Old Blarney (Port Barrel With Dates)
Moylan's Brewery

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Moylan's Brewery
 
California, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.56 | pDev: 2.81%
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
3
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 11, 2013
Added:
Nov 18, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by westcoastbeerlvr:
Photo of westcoastbeerlvr
Rated by westcoastbeerlvr from California

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

Jan 11, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Phelps
Reviewed by Phelps from Arizona

3.47/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Enjoyed in a snifter at Papago, this here’s Moylan’s standard barleywine aged inside port barrels, with dates thrown in for good measure.

The tarnished copper old pennies, the liquid is murky, revealing little more than shadowy fingers. The head is a fizzy cream, popping away without a trace within moments.

An aggressive swirl of the glass gives me no bubbles whatsoever, so I'll pick up what aroma I can from the still liquid. What I get isn’t bad: overripe oranges, mint, a lot of ethanol, caramel sweetness, new oak, vanilla, green apple, some butter. A deep, heavy, boozy aroma.

The port barrels impose themselves more forcefully in the flavor — I get tons of the sugary, heavy grape flavor, with softer bits of dates. Alcohol is the next flavor that emerges, then orange, caramel, brown sugar and herbal mint. As it warms, even more alcohol emerges, and I’m worried I won’t be able to make it through this snifter before tiring of the burn. The port aging has done nice things, but there's way too much booze in the way.

Despite the lack of head, there's a nifty bit of carbonation that seems to squeeze the tongue. The medium-full body is syrupy and liqueur-like, with enough alcohol fumes to light a fire.

Port/date Old Blarney would be tasty in very, very small doses. A two-ounce snifter, perhaps. As it was, my ten-ounce snifter was way more than enough, and I doubt I'll ever need another glass. A good attempt to add interest to an otherwise middling beer, but the booze just ran away with it.
Sep 23, 2011
Photo of t0rin0
Reviewed by t0rin0 from California

3.7/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Sampled 11/13/2010 at -bal fest 2010. 2009 vintage aged in Stillwater Port barrels with dates added.

Pours hazy brown/amber with rocky off white head, some retention, and not much lacing.

Aroma is oak, sherry, booze, and sweet malt.

Flavor is tanic and a bit harsh but also sweet, fruity, and oaky. Some chocolate and caramel are present too along with a medium level of carbonation and too much booze.

Body is on the lighter side of medium and fairly drinkable.

Ƭίcƙ.
Nov 18, 2010
Old Blarney (Port Barrel With Dates) from Moylan's Brewery
Beer rating: 3.56 out of 5 with 3 ratings