just a touch of alcohol bite, finishes full
O - something about this just didn't quite work for me, not bad but not a great example of the style
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.3/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.3/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Bottle from Toby's cellar. This one hasn't seen the light of day for a while. Dark amber with a small head. Aroma is malts and root beer barrels. Taste is sweet, then malty. Held up pretty well for a 10 year old bottle
Jan 08, 2018Reviewed by Brenden from Ohio
3.08/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.08/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Heaviness sans finesse, as exemplified by this beer, begins with the look: a sticky, thick and heavy bruised plum color layered by tan foam that rests pretty still but does eke out some spotting onto the glass.
Heavy and sweet, sugared and thick aromas pour out: burnt caramel, blackstrap, lots of dark fruits and ethanolic alcohol with a bit of a somewhat medicinal element as well.
The herb is very hard to draw out; the malts just overpower it. The various components come together better in the flavor, but slightly. All the sweetness and heaviness is there, but malty grains provide a little support for it, and a hint of something dry keeps it more balanced than the aroma. The dark fruits come out most strongly and ride all the way to the finish.
Despite what it would seem, it's actually a bit too thin and, while it shouldn't be very crisp, the carbonation and bite is too heavy. Some smoothness is managed, but it flattens too much.
Feb 26, 2014Heavy and sweet, sugared and thick aromas pour out: burnt caramel, blackstrap, lots of dark fruits and ethanolic alcohol with a bit of a somewhat medicinal element as well.
The herb is very hard to draw out; the malts just overpower it. The various components come together better in the flavor, but slightly. All the sweetness and heaviness is there, but malty grains provide a little support for it, and a hint of something dry keeps it more balanced than the aroma. The dark fruits come out most strongly and ride all the way to the finish.
Despite what it would seem, it's actually a bit too thin and, while it shouldn't be very crisp, the carbonation and bite is too heavy. Some smoothness is managed, but it flattens too much.
Reviewed by FosterJM from California
2.83/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
2.83/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
1711th Review on BA
Draft to Snifter
@Pyramid Alehouse, Walnut Creek, CA
App- When this came to the table. It was as still as plum juice. About the same color as well. A dirty purple/red/brown color. Fairly dense with no head and bubbles. No cling or lace either.
Smell- This was a purely artificial smell to me. A bit of plums, cherries and sugars. Didnt really have that barley wine balance between malts/hops either. Bordered on cloying as well.
Taste- This was at best an average beer. I havent had much luck with Pyramid but wanted something new. This was a bit malty with an over the top fruit flavor that was unbalanced and sugary sweet to mask the ABV.
Mouth- Way too thin on the body and way too thick on the carbonation. Like a prune juice feel to it. Sugary, fruits and malts. Just all over the place.
Drink- Meh. Ill pass on a bottle if I ever see one. Once was enough for me.
Jan 27, 2013Draft to Snifter
@Pyramid Alehouse, Walnut Creek, CA
App- When this came to the table. It was as still as plum juice. About the same color as well. A dirty purple/red/brown color. Fairly dense with no head and bubbles. No cling or lace either.
Smell- This was a purely artificial smell to me. A bit of plums, cherries and sugars. Didnt really have that barley wine balance between malts/hops either. Bordered on cloying as well.
Taste- This was at best an average beer. I havent had much luck with Pyramid but wanted something new. This was a bit malty with an over the top fruit flavor that was unbalanced and sugary sweet to mask the ABV.
Mouth- Way too thin on the body and way too thick on the carbonation. Like a prune juice feel to it. Sugary, fruits and malts. Just all over the place.
Drink- Meh. Ill pass on a bottle if I ever see one. Once was enough for me.
Reviewed by TheMarkE from California
2.61/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.61/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Meh. The cloying smell is almost overwhelming, attacking you with caramel, molasses, and I’m not sure what else. The taste is about the same. Nothing subtle here, just a full out attack on your senses. Very sweet, very sticky. Maybe you don’t notice after downing a couple of this 10.5% ABV brute. I did see one review suggesting to mix it with the IPA, I may have to try that.
Jan 10, 2013Reviewed by matjack85 from Illinois
2.85/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.85/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Usually only available in their Fall assortment package, I found this single 12oz bottle in the build-your-own six pack section for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL. It has a best before date of 12/20/12 on the neck label and this is already January of '13, so I figured I better get to drinking it.
The beer poured a plain brown color with a 1½-finder light sandy brown head. The head lasted about a minute and lacing was poor - just a few small spots that slid down the glass quickly.
Huge malty molasses smell.
Big molasses malt flavor. So much for barleywines being hop dominated. This one is all malt. There is some earthy hop bitterness in here, but for the most part the flavor is all malt, dark fruits, and a touch of warming alcohol.
Smooth and thick - almost syrupy. Definitely full bodied with moderate carbonation.
Not your typical barleywine, and not a favorite of mine.
Jan 06, 2013The beer poured a plain brown color with a 1½-finder light sandy brown head. The head lasted about a minute and lacing was poor - just a few small spots that slid down the glass quickly.
Huge malty molasses smell.
Big molasses malt flavor. So much for barleywines being hop dominated. This one is all malt. There is some earthy hop bitterness in here, but for the most part the flavor is all malt, dark fruits, and a touch of warming alcohol.
Smooth and thick - almost syrupy. Definitely full bodied with moderate carbonation.
Not your typical barleywine, and not a favorite of mine.
Reviewed by ArrogantB from Colorado
3.28/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.28/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Brown color, minimal head. Aroma is very strong molasses, sweetness, I thought it was better than average. The flavor was more molasses but also a bit of tobacco. My buddy said it was like the spit from chewing tobacco. I wouldn't buy this but it wasn't disgusting, just an average barleywine.
Dec 17, 2012Reviewed by TheSixthRing from California
3.37/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.37/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance - Pours a deep, dark amber brown with a sandstone colored finger width head. Average retention. The lacing is spotty with little stick.
Smell - Predominantly sweet aroma, with notes of black cherry, raisin, molasses, rum and just a hint of caramel.
Taste - Follows the nose, with sweet malt character making up the bulk of the flavor profile. Dark caramel, hints of rum and raisin, subtle coffee notes. Finsihes sweet, with little balance.
Mouthfeel - Full bodied and syrupy. Sticks on the lips. Moderate carbonation.
Overall - A fairly average barelywine. Not quite as bad as I expected, and its shows fair drinkability. Too sweet with little bitterness for my taste, but it's loads better than the Mendocino BW I had recently.
Nov 19, 2012Smell - Predominantly sweet aroma, with notes of black cherry, raisin, molasses, rum and just a hint of caramel.
Taste - Follows the nose, with sweet malt character making up the bulk of the flavor profile. Dark caramel, hints of rum and raisin, subtle coffee notes. Finsihes sweet, with little balance.
Mouthfeel - Full bodied and syrupy. Sticks on the lips. Moderate carbonation.
Overall - A fairly average barelywine. Not quite as bad as I expected, and its shows fair drinkability. Too sweet with little bitterness for my taste, but it's loads better than the Mendocino BW I had recently.
Barleywine from Pyramid Breweries, Inc.
Beer rating:
75 out of
100 with
38 ratings
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