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Barleywine
Portsmouth Brewery
- From:
- Portsmouth Brewery
- New Hampshire, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
- ABV:
- 11.5%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 10.1%
- Reviews:
- 32
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 31, 2019
- Added:
- Sep 04, 2007
- Wants:
- 26
- Gots:
- 0
A deep amber, full bodied, intensely bold beer that is made to show off the true qualities of the malts used. Flavors of figs and dates and malt sweetness predominate with enough earthiness from the hops to balance this beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by portia99:
Reviewed by portia99 from Massachusetts
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
22oz bottle purchased direct from the brewery. Poured into a Portsmouth goblet. Sorry Chris...couldn't stare at this in my fridge any longer and had to crack it open...
A - Pours a dark brown color with attractive amber highlights around the edges and a thin half finger of cream colored foam that falls quickly to a thick layer and collar - both of which never disappear thru the glass. Some sparse, loose lacing decorates the glass too as the beer level sinks to the bottom.
S - Rich caramel aroma with some light molasses. Some light citrusy hops that fade out and a bit of bready, maybe a touch yeasty aromas too. Aroma is on the low side in intensity...really need to get your nose down in the glass to appreciate it.
T - Molasses and dark caramel are very much out in front of the flavors. A bit of fruitiness (I'm thinking cherry, but not sure) with a slightly tart touch come next. Nice touches of brown sugar, a quick hit of alcohol flavor and warmth, the smallest hint of vanilla kicks in too...and as it warms I think I'm tasting a bit of coffee too. Hop bitterness is really nice in this one. The bitterness is at a medium level that really blends nicely with the sweet, sugary malts at the base. It provides a good offset to balance things out but doesn't interfere with the malt flavors at all. You can catch all of the malt complexities without them getting lost in the hops.
M - Medium bodied...not as thick or heavy as I expected (and maybe desire in a barleywine). There is enough thickness so the beer sits on the tongue and coats the mouth nicely with all of the various sweet, caramelly, sugary flavors found in this one. Carbonation is on the light side, which fits perfectly here. Slightly foamy at first, but resulting in a smooth, creamy feel. A bit of alcohol warmth to round things out.
D - Really liking this barleywine. Lots of complexity in the malt flavors...nice balanced and complementary hop presence. After nearly completing the bomber of this, I'm feeling it a bit (not complaining tho), but the alcohol really gave just the right amount of presence...I really knew it was there, but it wasn't hot or distracting...really just enhanced the flavor and feel. Overall, very nice barleywine...gotta get a growler of this next time it shows up at the pub on tap.
Apr 14, 2010A - Pours a dark brown color with attractive amber highlights around the edges and a thin half finger of cream colored foam that falls quickly to a thick layer and collar - both of which never disappear thru the glass. Some sparse, loose lacing decorates the glass too as the beer level sinks to the bottom.
S - Rich caramel aroma with some light molasses. Some light citrusy hops that fade out and a bit of bready, maybe a touch yeasty aromas too. Aroma is on the low side in intensity...really need to get your nose down in the glass to appreciate it.
T - Molasses and dark caramel are very much out in front of the flavors. A bit of fruitiness (I'm thinking cherry, but not sure) with a slightly tart touch come next. Nice touches of brown sugar, a quick hit of alcohol flavor and warmth, the smallest hint of vanilla kicks in too...and as it warms I think I'm tasting a bit of coffee too. Hop bitterness is really nice in this one. The bitterness is at a medium level that really blends nicely with the sweet, sugary malts at the base. It provides a good offset to balance things out but doesn't interfere with the malt flavors at all. You can catch all of the malt complexities without them getting lost in the hops.
M - Medium bodied...not as thick or heavy as I expected (and maybe desire in a barleywine). There is enough thickness so the beer sits on the tongue and coats the mouth nicely with all of the various sweet, caramelly, sugary flavors found in this one. Carbonation is on the light side, which fits perfectly here. Slightly foamy at first, but resulting in a smooth, creamy feel. A bit of alcohol warmth to round things out.
D - Really liking this barleywine. Lots of complexity in the malt flavors...nice balanced and complementary hop presence. After nearly completing the bomber of this, I'm feeling it a bit (not complaining tho), but the alcohol really gave just the right amount of presence...I really knew it was there, but it wasn't hot or distracting...really just enhanced the flavor and feel. Overall, very nice barleywine...gotta get a growler of this next time it shows up at the pub on tap.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Bicyclette from New Hampshire
4.2/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
It's Decadent on a cool, damp eve...
Portsmouth has a cask of Barleywine Ale on Bourbon Oak that they're pouring from one of the downstairs casks. Personally, I am *so* partial to Bourbon finishing...
Lots of Bourbon fragrance. Lightly acidic with a lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Bold but not overwhelming malt. Little chocolate instead of the frequent burnt toast. Just enough hops to balance the flavor a bit.
Finish is warming, spicy and mellow at the same time.
Head was a billowy while foam with reasonable lasting power. Chestnut brown in color and nearly opaque.
On cask for maybe a couple more days... Maybe it'll still be here when it rains next.
Sep 13, 2013Portsmouth has a cask of Barleywine Ale on Bourbon Oak that they're pouring from one of the downstairs casks. Personally, I am *so* partial to Bourbon finishing...
Lots of Bourbon fragrance. Lightly acidic with a lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Bold but not overwhelming malt. Little chocolate instead of the frequent burnt toast. Just enough hops to balance the flavor a bit.
Finish is warming, spicy and mellow at the same time.
Head was a billowy while foam with reasonable lasting power. Chestnut brown in color and nearly opaque.
On cask for maybe a couple more days... Maybe it'll still be here when it rains next.
Reviewed by Flounder57 from Massachusetts
3.76/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bottle was poured into a large snifter.
Appearance: This beer poured an off white head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a dark ruby brown color with no clarity, but small by bubbles can be seen coming up the side of the glass.
Smell: Caramel and toasted malts, dark fruits, and booze.
Taste: Caramel, biscuity, toffee, boozy, tingly, dark fruits, some banana, and tingly hops.
Mouthfeel: Silky smooth, full bodied, boozy, medium carbonation, and nice and warming.
Overall: Pretty solid barleywine that I have enjoyed on draft and bottles. I love stopping by here on the way through Portsmouth on the way to OOB.
Aug 03, 2013Appearance: This beer poured an off white head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a dark ruby brown color with no clarity, but small by bubbles can be seen coming up the side of the glass.
Smell: Caramel and toasted malts, dark fruits, and booze.
Taste: Caramel, biscuity, toffee, boozy, tingly, dark fruits, some banana, and tingly hops.
Mouthfeel: Silky smooth, full bodied, boozy, medium carbonation, and nice and warming.
Overall: Pretty solid barleywine that I have enjoyed on draft and bottles. I love stopping by here on the way through Portsmouth on the way to OOB.
Barleywine from Portsmouth Brewery
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
59 ratings
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