Cereal Killer
Arcadia Brewing Company

Cereal KillerCereal Killer
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From:
Arcadia Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 12.6%
Reviews:
286
Ratings:
615
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 10, 2020
Added:
Oct 26, 2006
Wants:
  41
Gots:
  95
Brewed in the tradition of English-style barley wines, Cereal Killer offers an explosion of full-bodied, liquid goodness. Robust malty flavors converge with caramel, toffee, molasses and dark fruit notes to produce a remarkably complex and palate-pleasing beer. Its intense malt character is complemented by a subtle citrus finish from the crystal hops. With cellar-aging, Cereal Killer's flavor evolves further, developing a sherry-like aroma and flavor similar to a cask-aged port. Winner of the Silver Medal for Barley Wine Style Ale at the 2007 GABF.
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Photo of WunderLlama
Reviewed by WunderLlama from Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Received from @foundersasp in BIF#12

Waxed and capped bottle ...almost too pretty to open....almost

Poured into a snifter, thin taupe layer immediately shrinks to a ring over dark cola brown liquid

Very fragrant aroma of raisins, figs and dark fruits form the pour. Bourbon aroma in the glass , licorice, leather, malts, tobacco

Taste is dark fruits, raisins, figs, light sherry taste, toffee notes as it warms

Chewy , no alcohol heat burn , 12% abv well hidden, sherry like after taste lingers, semi dry finish

Good beer
Oct 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by rare_bird from Michigan

Dec 03, 2019
Photo of 2beerdogs
Reviewed by 2beerdogs from California

3.81/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to @foundersasap. Rex's in the NBS BIF #9
Garnet tinged amber in hue. Sandy head, decent retention. As it settles the foam changes to a milky cap. Scattered lacing.
Smell begins with a slightly boozy warm delivery of buckwheat, caramel, toffee, dates, figs, and a subtle floral citrus note. Really has some depth here.
Flavor follows with the buckwheat, caramel and toffee sweetness. Then the deep dark fruity notes come through:fig and date. As I settle into it, I get a slight boozy sweetness akin to a port, but it's not really warm with alcohol, I know that seems oxymoronic, but...The sweetness is tamed on the backend by a nuanced partnership of drying earthiness and orange zest.
Mouthfeel is medium, slightly slick, and moderately carbonated. Slight alcohol heat.
Overall, a very solid English style barleywine.
May 06, 2019
Photo of TheBierdimpfe
Reviewed by TheBierdimpfe from Canada (QC)

4.12/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Medium: Capped, snifter glass.
Opacity: Veiled and deep hazy, good activity.
Color: Dark brown with an orange hue.
Head: Soft creamy brown 1 finger.
Legs: Average but strong swirl reaction.
Smell: Prunes/Brown sugar/Vanilla.
Taste: Dates/Toffee/Molasses.
Feel: Dark esters/Spicy/Leafy/Woody.
Body: Medium creamy and smooth, kinda fluffy too.
Carbonation: A bit crispy at first, gets moderate.
Overall: Alcohol is incredibly well hidden, heavily treacherous. Pleasant warming brew. Excellent quality craft, a bit syrupy but the bitterness balance it out.

Visual 7/10 - Flavors 8.5/10 - Sensations 8.5/10 - Balance 8/10 -
Freshness 5/10 - Intensity 7/10 - Complexity 8/10 - Appreciation 8.5/10
Apr 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Mar 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.66 by Samact from Vermont

Jan 07, 2019
Photo of Scarcelli1
Rated by Scarcelli1 from Illinois

3.36/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Jan 05, 2019
Photo of Codewizard
Reviewed by Codewizard from Michigan

2.68/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.75
Look: Very clear, amber/brownish, fine but good head that lasts.

Smell: Slightly boozie reminds me a lot of wine, without the sweet or sour smell.

Taste: bready, slightly salty. A strong finish, with the carbonation lasting a while in your mouth.

Mouthfeel:A lot lighter bodied than I expected compared to the color, slight carbonation.

Overall: Not my thing, really reminds me of a light version of Dragons milk.
Aug 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.86 by robotic_being from Illinois

Jul 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.64 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Jul 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.94 by HungarianCount from California

Jul 04, 2018
Photo of chitoryu12
Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida

3.56/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Look: Bubbly crystal amber with a thick tan head.

Smell: Faint bready malt.

Taste: The same malt flavor, with a huge alcohol punch.

Mouthfeel: Thick and slightly carbonated.

Overall: While great for getting drunk, the flavors lack the strength to get past the alcohol content.
Jun 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Feb 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Feb 11, 2018
Photo of BB1313
Reviewed by BB1313 from Ohio

3.09/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
Bottled on 8/31/17. 12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours a glowing amber with ruby red hues; bubbles racing upwards; nice creamy light khaki head that sticks around leaving great thick retention and sticky lacing. The aromas are pretty mild and faint. Malts are there with some floral notes. The flavors are bitter. Finishes pretty dry. Black cherries are there along with some other dark fruits. Some caramel and toffee in the mix. Malts do their thing. Mild alcohol notes, but the alcohol is ultimately well hidden. Mouthfeel is very nice. It's full-bodied with moderate to active carbonation. It's very fluffy and slightly creamy.

This is an interesting barleywine. It's definitely unique. I'm personally not feeling it, but it's still a pretty clean brew. It's not a bad beer, it's just not something I really enjoyed. I understand why this is something that alot of people would enjoy. It just comes down to preference.
Dec 17, 2017
 
Rated: 4.54 by juicebox from Kentucky

Jul 22, 2017
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

4.09/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a translucent deep hue of ruby-red, almost like a hearty cranberry juice, except up top foams two fingers of butter-colored head. Aroma is teeming with sugary malt characteristics. Notes of fig, plum, caramel all project a sweet aroma over an earthy barley, and bready malt base. Lactose notes float around throughout the aroma. Flavor profile is very similar, with fig, plum, and caramel all along the initial blast of flavors. The sweet malt characteristics fade into earthy barley and malts with a lactose finish - almost like sipping the last drops of milk out of the bowl after eating a cereal from the health food store. Mouth feel is medium-thick with a slight graininess to the texture. Overall, this beer packs a wallop of malty presence, but is done in a dynamic that never feels forced. The sweet beginning with the earthy finish compliment each other well, never dragging any bitterness along the way.

Served in a 12oz snifter.
Mar 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by mmilyko from Nevada

Feb 24, 2017
Photo of dbl_delta
Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania

3.37/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Undated bottle into pint glass. Pours a hazy brownish-amber, with a fine light tan head. Initial impression is very strong dark fruits, with caramel and molasses playing a much-diminished role. Mouthfeel is thick and syrupy. Alcohol is front and center - might mellow out with age. Finish is cloyingly fruity and sweet. This is a little over the top for my tastes.
Feb 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by BarrelAgedG from California

Feb 05, 2017
Cereal Killer from Arcadia Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 615 ratings