Scratch Beer 4 - 2007 (Flying Mouflan)
Tröegs Brewing Company

Scratch Beer 4 - 2007 (Flying Mouflan)Scratch Beer 4 - 2007 (Flying Mouflan)
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
9.4%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.26 | pDev: 7.04%
Reviews:
68
Ratings:
75
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 18, 2013
Added:
Sep 29, 2007
Wants:
  18
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DIM:
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

4.74/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I got the first two cases on 9/28 (release date)

a: Much darker than most barleywines, a very deep brown with some ruby hilights when held up to the light.

s: Wow! Almost too hoppy. A citric punch in the face. A bit of sweet alcohol is barely perceptible. Incredible.

t: The sticker slapped on the generic case this comes in says that the Troegs brothers describe the taste as, " pushing Nugget Nectar off the side of a cliff". At "100ish" ibu's that sounds about right to me. The well balanced sweet malt start has about half a second to shine before being shoved aside by a perfectly obnoxious hop assault. I haven't had such a great first impression of a beer in a long time. A standing ovation (if I could) for Troegs.

m: Excellent, coats your mouth with sticky wonderful hoppy goodness. Lingers for a long time.

d: I want more but my taste buds hurt.
Sep 30, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
During a recent gathering, I opened every vintage of Mouflan in bombers and a friend brought a growler of the 2013 since this year it was not bottled. Thanks go to BA Slatetank for trading me a couple bottles of this scratch 4 some time ago. It was awesome to start the tasting off with the original mouflan recipe.

12oz bottle poured into a mouflan cervoise, the brew appears a clear mahogany color with ruby clarity seen around the edges when held to the light. The cap is compromised of a yellowish froth that leaves stringy lace on the glass.

The smell is raisiny with soft notes of alcohol. Hints of chocolate with a touch of vanilla. It almost feels like it had a barrel aged quality about it. The grain presence is a little dusty giving sight to a minor note of oxidation.

The taste of the brew is quite similar to what the nose suggests with alcohol coming across a bit raisony or prune-like. Faintly like molasses and earth with a bitter herbal touch of hops still present after some 6+ years of sitting in a bottle. Like the aroma, the flavor gets slightly dusty and oxidized in the aftertaste.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. Plenty of depth and complexity but having drank it side by side with "younger versions" the brew is showing it's age at this point. It was certainly unique and enjoyable, but I dont forsee it becoming any better with more age at this point.
Jun 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Mar 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by oline73 from Maryland

Mar 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Tyrawlings from Ohio

Feb 16, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jophish17 from Georgia

Dec 24, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Khazadum from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 4.5 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 18, 2011
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Im sampling a cellar temp bottle poured into a tulip glass. The beer has been cellared since I bought it 4 years ago.
Pours a deep chestnut with rich ruby highlights. Creamy beige head foams up 2 cm with a gentle pour and fades very slowly leaving some large craters in the foam. Tight lattice shows as the head recedes to a sturdy surface layer.
Aroma is fairly mild but molasses, brown sugar and figs dominate, with no hints of hops or booze.
First sip reveals a lighter body than expected and fine yet fizzy carbonation. Slightly creamy feel on the texture duiring each sip.
Flavor is what I anticipated after the aroma.
Malt flavors with brown sugar, molassess, raisins and some red grape tang. I dont really fine any hops on this one, not sure if they were there fresh or not.
There is a little warming booze on the finish to remind me this is a pretty big b-wine.
I enjoy this beer as a malty big brew and would buy it again if that were an option.
Jun 18, 2011
Photo of 7ways
Reviewed by 7ways from Georgia

3.35/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
This beer has been in my fridge for almost two years, time to finally kill it.

This is much darker than I expected, very deep brown and red. Light oak head with an impressive head and lacing for a 4 year old beer. Lots of chunks.

There is still a detectable hop aroma, but it's mostly pretty fruity. Raisin, prune, and cherry with a lot of caramel.

Fair amount of bitterness left for a 4 year old beer.This tastes almost exactly like Victory Old Horizontal, walking the line between American and English barleywine, with a lot of fruity malt, molasses, some abrasive citrus, and a lingering tang on the finish.

Mouthfeel is full, sticky, and rich.

I really wanted to love this, but it's no better than when I had it fresh in 2007. It's solid, but I still like it's successor, The Flying Mouflan, a lot more.
Apr 26, 2011
Photo of kkipple
Reviewed by kkipple from South Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Massive Mega Scratch Beer Tasting @ the Meat Meet, 8.21.2010. Thanks Unclejedi!

Scores reflect how the beer is drinking NOW, and not when released.

Semi-clear russet, low head, no lace, no bubbles. Low smell, lots of lurking semi-roasted malt and some booze. Some fruit, too. Dates? Big flavor here, nice malt / booze / hop balance, age seems to have mellowed this out. Great interplay of bitter / sweet and virtually no booze to be found. Super. Fine carbonation and leaves a fun caramel-sweet finish with a punch of citrus bitters still. Sticky and chewy. Highly enjoyable... wish I had more!
Aug 21, 2010
Photo of wagenvolks
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas

4.24/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz bottle into a snifter. Thanks to JDV for the local sell!

A loud "hiss" greets me as I pry off the cap--a good sign for a beer approaching 3 years in age. Ruddy chestnut mixed with Indian brown; the color lightens to a ruby plum shade when held up to my desk lamp. A pith of cork-khaki-colored bubbles gathers in the center of the snifter, surrounded by a ring of dense foam. Tiny, sluggish trails of carbonation can be seen dotting the sides of the glass. Outstanding aroma--a near-perfect amount of age adds just the right hint of sherry-like oxidation. Dark fruits join in and include raisin, Bing cherries, and fig. A bit of leafy hoppiness in the background seals the deal.

Great flavor, too, with the yeast esters echoing the notes detected in the aroma. Darker notes of toffee and toasted chocolate malts join the dark fruits. Boozier than expected, too, with a sharp ethanol note accentuated by the zesty carbonation level. A raw bitterness is present from the hops in the finish, and knocks the mouthfeel down a peg (as does the CO2). Body is on the chewy side of medium, and sticks to the gums on the finish. I love aged barleywines, and Scratch #4 has aged wonderfully. It's drinking great now, but this beer will probably last another 3-4 years or so if properly stored.
Apr 17, 2010
Photo of barleywinefiend
Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Slatetank for this one
Poured a murky deep amber with a small off-white near tan head. Nose is sugary, sweet, fruits, caramel toffee. Taste is sticky with dried fruits, caramel, brown sugar. ABV is just right and so is the balance. Really good barleywine
///
Another one down...
Still very good with lots of dark, dried fruits and brown sugar, molasses, booze still a big hit too. Not over the hill yet, prime drinking now.
Apr 15, 2010
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottle via trade thanks to JohnGalt1. Yeah Harrisburg! This is the same thing as The Flying Mouflan I'm told, but it was so different than fresh Mouflan that it definitely merits a separate review IMO.

Pours clear dark brown with a nicely formed light tan head sitting on top.

Aroma is really excellent and complex. Dark fruits and sweet caramel malt dominate, along with sherry and faded citrusy hops.

Sweet caramel malts and toffee form the base on this one. Another reviewer mentioned creme caramel, and I get some of that too. This is a little like a decadent dessert in a way. Nuts, raisins, dates, and figs as well. Sherry-like oxidative notes are present at the exact level you would want them to be. Still some citrusy resiny hops in there that add even more complexity.

Smooth and medium-full on the palate with an ever so slight syrupiness and a finish that really sticks with you.

Pretty drinkable stuff. Just an amazing barleywine overall after ~3 years. I have a bottle of Flying Mouflan in the cellar right now, and it's a good beer fresh, but DAMN this ages well, sort of like the exact opposite of the woman most of us married/will marry. Think I'll sit on that til 2012 or so, maybe drink the day before the world's supposed to end or something. It would be a great last beer.
Mar 29, 2010
Photo of wisrarebeer
Reviewed by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

4.57/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
A: deep copper color, decent head
S: smell was a classic, English-style BW without all the smack of citrus hops, very, very good
T: taste was classic English BW, deep roasted chewy malt, treacle undertones with a good balance of hops. almost had an advanced age in balance to it, no over-the-top citrus hops, reminded me of an aged Bigfoot (5+ years)
M: for a BW, very good, easy drinking, well-rounded
D: I'd buy a case for aging if I could!, but I don't think it would last like TH or Bigfoot in the 10+ year category
Jan 08, 2010
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

3.9/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Enjoyed the other night at a tasting over at Slatetank's place.

The beer pours a reddish amber color with good head retention and lacing. Nose is attractive, with perfumy, skunky hops and sweet malt. Can only imagine what this smelled like when it was first released. Flavors replicate the nose, except the beer is now dominated by the sweet malt, but with the hoppy bitterness still pretty much in evidence. The beer is medium bodied, but is otherwise fairly full. Drinkability is OK, but with the alcohol starting to show more and more.

A nice beer, but I think its best days are behind it.
Dec 05, 2009
Photo of grub
Reviewed by grub from Canada (ON)

4.2/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
got this one in a recent trade with Slatetank. thanks matt!

12oz bottle. sampled may 18/09.

pours deep reddish brown, somewhat hazy, with a small dense yellow head. the head drops slowly but leaves tons of lace behind.

aroma is great. caramel. toffee. light alcohol. biscuit. toasted multi-grain bread. grapefruit, pine, and orange. bit of earthy character. hint of dark chocolate.

taste is good. light alcohol. just under medium bitterness level, likely mellowed with its time in the cellar. big biscuit and multi-grain bread, lightly toasted. grapefruit and orange. hint of pine. bit of pineapple. hints of chocolate and a light nutty character.

mouthfeel is great. medium-large body. well integrated medium carbonation, silky smooth.

drinkability is good. well balanced, good complexity. i think this one might be just past its peak. it's quite good, but i feel like it might have been even better a few months ago. still, i'm enjoying it regardless. good stuff.
May 19, 2009
Photo of Viggo
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle, big thanks to grub for sharing!

Pours a pretty cloudy rusty reddish brown, kind of muddy, thick light tan head forms, quickly drops to a thick ring around the glass and a thin layer, drops a ton of lacing on the glass, very sticky, looks real nice. Smell is intense, very malty, tons of caramel and grapefruit, biscuity, brown sugar, very rich, dark fruits, some raisin, some floral, buttery, some oak, very earthy, pretty nice stuff. Taste is good to, caramel and brown sugar, some grapefruit, similar to the aroma although not as rich, some biscuits and a touch of alcohol, oak and a touch of vanilla, earthy finish, buttery, a bit weak in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation, nice body on it, very dry in the finish. I like it but the flavour doesn't live up to the rest of it for me. Thanks Russ!
May 18, 2009
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into my shaker "pint" glass. Appears the color of cloudy iced tea with two fingers of dense, creamy caramel colored foam. Moderate sticky lacing clings to the inside of my glass as I make my way to the bottom. Smells and tastes of sweet caramelized malts, sugary shortbread, pineapple upside down cake complete with dark candied cherries, orange pith, and bitter piney hops. Fantastic stuff! Rather full bodied with a notch above medium carbonation. Glad to see this one brought back to life as the Flying Mouflan. But even with the beer in front of me closing in on two years in the bottle, it's evident that time has treated it very well. This beer is every bit as delicious fresh as it is with a little age on it.
Apr 18, 2009
Scratch Beer 4 - 2007 (Flying Mouflan) from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 75 ratings