White Label Barley Wine 2014 Makers Mark Bourbon BA
Brouwerij Emelisse

I had this before on draught back in the day (see RB), but I found an old bottle in the closet. Pours a deep ruby/copper colour with some particles. Small off white head wit a little retention. Aroma's: sweet, caramel/fudge, vanilla, oak wood, boozy. Retronasal follows this mostly, maybe just the slightest sign of oxidization, like dried fruit. Flavour is sweet, but not overly so, with some oak and bitterness for balance. Alcohol is warming, but not burning. Body is not as full as the first time I had this, but still medium. Long finish with some alcohol and moderate bitterness. Aged very well!

 

 

 

 

 

Hazy amber with a small creamy white head.
Great Bourbon on the nose, with oaky vanilla, toasted toffee, peach jam, butterscotch, persimmon, apple brandy. Sweet, fruity and warm.
Sticky fruit jam and caramel in the taste, with lots of sweet clear Bourbon bringing a big punch of alcohol, a bit mouth-numbing. Toffee and sweet malts cover up the fruitiness, without becoming too much. Barrel in the finish with really great oak and vanilla, nice and clean Bourbon, this time just warm. It's nice that the initial "shock" of booze mellows down in the end.
Aftertaste has Bourbon barrel and some lingering malt sweetness. Medium body, medium carbonation.
Really shows off the tasty Maker's Mark barrel, and doesn't exaggerate with the sweetness. A really great barleywine.

 

 

 

 

Nice sweet barley wine, much lower in hop than the 2012 version. sweet creamy, strong, and long lasting

 

Picked this up at the Emelisse Brewery during ZeeBra Fest. Slightly cloudy amber-mahogany pour with a two finger white head with decent retention and great lacing. The nose is big and buttery with lots of bourbon along with hints of vanilla, caramel, oak, butterscotch, and toffee. The taste follows suit with rich oak and bourbon notes front and center. Hints of butterscotch, brown sugar, toffee, caramel, vanilla, and booze. The mouthfeel is thick and syrupy with a subtle creaminess and velvety smooth, warming finish. Overall, this is amazingly drinkable 12% Barley Wine and another great offering from Emelisse!