The Wizard
Short's Brewing Company

The WizardThe Wizard
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From:
Short's Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.8 | pDev: 11.84%
Reviews:
101
Ratings:
187
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 29, 2017
Added:
Dec 28, 2010
Wants:
  30
Gots:
  21
Short’s first barley wine is a force to be reckoned with! From its batch number, to its identical boil time of 6 hours and 66 minutes, this deep dark amber ale holds some epic warming flavor. A monstrous malt bill creates a full bodied behemoth with high residual malty sweetness of caramel and toffee. These colossal flavors are then enhanced by ample additions of raisins during fermentation.

100 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by emerge077:
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This is a big bastard... served in a tulip glass, it pours a deep ruddy chestnut color, with crimson glints in the light. A thin layer of yellowish ecru foam sits on the surface and slowly dissipates into clusters of bubbles around the edges.

Piney herbals, dates, specialty malts, and vinous alcohol in the aroma.

Rich and resiny taste, massively dry and bitter with a middle full of different flavors. Peanut butter, pine needles, aspirin, dried fruit. Burly body, creamy texture, low to medium carbonation levels. Bitterness is somewhat abrasive, more so than the alcohol which is surprisingly hidden. As i warms, the maltiness comes out a bit more, enhancing some raisin bread flavors. Intensely hoppy though, sort of a different riff on the Bigfoot school of barleywines.

Thanks to Amanda & Justin for sharing this one!
Apr 17, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by moshea from Michigan

Jan 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.23 by Brandonparrent from Michigan

Dec 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.78 by wethorseblanket from California

Dec 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by zachraymer from Michigan

Dec 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by PA-Michigander from Pennsylvania

Dec 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by KAF from Iowa

Nov 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by domfreego from Michigan

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by JasonR1975 from Michigan

Jul 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by IMSPEAKNOENGLISH from Illinois

Jul 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Jul 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Jun 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Auslander from Ohio

Jun 03, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by Omensetter from Minnesota

Apr 08, 2014
Photo of MDDMD
Reviewed by MDDMD from Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A-red brown color with a smallish off-white head and some lacing

S-brown sugar, raisins, little malt, toffee

T-caramel malt, raisins, brown sugar, toffee, hint of spice, moderate bitterness

F-medium body with light to moderate carbonation, crisp, but a little cloying

O-too much sweetness and raisin for me
Mar 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by TriageStat from Pennsylvania

Mar 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by midlifec from Michigan

Dec 13, 2013
Photo of Goblinmunkey7
Reviewed by Goblinmunkey7 from Massachusetts

2.57/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
Appearance: Clear dark copper with a bunch of orange thrown in for good measure. No head, cap, collar, nothing. Minimal carbonation on the pour. A bit darker than is typical, but not unexpected given the listed boil time.

Smell: A solid punch of alcohol soaked raisins. Miscellaneous dark fruit with some fig and plum and red grape, and even more raisins. Crazy caramelized malts. A bunch of caramel, toffee, and even some molasses. Crazy sugar. Caramel malt with a slight roasted malt. Sherry and raw sugar. Minimal hop influence, maybe some herbal notes and citrus.

Taste: Sweet and then sweet. Raisins soaked with booze. Straight alcohol heat through the entire sip. So much raisin and ripe plum. Some grape skin and almost honey. Caramel and rich toffee. Slight bitterness coupled with a hint of citrus and herbal hop flavors. Slight alcohol spiciness. Molasses and even more raisins. Straight sherry as it warms. Some slight roasted elements as well. Decently complex.

Mouthfeel: Smooth medium pushing full body with negligible carbonation. Slightly dry.

Overall: Probably in Hufflepuff.

Now with two scoops of raisins and sprinkled with sugar. Hard to finish a bottle.
Oct 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by adrienne from Illinois

Sep 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by fishmich from Michigan

Aug 31, 2013
The Wizard from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 187 ratings