Old Howling Bastard
Blue Point Brewing Company

Old Howling BastardOld Howling Bastard
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From:
Blue Point Brewing Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 10.39%
Reviews:
143
Ratings:
308
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 13, 2022
Added:
Feb 19, 2002
Wants:
  22
Gots:
  32
Our special barley wine is made with English 2-row barley and Vienna malt. Its robust, malty, caramel flavor is balanced by lots and lots of hops, giving it a great depth of character.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by far333:
Photo of far333
Reviewed by far333 from Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Slightly hazed and reddish orange with a beige frothy head that settles out slowly to a fine cap of ridged foam. Aroma of caramel, toffee, and cinnaomn, some ripe fruit and subtle spice.

Flavors of tofeee and husky malt, some caramel and ripe fruits, notes of grapefruit and star anise. Finishes piney with a little peppery spice.

Even mouthfeel, a tad slick, tingly carbonation finish, slight warming of the cheeks. Tasty beer, could use a bit more complexity.
Jan 17, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.17/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Let's unleash this bastard by emptying a pint can into a clear Imperial pint glass. It really looks good, with an off-white modest, but enduring head atop a bright copper-amber liquid. Most judges would say it's a bit closer to transparent than opaque, but it's nearly right in the middle of that scale. The aroma is malty, then of alcohol and then of hops, but it's not very complex. That is what should be expected from the style. This is a very drinkable barelywine. Some are either too alcoholic to the taste, too sweet and/or too viscose to drink and can only be sipped. The scary thing about this one is how easily it goes across the tongue and down the gullet. The taste is true barleywine. There's a huge sweet malt and alcohol presence, whilst the body is rich and supple enough to deliver that combination satisfactorily. Obviously, there's hopping to bring this into the true beer realm. The best attribute of this beer is that it includes all the expected characteristics of the style; malty sweetness, hop inclusion and a reasonable taste of alcohol, in a very drinkable way. At a 10% ABV, that makes this Old Howling Bastard something scary to run into. Overall, this is a great beer to have if you only have time for one and you'd like to get a little buzzed.
Feb 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.18 by smi69 from New York

Jan 08, 2022
Photo of mvanaskie13
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a chalice: color is dark copper, head is very light tan with fine bubbles and presents 1 finger thick then dissipates to whispy frothy top, some spotty lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is mixed malt notes of caramel, toffee, base malt, then some earthy, herbal, lightly piney hops.

Taste is mixed maltiness with caramel, toffee, raisins and light herbal maltiness that blends into the hoppy flavors of earthy, herbal, and spruce/pine notes; abv is noticeable with some warmth as that spiciness could also be the burn of the ethanol.

Mouthfeel is low/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness and lingering sweetness with a slower burn from the alcohol.

Overall an American barleywine style ale that lives up to its style - big barley, strong bitterness, hidden abv presence among the flavors and presentation.
Dec 28, 2021
 
Rated: 3.93 by Mikexw from New York

Dec 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by Griffith from Connecticut

Jul 09, 2019
Photo of jzlyo
Reviewed by jzlyo from Iowa

3.77/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aroma is caramel/toffee, malts and a hint of hops. The flavor is caramel/toffee, malts, mild fruit and a long mix of alcohol and liquor in the finish.
Jun 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by Icemann383 from New York

Feb 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Beerbuddha from Florida

Jan 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.4 by Timtac from New Jersey

Mar 01, 2017
Photo of CTHomer
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut

3.86/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
A: crystal clear; bronze in color; less that a 1 finger off white head that receded quickly to a splotchy cap; no lacing;

S: non-descript fruit; a little alcohol; earthy; as it warmed, it was all dark fruit and alcohol - like a rum soaked fruit cake; quite rich;

T: follows the nose with the addition of a spicy note in the middle; very mild bitterness on the finish that increases a little in the aftertaste; as it warms, dark fruit and alcohol come forward;

M: medium to full bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish; hides the ABV pretty well; even warm, the alcohol is quite soft;

O: this beer will sneak up on you;
Feb 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by h4ger from Connecticut

Dec 23, 2016
Photo of cwalter
Reviewed by cwalter from New York

3.76/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Amber in color. Immediately taste the hops up front. Then comes malts with sweet caramel. A little bit of nutiness with faint hints of vanilla at the end.
Aug 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Aug 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by ClavisAurea from New York

Jun 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.59 by dextermcgurk from New York

Apr 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Jan 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by rockrob from Massachusetts

Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.65 by Homebrew from Connecticut

Sep 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.92 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Jul 18, 2015
Old Howling Bastard from Blue Point Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 308 ratings