Druid Fluid
Middle Ages Brewing Co., Ltd.

Druid FluidDruid Fluid
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From:
Middle Ages Brewing Co., Ltd.
 
New York, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 12.31%
Reviews:
249
Ratings:
344
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 28, 2019
Added:
Oct 30, 2001
Wants:
  41
Gots:
  24
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SaucyA:
Photo of SaucyA
Reviewed by SaucyA from Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks Adam :)

A - Pours a really nice rusty amber into the snifter, topped with a creamy, thick white foam. Lacing present but not awesome.

S - Bubblegum, piney hops, yeast, alcohol. Lots of hops on the backend. Not super powerful, but what I smell is delicious. If it were a little stronger, I think it'd get a higher score.

T - Piney hops with a nice malt base. Slight astrigency and booziness, but neither detract... rather, they amplify the tastes involved. Not overly sweet, and not overly bitter. It's a well-balanced, well brewed beer if there ever was one. Definite orangey/lemony/citric vibes. Starts hoppy, and doesn't finish too dry, or sweet. Frankly I really, really enjoy this brew.

M - Nice and thick with ample carbonation. Crisp without being sparkly. Good body.

D - This shit is awesome. I'd drink this constantly, and as much of it as I could, if it were available.

Notes: It seems like the hoppier Middle Ages brews are exponentially better than their not-so-hoppy brews. I don't know if it's just me... but Wailing Wench, X, and this were great... and the rest of their lineup has been just okay.
Dec 10, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of VoxRationis
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

4.29/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Served on tap in a 12 oz (355 ml) goblet at The Evergreen in Syracuse, NY.
A: Pours a crystal clear, amber color with robust 1 to 2 finger, off-white head formation, brief retention, but gorgeous lacing.
S: Aromas of cherry, orange, caramel and/or molasses.
T: Sweet. Flavor is a solid version of the nose; low bitterness. Very nicely balanced and drinkable.
M: Full bodied with surprisingly strong carbonation.
O: A delicious, crushable American Barleywine.
Aug 28, 2019
Photo of mikeg67
Reviewed by mikeg67 from New Jersey

3.69/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bottle. Pours amber with tall, long-lasting, foamy white head. Aroma is of caramel malt, raisins, brown sugar and some hops. Body is full and crisp. Taste is of herbal hops, caramel malt and ripe fruit. Finish is long and hoppy. Good overall.
Jan 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Oct 20, 2018
Photo of Bier82
Reviewed by Bier82 from New York

1.78/5  rDev -54.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
What happened to this beer?! It use to be so good, picked one up at the brewery today. It smells skunked somehow, and tastes of bad stale bread. I couldn't take more than two sips of the bomber before dumping it.
Mar 19, 2018
 
Rated: 2.91 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Mar 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.28 by Jwb1838 from New York

Nov 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.72 by mltobin from Connecticut

Sep 29, 2017
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

4.12/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Druid Fluid, despite being a little murky, still glows with brilliant pomegranate-coloured highlights. Impressively (and somewhat unusually) for a 9.5% barleywine, it has a thick and spongy, off-tan head that never dismantles. Hold the beer at any angle into the light and it glimmers like Christmas bobbles in a tree. Definitely get out the nice glassware for this one.

I love the sticky-sweet, figgy flavours of English Barleywines... but sometimes I love the sappy resins and festering citrus wedge notes of the American style even better. Tonight is one of those nights. The aroma still sports that familiar marmalade quality of the Old World originals albeit with less raisiny fruit and more botanical-like tree sap and tropical fruit nectar.

The palate is likewise distinguished by pine- and spruce-tinted flavours, zested and candied citrus skin (piths included) as well as a minority share of figs, dates and ripe purple plums. While the malt is deliciously gooey and smacks lightly of butterscotch, it's the leafy and lemon-accented taste of the hops that make the most lasting impression in the aftertaste.

Middle Ages doesn't put dates on their labels - it'd be a much better world if all breweries did - so I can't be sure of the exact age of this bottle, but it has spent more than a year in the cellar. Druid Fluid isn't a rough example to begin with but tonight's sample is especially mellow; there's a slight boozy, bitter hit on the end but it gives way to smooth apricot and date notes.

It's easy to be impressed by Barleywines, especially if you're new to them - they are among the richest and strongest ales out there. I first reviewed Druid Fluid over a decade ago and, a little to my surprise, I'm as impressed by it now as then. A style often associated with the winter or holiday season, it's indeed a perfectly supple, satiating accompaniment to a crackling fire.
Dec 05, 2016
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

4.09/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From the 650 ml. bottle. Age unknown. Sampled on July 17, 2016.

The pour is a handsome looking reddish-mahogany with a lasting, soft tan tan.

The aroma is malt forward with the grittiness and sweetness of barley but a low to no hop profile. No alcohol in the aroma either. Some dark fruit.

Medium to full body. Although elements of acidity.

Abundant forward barley malt sweetness in the taste. Big bitter finale. Lingers. The booze is a little more noticeable in the flavor than in the aroma.
Jul 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Jun 09, 2016
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

3.72/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a murky/opaque burgundy. Medium-thin off-white head. Fair retention. One ring of lace left behind. Sugary sweet malt in the aroma. Taste is very sweet, with continuous malt flavors being the only note. Feel is of medium consistency, and filling. Overall, a solid barleywine, but not something that draws me in for another glass.

Served in a 12oz snifter.
Apr 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by WiggyKGB from Illinois

Apr 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by alcohline_trip from Pennsylvania

Apr 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.22 by madelf66 from Pennsylvania

Apr 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.16 by JoshWXST from Massachusetts

Mar 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by Wilson_Looker from New York

Mar 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by Phurley2 from Massachusetts

Feb 01, 2016
Photo of utopiajane
Reviewed by utopiajane from New York

4.24/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours hazy at first then clearing. A sweet orange. Eye candy really with a fat head of creamy tan foam that lasted very well. Nose is light toffee and caramel with some crackery and breaddy scents as well. They used six different malts in this beer but they don't tell you which ones on their website. In fact I was surprised at how much beer they actually make there. In the store there are maybe 2 or 3 styles at any one time but they make many more than that. I have to say that while I was enjoying the nose on this beer I asked myself why haven't I bought any of their beer before? I think it's the labelling, no freshness dating and the shelf placement. Hops are herbal and citric but not terribly citric so I think beer has some age on it. There is a good amount of ticklish or tangy hop spice to greet the nose as well as a very firm herbal that does not outshine the malt even though it is quite prominent.

The taste really surprised me. The mouthfeel is a a creamy and smooth malt with layers of complexity that unfolds on the palate after an initial citric burst of flavor. These hops are integral to keeping the perception of lightness in the mouthfeel. The bitterness is firm but not prominent and that is just enough to give a slight flourish at the front palate while the silken malt slides gracefully to the finish. No alcohol on the palate and in the finish just a bit of warmth. As the beer warms the malt shows a bit of nuttiness. This drinks with only a bit of sweetness in the finish and plenty of hops to carry it through, nothing cloying or syrupy.

Outstanding and Excellent!
Jan 10, 2016
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22 oz bomber served at cellar temperature into a tulip glass. No freshness date indicated. Purchased while visiting the Empire State.

Appearance - Pours a dark orange nearly brown colored beer with a whoosh sound from a lot of carbonation being released upon the pour.Quite hazy and an initial finger of ivory head is poured. That recedes quickly to a thin quarter finger of foam and sparse lacing is left around the rim of the glass.

Smell - An interesting blend. Initially musty with a dry citrus aroma, papaya, mango and a little lime zest, then wallop of molasses supercharges your nose. Quite sweet with plenty of fruity and sugary esters shining through. Definitely among the most aromatic noses in a barleywine.

Taste - Starts moist and juicy with citrus falvors the mango and lime show up most prominently, then mouth puckeringly dry and bitter with some earthy hop flavors next. Then finishes with some malty flavors in the form of molasses and /or butterscotch.

Mouthfeel - Appears juicy initially but finishes mouth puckeringly dry, one of the driest beers I've ever had. Carbonation is quite expressive and body overall is reasonably light, but the dryness is the main attraction feature.

Overall - Depedning on how dry you like your beers to finish, this may fluctuate. I'm not partial to a particularly dry beer, but the flavors work together in a way that permits this. Overall reasonably easy to drink, as far as big sippers go. Taste is good and nose is substantial and a little different which is really pleasant. Not my favorite barleywine, but well-made nonetheless.
Dec 15, 2015
Druid Fluid from Middle Ages Brewing Co., Ltd.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 344 ratings