Spank Me Baby Barleywine
Tyranena Brewing Company

Spank Me Baby BarleywineSpank Me Baby Barleywine
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From:
Tyranena Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
9%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 16.8%
Reviews:
68
Ratings:
71
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 02, 2015
Added:
May 06, 2004
Wants:
  28
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.47 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 02, 2015
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Reviewed by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

4.04/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
$6.99 for a 4/pk from Discount in Milwaukee. This one has been in my cellar for several years.

A: ruddy brown, very little head
S: mellow, slight oxidation, decent with nothing offensive
T: well-balanced, highly drinkable, incredibly smooth, nice roasted malt that has mellowed out
M: velvety
Apr 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by richkrull from Wisconsin

Feb 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by bbadger from Texas

Dec 25, 2012
Photo of mdfb79
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Got a bottle of this in the Birthday BIF from AjsDad06; thanks man! Went to open this and noticed it is frm June 2007; very cool! Poured into my Brawley's snifter.

a - Pours a deep reddish brown color with a few off white bubbles and low carbonation evident.

s - Smells of bready malts, caramel malts, toffee, light dark fruits, and sugar. Nice but a bit oxidized. Lots of caramel.

t - Tastes of caramel malts, dark fruits, raisins, bready malts, burnt malts, toasted malts, and raisins. Again, a bit oxidized, but nice.

m - Medium body and no to low carbonation. Very smooth and not a lot of alcohol; a little
carbonation would make this perfect.

o - Overall a pretty nice barleywine, but it was a bit oxidized. Some nice caramel and dark fruits to it, and a smooth body, just a bit past its prime. I'd suggest drinking it now and not waiting on it if you have it.
May 04, 2012
Photo of ckeegan04
Reviewed by ckeegan04 from Texas

3.61/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Copper/amber in color with a thin light brown cap of foam. Beer is lightly hazed ands carbonation bubbles are slowly rising to the top.

S - Mild aroma of toffee and toasted bread. A hint of caramel comes through as the beer warms. Faint alcohol lingering underneath.

T - Light sweetness with a mix of alcohol and a bit of smoke. THe smoke is certainly a little surprising. As the beer warms I get more dark fruits and a touch of caramel. Flavors are all rather mild but they do play together rather nicely.

M - Medium it full bodied with a somewhat creamy feel almost. Carbonation is moderate. Alcohol is certainly there though it is not overwhelming in the taste. You certainly feel it once the beer is done.

O - Tastes have all moderated and play off each other nicely. Nice barleywine.
Nov 11, 2011
Photo of Beertracker
Reviewed by Beertracker from Oklahoma

3.87/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Tyranena's Spank Me Baby! Barleywine (2006) was one of the first Brewers Gone Wild! releases from the brewery in 2004. This barleywine pours up with a light carbonation that creates a very thin tannish-brown colored head that barely encompasses the murky chestnut brown colored body. The nose is sweet & rich with plenty of apparent kettle caramelization with hints of brown sugar, burnt caramel & toffee bits along with some definite earthiness from the hops. The delicate fruitiness (dried apricots, dark cherries, fig newtons) intermingles nicely with just a hint of boot leather, cut tobacco & alcohol. The flavor starts off rather cloying with lots of caramel with touches of honey which is quickly underscored by a dominate earthy bitterness which balances this big, barley monster out nicely with a bittersweet, earthy, smoky finish that laced with a surreptitious alcohol strength. This thick, full-bodied American-style barleywine is a bit rough around the edges, but it's bold & hearty and makes for a delightful warmer to enjoy on a cold night in the Northwoods. Spank Me Baby!

CHEERS! Beertracker
*Retro Review from 11/09*
Feb 10, 2011
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Reviewed by Bierschenker from Belgium

3.85/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Traded this bottle with HardTarget on his first visit to Brugge. Thank you!
I promised to start reviewing again, so here we go:

Bottled on 20 November 2006
Appearance: I served this Barley wine in a Stein. When the beer was poured in the glass I was waiting for the head to start developing. This only starts just before the glass is full.
The Head is very creamy and compact. No large bubbles visible. There is some yeast on top of the foam.
The colour is a warm Bordeaux-red. Carbonation is very active and is able to maintain a 3 mm thick head. Pieces of yeast are thrown around by the bubbles.
Nose: The Scent is dominated by a wet grains and strong malts. There is some fruit in there as well, but I can't exactly identify which type of fruit. Dried dades with passion fruit and pineapple and, some lime as well.
Taste: First taste is strong on bitter flavours, but still mild. It has a spicy feel to it. It makes me glow inside as if it's bursting with alcohol (which it is at 9%). The malts are dominantly present. As the bitterness subsides, the more softer passion fruit and popcorn taste starts to linger on the tongue. It has the ripeness and sophistication of a good French wine.
After taste: The malts linger on in my mouth, they are of a complex nature. I have to say this because just saying it's a malty taste isn't enough. After a while the malts get a more mould like character. I guess the yeast has finally caught up. And a more dark chocolate and syrup like sensation ends the evolution.
Drinkability: Close to zero. You are not going to empty five of these in one night. This a nice "rainy evening alone" beer. You have one, take in all of its subtle surprises and then you go to bed.
Sep 07, 2010
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Reviewed by pmccallum86 from Minnesota

3.81/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a big copper colored body with a hazy appearance. One finger head that dissipates quickly.

Smell is of huge malts, big, big malts. Some caramel, toffee and raisin. Dried fruits come through big time.

Taste is of HUGE malts, lots of dried fruits and caramel. Very smooth, slight oxidation as it is a beer from 2006, but great flavor. Still some residual hop bitterness, which I find pleasant but surprising.

Mouthfeel is big, smooth and creamy. Very full bodied beer with low to medium carbonation.

Drinkablility is good, not great, but good.
Mar 27, 2010
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

3.97/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer is from 2006, so it is packing some years on it.

Poured into Stone Old Guardian.

Pours hardly and head. Color is a hazed dark ruby brown.

Aroma: Very sweet and malty. Lots of toffee and caramel. Some fruit notes, maybe some cherries. I really am enjoying the aroma. The hops have faded, but the sweet malts are pleasant.

Taste: Very malty. Lots of caramel malt and toffee again. Some hops are present but not a lot. Some dark dried fruits, mainly a bit of cherries again. This beer is holding up well. No alcohol showing.

Mouthfeel: sweet and malty, a bit creamy. Medium to full bodied with a medium to lower amount of carbonation. Ends dry with sweet malt aftertaste.

Overall, this beer is holding up well. No sign of oxidation and no alcohol showing is always good. Pretty drinkable. I think it represents the style well for the age on it.
Mar 11, 2010
Photo of JohnGalt1
Reviewed by JohnGalt1 from Idaho

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Big thanks goes out to who sent me this... I can't find it in my notes.... and the sticker has apparently fallen off.. thanks anyway.. truly appreciated. This is part of my ongoing, "I'm broke and want a beer" cellar diving project. Poured into my Delirium goblet.

Just a short lasting head on the pour... no lacing... doesn't look very carbonated... the brew is a bright glowing copper amber.

Nose is caramel... deep toast... and alcohol.... not as much booze as I was expecting.. but still plenty of alcohol.. but the complex malts really help a bunch.

Yeah... not flat... but only a truly faint very small bubble carbonation combined with a fairly thick mouthfeel... tons of caramel and some spicy and fruity yeasty notes make me think of plum and pepper... mainly though the caramel is just big and really the only player... it's not sweet, but very malty.

I wish I liked this one more... a bit one dimensional and probably on its way down hill fast.

Thanks again to who sent me this.. please message and I'll give you the props.

3.5/3.5/3.5/3.5/3
Dec 30, 2009
Photo of THORN
Reviewed by THORN from Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2006 16 Fl. Oz. bottle poured into pint. Served around 50-55 F.
A: Dark red brown, very hazy. Pours light red head, retains very little head.
S: Very sweet caramel filled with slight fruity hops. Alcohol is apparent.
T: Very very sweet caramel malts, followed by a dark oaky cherry, and finishes with a strong bitterness. Nice nutty oak linger.
M: Smooth across mouth, slightly syrupy. Great warming.
D: Its pretty good, I appreciate that its aged, and think its too bad I didn't have the opportunity to drink it before 3 years aging.
Dec 11, 2009
Photo of younger35
Reviewed by younger35 from Minnesota

3.87/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Received this many many moons ago from some generous BA that I cannot remember. I know I was still in Boise when I received it so it's probably around 3 years old. Drank from my Ithaca Excelsior tulip.

Appearance- Pours a caramel colored ruby brown with a half finger light cream colored head. A few spots remain on top of the beer along with a small collar and no lacing.
Smell- Very rich and malty with a big brown sugar and toffee presence. Some faded hops are hiding in there with a dark fruity character. Mostly cherries and rhubarb for the fruit part but I wouldn't necessarily describe the nose as fruity. This thing is rich caramel through and through. A bit of alcohol surprisingly does show.
Taste- Starts basically the same way as the smell with a big rich kick of toffee and caramel. Fortunately the beer isn't at all sweet even though the maltiness is sticky and deep. Almost buttery at times as well before a light fruity bitterness cuts in. I'd say it's something along the lines of orange peel and grapefruit pith. Finish is lightly bitter with a quick sting of alcohol.
Mouthfeel- Fairly big body with a thick/rich feel that is nice and creamy. The carbonation is light yet assertive.
Drinkability- Overall not too bad but I'm surprised to how much the alcohol shows with the age on this bad boy. Not to mention the fact that it's "only" 9%. It's definitely interesting and goes down fairly smooth but something is just slightly out of place. Glad I got to try though, thanks random generous BA!
Nov 21, 2009
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Reviewed by Mistofminn from Minnesota

3.67/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Found this at Zipps with a bunch of other stuff the beer dude pulled from the basement. I figured at 3 years old this should be a steal (for a great price).

Pours a mukry brown color into a tulip glass. Nice creamy beige head with decent retention, even a little bit of lacing.

The nose is huge on caramel and toffee, very sweet. Pretty complex maltiness going on here, and you can tell that this has been aged and the malts have gained from it.

The taste is pretty much the same, caramel malts and toffee, sweet malts, with a light toated malt character in the background. It's good, but a little more muted than I would have hoped.

Mouthfeel is smooth with a light carbonation. Medium to full bodied, with a chewy mouthfeel. Sticky and smooth, like a good aged barleywine. Drinkability is great. This is a sipper, to sit and ponder. No sign of the 9% abv.

Overall, a good barleywine, just not a great one. I wish the taste wasn't as muted as it was, but maybe this hasn't held up as well as I'd hoped in the last 3 years. Still, this is better than a lot of barleywines I've had, just not in the upper echelon.
Nov 12, 2009
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Reviewed by sholland119 from Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A-Pours a hazy, cloudy brown with hints of red. Little head and no lacing.

S-Caramelly and boozy. A little light in aroma.

T-Caramel and toffee, some brown sugar. Lacks depth of flavor and finishes very early.

M-Medium bodied. Consistent with other aspects of this beer in being rather thin.

D-A rare Tyranena disappointment.

HV
Sep 28, 2009
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Reviewed by FtownThrowDown from Ohio

4.12/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Thanks to whomever sent me this bottle in trade.

Pours a murky, muddy, brown in color. Very slight reverse cascading head forms on the pour, but is gone quicker than it formed. Given the age of the beer, this is all acceptable.
Smell is huge toffee, and caramel malts. From the smell of things, I'm in for a good beer.
Taste is huge caramel malts, and toffee. Absolutely amazing. There's some roast, tobacco and a little cocoa on the finish. The mouthfeel is even better than the flavor. Incredibly smooth, still with a little bit of carbonation. But this has a full and chewy mouthfeel unlike any other barleywine that I've had. No sign of the abv at all. Very good beer, but sadly this is my only bottle.
Jul 23, 2009
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Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottled 20th Nov 2006. Bill was kind enough to send me a couple a while back, thanks man!

A: Ruby red with great clarity and a persistent beige head, this is an attractive beer. Plenty of fine carbonation, some mild lace. Good stuff 4/5

S: Big and rich, this is what I'd expect a 2+year old BW to smell like. Toffee and nougat with a surprising amount of fruit, notably plums and a faint hint of cherry skins. There's a particular aroma present that I typically associate with Marris Otter-heavy beers, and it's quite appealing. Vinous and I have to say, boozy, with a brandy-like character4/5

T: Opens rich and malty with a lot of caramel, toffee and a rich plum and date character. There's a hint of tartness, cherry-skin like, that provides an interesting tangent to the beer, one that I'm tempted to say works. The mid-palate is mostly sweet and loaded with dark fruit, before it loses ground to a finish that would be better if it had a little more residual sweetness and more depth to it. All told, a good beer. I'd be failing if I did not mention the boozy, vinous, brandy-like character that lends a little complexity to a rather straight-forward beer 4/5

M: Full bodied with carbonation that's a little more than what I'd describe as soft, this beer is pretty nice on the palate. The finish, however, leaves me wishing for more 3.5

D: A great sipper, more than what I'd expected based on reviews here 4/5

**Edit 27 August 2012**
This is almost 6 years old at this point. It's gotten hazy and murky with oxidation. The nose is nice - big, rich and complex with leather, port a little sherry, toffee and burnt sugar, this one has held up incredibly well, and has actually improved. The palate has nicely oxidized, with the port, grape and vinous notes working well with the leather. Some tobacco, some dark fruit. Drying on the finish with some sherry, this is a very enjoyable barleywine, one I'd give a straight 4.0 to.
Jul 03, 2009
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Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to whomever sent this one my way. Poured from a stubby 12 ounce bottle into my standard snifter glass. The ale appears a hazed amber color with about a finger of dense off white foam. The foam leaves behind a thin lace on my glass. Nose and flavor are dominated by sweetness, raisins, dark brown sugar, sweet figs, a decent amount of caramelized malt, a tad fruity. Knocking on a full bodied door with ample carbonation. never mind the 9%ABV, this one drinks nicely.
May 28, 2009
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Reviewed by gford217 from Georgia

3.77/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle from maximum12 poured into a tulip.

Pours a hazy amber with a short-lived cream-colored head that leaves a small collar and no lacing.

The aroma is very sweet with lots of caramel malts, toffee and dark fruits, especially figs and raisins. There is also plenty of brown sugar or molasses thrown in and the hops have pretty much faded.

The taste is fairly basic for a barleywine with the caramel malts and toffee forming a decent backbone but with not much else going on. There are hints of dark fruit, but not lots.

The mouthfeel is fairly thick and viscous for the style with a little soft carbonation. The sweetness just coats the mouth completely.

This is a decent barleywine but I think it's caught somewhere between an English and American barleywine. I don't think it quite has the big complex sweetness of the English and the hops have faded a bit too much to really be a good example of the American. It's still a good beer but it may have been a bit better fresh.
Apr 08, 2009
Photo of Buebie
Reviewed by Buebie from Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I've had this one sitting in the fridge waiting for me for since November of 08'
I dont the age on this, but I'm assuming it is probably older.

Poured from a 12oz brown stuby bottle into a pub glass. Poured somwhat lightly, thinking it would be a billower of a head. I wish I had poured it more rigerously, as the head only forms about a half inch white cola like head.
Quickly receeding and leaving no lace really. Retention is a slim looking colar.
The color is really nice, a hazy ruby copper.

The aroma is a hugly malty, sweet purfumy brown sugar, a bit of a cotton candy smell here too. The aroma really resembles lagunitas brown sugar. Toasted buttery maltyness. Really no hops in the aroma, I'm sure with the unkown age og this bottle they have droped out.

Mouthfeel is super slick and creamy with a rich full bodied feel, some mild carbonation, but overall this is a bitchen feel of a beer!

The taste up front is very sweet and creamy with buttery milky flavors. burnt caramel, with maple and a touch of vanilla. At the swallow it turns another direction with cereal grains coming in and things warming up. As I swallow, my throat warms with delight. Now the hops that I once presumed dead, come alive into the swallow. Bitter pine and lemon rind flavors come around. More roasty cereal grains and lots of carmelised brown sugar. A bit of pineaple flavors and some heat reside.
Lingering bitter and sweet.

This is an ubsurdly good beer!
Apr 08, 2009
Spank Me Baby Barleywine from Tyranena Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 71 ratings