Broad Shoulders Barleywine
Goose Island Beer Co.

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From:
Goose Island Beer Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
8%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 18.02%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
41
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 29, 2015
Added:
Jan 26, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
"Dark caramel color with a rich velvery mouthfeel and subtle malt sweetness that balances with the huge amount of hops used to brew this beer."
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Lawl3ss:
Photo of Lawl3ss
Reviewed by Lawl3ss from Texas

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
(from notes)
On tap at Goose Island Clybourne 1/17/12. 10 oz. snifter.

Look- A beautiful clear burgundy/roasted chestnut with bright ruby highlights that got me excited. Started with a finger of ivory head that settled fairly quickly. No visible carbonation. This beer really looks like a nice brandy, particularly in a snifter. Dark for a barleywine, but it looks gooood.

Smell- Hints of dates, candied nuts, and licorice. Very subtle despite the snifter, which was unexpected. Swirling and warming didn't have much discernable affect.

Taste- Lightly sweet, strong dark fruit and toffee show themselves early. Burnt grain, anise, and rose hips emerge after a second, and the aftertaste is walnut-like. Not as bold as I prefer, but quite interesting. Alcohol well hidden.

Mouthfeel- Sticky, mild-to-medium carbonation. Mildly astringent on the back. Overly cloying for the rather mild palate. Finishes on the drier side, and quite tannic.

Overall- Didn't quite hit the right notes for me, too restrained (though this is appropriate for the English style claimed on the menu.) Mouthfeel was off-putting and didn't mesh well with the otherwise quite nice subdued feeling of the beverage. What I really have to knock points off for is the price, however. I realize that it is a brewpub specialty offering and is priced accordingly, but the truth is I could (and did, at the Binny's across the street) pick up a barleywine bomber I would enjoy much more for half of what I paid for 10 oz. of this brew. Perhaps Middle Ages' Druid Fluid has ruined me, but I'll pass on this one if there is a next time.
Jan 20, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.39 by Alpha309 from California

Dec 29, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by funkyaudio from Illinois

Sep 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by TheBeerdedCharmer from Pennsylvania

Jun 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by jegross2 from Illinois

Feb 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

Nov 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by jaydoc from Kansas

Nov 23, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by ChicagoShakeAndBake26 from Illinois

Aug 29, 2013
 
Rated: 2.25 by Kaveman from Illinois

Aug 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by illtexzona from Illinois

Feb 25, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Brew33 from Ohio

Feb 10, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Dactrius from Netherlands Antilles

Jan 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Jan 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by theminutemen from Missouri

Jan 18, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by spycow from Illinois

Jan 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by thinwhiteduke from Illinois

Jan 12, 2013
 
Rated: 1.5 by Melicita from Maryland

Dec 31, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by olafphysics from Minnesota

Dec 17, 2012
Photo of rhoadsrage
Reviewed by rhoadsrage from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
(Served in a snifter)

A- This beer pours a slightly dense deep red toffee brown body with a light tan head of thick cream that last a bit.

S- The vinous grainy aroma has some dry fruit hints when it warms a bit.

T- The toffee flavor has a nougat taste to it with some nice toasted malt notes coming through when it warms. There is a nice green hop hint in the finish. The finish is almost sweet but I think it is a dry finish with the malt character giving it more of a sweet perception.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with no real alcohol heat until the last few sips.

O- This is a very easy to drink barleywine that is a bit on the dry side with a good but subtle hop support in the finish adds some nice depth.
Nov 28, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by IMSPEAKNOENGLISH from Illinois

Nov 16, 2012
Broad Shoulders Barleywine from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 41 ratings