Twisted Trace
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

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From:
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
Ranked #8
ABV:
9.9%
Score:
97
Ranked #618
Avg:
4.4 | pDev: 7.5%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
177
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 25, 2024
Added:
Feb 19, 2013
Wants:
  63
Gots:
  6
Our Barrel Aged Barley Wine has never tasted so splendid. We changed to barrels from a different distillery because we were unhappy with the performance from the barrels we used before. Wow, that was the correct decision.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by nograz:
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Rated by nograz from Minnesota

4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Feb 01, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sandis
Rated by Sandis from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2024 version poured from a crowler into a snifter. Not particularly thick but nice malty and lightly sweet profile.
Feb 25, 2024
 
Rated: 3.77 by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota

Dec 27, 2023
Photo of NCSapiens
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana

3.81/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The dry oak flavor is super dominant, so if you like that sort of thing give it a try.
Jun 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by ian_graf from Minnesota

Oct 13, 2018
Photo of Vidblain
Reviewed by Vidblain from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2014 vintage - growler pour at a share. Tremendous. Smells and tastes of rich caramel and toffee. Thick texture and mouth feel. Enjoyed side by side with Revolution's Straight Jacket, which I had just been thinking is probably my new favorite barleywine - Twisted Trace blows it away in every single category.

Fantastic beer.
Feb 21, 2018
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.49/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 750ml growler into glass. Cap is dated '2.22.17'.
Clear, ruby brown colored body. Thin ring is fed by rising bubbles. Small spots of lacing slide back down into beer.
Aroma of sweet caramel/toffee, bourbon barrel/oak/tannins, dark fruits (slight cherry to raisin), and spicy, fruity hops.
Taste is more expressive than the aroma, but has the same components. Alcohol is very present. Taste is first sweet, then the barrel aspects come in, and then the darker, slightly sour fruits arrive. After taste is when this most resembles a wine (dark grape/tannins).
Medium to full mouth feel. Supportive carbonation.
A really heavy, layered beer, that must be sipped for full expression and experience. Not difficult to drink but best enjoyed in a non rushed fashion.
Feb 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4.21 by brydeen from Minnesota

Sep 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.49 by BeerGuy8315 from Iowa

Jun 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.35 by Lucular from Maryland

Jan 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.35 by Rutager from Canada (BC)

Dec 10, 2016
Photo of 4DAloveofSTOUT
Reviewed by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
750ml growler dated January 20, 2016.
Medium brown body with thin cap that drops down to no head. Smells of caramel, bourbon, toffee, vanilla, deep oak, light dark fruits, and coconut. Taste is much the same. Premium bourbon, oak, caramel and toffee, and a hint of dark fruit presence. This beer really comes together nicely. Well balanced between the barrel notes and a rich dessert like malt profile. Not much going on for hops even though this is an american barleywine. A full bodied beer with low carbonation. Very smooth barrel aged barleywine. Honestly, Twisted Trace is the best beer coming out of the state of Minnesota. I knew this was a fantastic beer by reputation and after getting to try this beer it exceeded expectations. This is a World Class barrel aged barleywine brewed by Town Hall. Really pumped that I got the opportunity to see how it drinks as it did not disappoint. It overachieved in my opinion.
Jun 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.95 by AdmiralOzone from Minnesota

May 22, 2016
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Reviewed by Bosoxfan20 from Missouri

4.46/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I am a sucker for Buffalo Trace barrel aged beers. No surprise here...I found this one delicious as can be. Great balance of hops and malt notes with this BW.
Apr 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.24 by DaftPatrick from Minnesota

Mar 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.4 by riotontheroad from California

Mar 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4.41 by dheldman from Minnesota

Feb 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.41 by TboneRN from Minnesota

Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by jakemn91 from New Mexico

Jan 24, 2016
Photo of KillerJigger
Reviewed by KillerJigger from Iowa

4.52/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Town Hall, in a tulip. Great color and aroma. Dark amber color with minimal head. Smell is bourbon with that deep barley sweetness. Great barleywine. Top 5 in the world IMHO.
Jan 12, 2016
Twisted Trace from Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
Beer rating: 97 out of 100 with 177 ratings