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Oak Aged Barleywine
The Schlafly Tap Room
- From:
- The Schlafly Tap Room
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
Ranked #167 - ABV:
- 10.2%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #13,465 - Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 12.69%
- Reviews:
- 283
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jun 18, 2023
- Added:
- Nov 22, 2002
- Wants:
- 46
- Gots:
- 102
Our Oak Aged Barleywine has a deep copper color and an intense malt flavor balanced by assertive hops. Fermentation with American ale yeast allows the caramel malt to shine. We age the beer on new, medium toast Missouri Oak to enhance its complexity and to develop its smooth, luscious character.
Barleywine is a classic English-style hearty ale. The term refers to a beer with the potency of wine and is often vintage-dated.
This beer will continue to age well in a cool dark place for several years, but it is ready to enjoy now.
40 IBU
Barleywine is a classic English-style hearty ale. The term refers to a beer with the potency of wine and is often vintage-dated.
This beer will continue to age well in a cool dark place for several years, but it is ready to enjoy now.
40 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by CharlatanSin:
Reviewed by CharlatanSin from Connecticut
3.35/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.35/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Ooh...fancy. Poured from a 750ml bottle that came in a box into the old Hold Steady pint glass. This is the 2008 edition.
Appearance: A blending of orange, red and brown. It pours with a super fizzy one finger head that goes away really fast.
Smell: The booze almost knocks me off my feet. It's extremely boozy, with some fruit as it warms.
Taste: Extraordinarily boozy, which overwhelms everything else. It's akin to a decent bourbon. After a few sips to get used to the alcohol taste, that oaky bourbon taste is still front and center, but I can also pick up a good amount of vanilla and a bit of plum, with some fruity hops on the back end. The heavy booze taste makes it all a search mission, though.
Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, a bit syrupy for my taste.
Drinkability/Overall: I like the boozy taste, I really do. But it's a bit much. I split the wine-sized bottle with the lady friend, and that half bottle was about my limit. People say it needs more time to age. Not having sampled a good aged barleywine yet, I'll have to take their word.
Dec 06, 2009Appearance: A blending of orange, red and brown. It pours with a super fizzy one finger head that goes away really fast.
Smell: The booze almost knocks me off my feet. It's extremely boozy, with some fruit as it warms.
Taste: Extraordinarily boozy, which overwhelms everything else. It's akin to a decent bourbon. After a few sips to get used to the alcohol taste, that oaky bourbon taste is still front and center, but I can also pick up a good amount of vanilla and a bit of plum, with some fruity hops on the back end. The heavy booze taste makes it all a search mission, though.
Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, a bit syrupy for my taste.
Drinkability/Overall: I like the boozy taste, I really do. But it's a bit much. I split the wine-sized bottle with the lady friend, and that half bottle was about my limit. People say it needs more time to age. Not having sampled a good aged barleywine yet, I'll have to take their word.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.74/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle, as Schlafly Reserve (Ale aged on oak) Barleywine Style Ale 2008, ABV 10.2%, at RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Orange to amber colour, low head. Aroma of alcohol and oak, some American hops and caramel too. The flavour is very oaky and alcoholic, notes of vanilla and coconut.
Nov 06, 2022Reviewed by wmscottsimpsonjr from Missouri
4.18/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Draft. Pretty dark dirty brown. Rich nose with with prune, date, caramel, earth, hint of chocolate and fruit. Bit of booze in the flavor. Full, dense mouthfeel, low carb.
Mar 06, 2021Rated by swid from Missouri
3.65/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2009 bottle.
This has held up surprisingly well; a little thin, but still quite drinkable. Good flavor with a hint of raisins.
Dec 15, 2019This has held up surprisingly well; a little thin, but still quite drinkable. Good flavor with a hint of raisins.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.02/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle. 2013 vintage.
Between a medium to deep amber colored body. Cream colored head which quickly fizzes away to a partial cap. Leaves some scattered spots of lacing.
Aroma of malt, with pear and green apple. There is some oak barrel too. Where are the hops?
Taste is rich with malts, caramel with some fruit aspects (green apple and pear). Quite a note of caramel/light vanilla/oak.
Thicker mouth feel, and very smooth texture. Good carbonation.
Several years in the bottle has mellowed the hops. Expresses as a malty, oak aged pear.
Oct 29, 2019Between a medium to deep amber colored body. Cream colored head which quickly fizzes away to a partial cap. Leaves some scattered spots of lacing.
Aroma of malt, with pear and green apple. There is some oak barrel too. Where are the hops?
Taste is rich with malts, caramel with some fruit aspects (green apple and pear). Quite a note of caramel/light vanilla/oak.
Thicker mouth feel, and very smooth texture. Good carbonation.
Several years in the bottle has mellowed the hops. Expresses as a malty, oak aged pear.
Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)
3.85/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Serving: Bottle
Bottled: Nov-19-2013 (Consumed Jan-19-2019)
A:
Pours a crystal clear ruby with a finger of short-lived cream head. Meh retention; some lacing. (3.75)
S:
Caramel, toffee, some oxidation, nutty. (3.75)
T:
Caramel and chocolate, brown bread, light cherry sweetness as it warms. (4)
M:
Fairly full body with carbonation soft carbonation and a smooth finish with a touch of warmth from the alcohol. (3.75)
O:
A nice barleywine that has held up fairly well with the years.
It pours a clear red-almost-black with a whisp of head. The aroma is more oxidized than the flavor but is not intense. Both are sweetly malty with caramel/toffee notes and a nice, treacle finish. It is drinkable and sticky with well-hidden alcohol. The wood character is pretty much non-existent but that is to be expected after 7 years. A decent beer that I'd be curious to try fresh. (3.75)
Jan 20, 2019Bottled: Nov-19-2013 (Consumed Jan-19-2019)
A:
Pours a crystal clear ruby with a finger of short-lived cream head. Meh retention; some lacing. (3.75)
S:
Caramel, toffee, some oxidation, nutty. (3.75)
T:
Caramel and chocolate, brown bread, light cherry sweetness as it warms. (4)
M:
Fairly full body with carbonation soft carbonation and a smooth finish with a touch of warmth from the alcohol. (3.75)
O:
A nice barleywine that has held up fairly well with the years.
It pours a clear red-almost-black with a whisp of head. The aroma is more oxidized than the flavor but is not intense. Both are sweetly malty with caramel/toffee notes and a nice, treacle finish. It is drinkable and sticky with well-hidden alcohol. The wood character is pretty much non-existent but that is to be expected after 7 years. A decent beer that I'd be curious to try fresh. (3.75)
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.3/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2007 vintage, saving for a good time, for you Victor and Will
Thicker fizzy head, good retention and lacing, slight hazy reddish color
Nose smells like a very old vintage beer, tons of sweet malt, candy reddish malt, soft aged broken down beer, touch of oxidation perhaps, some toasted oak, some dark fruit, raisiny
Taste big malts, peppery notes somehow, big sweet malt, candy reddish malt, again the soft aged old malt, touch of oxidation but held up very well, plenty of toasted dark char oak, more dark fruits, raisin plum notes, candy sweet almost no booze, drier finish too, very smooth
Mouth is med to fuller bod, decent carb for the age, no real alcohol presence
Overall this aged very well, delicious
Sep 10, 2018Thicker fizzy head, good retention and lacing, slight hazy reddish color
Nose smells like a very old vintage beer, tons of sweet malt, candy reddish malt, soft aged broken down beer, touch of oxidation perhaps, some toasted oak, some dark fruit, raisiny
Taste big malts, peppery notes somehow, big sweet malt, candy reddish malt, again the soft aged old malt, touch of oxidation but held up very well, plenty of toasted dark char oak, more dark fruits, raisin plum notes, candy sweet almost no booze, drier finish too, very smooth
Mouth is med to fuller bod, decent carb for the age, no real alcohol presence
Overall this aged very well, delicious
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida
3.97/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Thanks to jegross2 for sending this one! Reviewed from (long-standing) notes. Poured from the 2008 vintage, 750 mL bottle into an El Catador Barrel-Aged glass. Drank 7/29/17.
A: Hazy to turbid caramelly brown, with a very thin light tan head that fades quickly. A low level of visible carbonation.
S: Caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. Sherry-like sweetness here as well, but I wonder if that’s some oxidation. Molasses and sweet, lightly toasted biscuit malts. I'm not getting any wood particularly on the smell.
T: Caramel, vanilla, and molasses. A good bit of dry oak tannins, and still some sherry sweetness. Brown sugar and mild toasted sweet biscuit malts. The finish is lingering sweet malts with woody dryness.
M: An average heft to the body with a sticky mouthfeel for style. Low carbonation sensation, though as expected with age. Alcohol present but not obnoxious for style.
O: This was fairly tasty, has held up to the significant age quite well.
Jul 22, 2018A: Hazy to turbid caramelly brown, with a very thin light tan head that fades quickly. A low level of visible carbonation.
S: Caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. Sherry-like sweetness here as well, but I wonder if that’s some oxidation. Molasses and sweet, lightly toasted biscuit malts. I'm not getting any wood particularly on the smell.
T: Caramel, vanilla, and molasses. A good bit of dry oak tannins, and still some sherry sweetness. Brown sugar and mild toasted sweet biscuit malts. The finish is lingering sweet malts with woody dryness.
M: An average heft to the body with a sticky mouthfeel for style. Low carbonation sensation, though as expected with age. Alcohol present but not obnoxious for style.
O: This was fairly tasty, has held up to the significant age quite well.
Reviewed by ONUMello from Ohio
3.98/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2013 vintage poured into a snifter
A: Reddish-brown with a thin head
S: Cherry, caramel, malt, yeast, a bit of oak
T: Matches the nose note for note
M: Full-bodied, a touch sweet
O: A decent barleywine that has aged well; the oak shows its presence nicely at this age but the beer is also a bit sweeter/maltier than I'd prefer
Dec 31, 2017A: Reddish-brown with a thin head
S: Cherry, caramel, malt, yeast, a bit of oak
T: Matches the nose note for note
M: Full-bodied, a touch sweet
O: A decent barleywine that has aged well; the oak shows its presence nicely at this age but the beer is also a bit sweeter/maltier than I'd prefer
Reviewed by DragonsMilk from Kentucky
3.48/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.48/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This is a pleasant well crafted brew but to me it falls short of its advertising, style, and price point.
(FYI I've had this beer numerous times but all from the same vintage, maybe other batches are different)
1. I do not detect any barrel influence.
2. I don't get any of the dark fruits typically associated with barelywines.
3. I do get all the characteristics associated with an Old Ale ie, heavy malt, honey, and toffee which Founder's does better with their Curmudgeon brand and for half the price. I paid in the area of 10.99 in 2014 for a 750ml bottle of Schlafly and no more than 12.99 for a 4pack of Curmudgeon 12oz bottles.
Huge malt bomb but nothing else significant going on here. If your in the mood for something really over the top in the same vein as this beer get a bottle of Avery Old Perseverance Old Ale.
This beer's huge malt backbone and relatively neutral everything else make it perfect for experimenting, I've used it to beef up Imperial Stouts that are heavy on flavor but thin in body. 50/50 with Stone Arrogant bastard is wonderful!
Sep 30, 2017(FYI I've had this beer numerous times but all from the same vintage, maybe other batches are different)
1. I do not detect any barrel influence.
2. I don't get any of the dark fruits typically associated with barelywines.
3. I do get all the characteristics associated with an Old Ale ie, heavy malt, honey, and toffee which Founder's does better with their Curmudgeon brand and for half the price. I paid in the area of 10.99 in 2014 for a 750ml bottle of Schlafly and no more than 12.99 for a 4pack of Curmudgeon 12oz bottles.
Huge malt bomb but nothing else significant going on here. If your in the mood for something really over the top in the same vein as this beer get a bottle of Avery Old Perseverance Old Ale.
This beer's huge malt backbone and relatively neutral everything else make it perfect for experimenting, I've used it to beef up Imperial Stouts that are heavy on flavor but thin in body. 50/50 with Stone Arrogant bastard is wonderful!
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