White Label Barley Wine
Brouwerij Emelisse

 

Got this one from the Duvel guy down the road from the old place.

From a bottle into a snifter
Best Before December 2019
EBC: 30
EBU: 60
32*P

APPEARANCE: A slow foamer is this one. Pours a one finger, medium looking, slightly foamy, off-white head with good retention. Clear burnt umber body with no real carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a full wisp and clings to the glass. Splotchy wisp remains with some dots of lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Caramel, lots of red fruits, berries, grassy hops and light citrus notes as well. Definitely some alcohol as well. Bold and forthcoming.

TASTE: Caramel, red fruits and leather up front. A bit of alcohol at the swallow with more berries and fruits, then moves into a bold and lingering finish of alcohol, leather, red fruits, berries, caramel and bitter citrus and grassy hops. Well balanced and definitely malt forward, though the hop presence does play a nice role. Good stuff.

PALATE: Medium body with medium carbonation. Creamy on the palate, goes down fine and finishes slightly mouth-coating. Some heat lingers. Good feel.

OVERALL:

Pours a dark amber liquid, a bit like a bourbon. Little foam. Smells sweet, of roasted malt, caramel, maple syrup and alcohol. The taste is similar to the smell, with caramel and maple syrup, along with a nice hop bitterness and a warming alcohol feel. Super smooth mouthfeel, like most good barley wines. A good base beer for the barrel aged versions to come.

A tasting friend of mine pulled this out of his cellar and ensured me the 2011 version was a unique recipe.

It pours a hazy amber color, white head, but honestly the carbonation is some what lacking.

The nose is citrus and floral hops, caramel malt, earthy notes, crystal malt. The flavor is much more subdued, a little old shoe leather, citrus and floral hops, roasted malts and a bit of toffee. This is pretty good with the age on it.