Freedom Ale
Tun Tavern

Much thanks to dickinsonbeer for bringing a hand filled bomber to the tasting This version weighed in at 11.5% abv...
Appears a semi-transparent reddish brown with a small white head that quickly fades out into a mild cap. Small spotty lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of vanilla, oak, caramel, nuts, dark fruit, and bourbon.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas in an inticing, and very interesting brew.
Mouthfeel is hot of alcohol, medium bodied, sweet, and skipping with bourbon along the tongue.

First off, this one is brewed every year by the Tun and has been on tap almost constantly since September so I don't know why it is retired, but...

Anyway, this one pours a slick looking brown colour with hints of amber shining through. A bit of a head forms upon poring from the tap but almost immediately subsides into nothingness.

The aroma is sweet: vanilla and hints of caramel, but is also mixed with a touch of bourbon and a bit of general malt as well.

Flavour hits you with a nice blend of the vanilla and bourbon with neither one overpowering the other. There are hints of oak here and there, but minimally, as well as a bit of a syrupy flavour. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and nice and oily/slick.

As I think I have noted in the past, I'm not the biggest barleywine fan nor am I a huge barrel/bourbon aged fan. Some go way over the top. This one hits you with some flavour but in a more subtle (good) way. I don't enjoy drinking a full glass of it because the style isn't my thing, but do enjoy a sampler glass or two while waiting for my meal to be brought out or while waiting for a growler fill. Good stuff.

Arrived at the table with a minimal off white head quickly settling over clear ultra deep ruby red liquid. Rich dark fruit nose with a hint of bourbon goodness surrounded by lots of sweet maltiness. Dark fruits such as plum and prune mix with some light bourbon/oaky notes, background hop bitterness takes a back seat to the strong malty/fruity flavors. Latent alcohol tasted afterwards as well as a dark cherry hint. Finishes long and deep dark and very well steeped in dark fruitiness. Very well done, a great sipping beer thats long on flavor and complexity. I'm glad I finally got to try this ale.

This barleywine was aged in a used Jack Daniels barrel for six months and then transferred onto dry-hops for a short period of time. It pours a clear, very nice, deep crimson body that's capped by an off-white head which holds well and leaves some very minor lace. The aroma is limited but offers a sweet malt with a light bourbon note and some minor tropical fruits. It's full bodied with a gentle carbonation that leaves it exceptionally creamy in the mouth, and enhances its sweetly malty character. The flavor is quite rich, with an intense sweet caramel malt, some vanilla, and an interesting coconut note. A bourbon flavor develops in the finish along with some woody character. Although it leans heavily on malty sweetness, it's actually quite well-balanced with an underlying bitterness, and maintains a high level of drinkablitiy. Rich and complex. The bourbon barrel aging really adds to it's character and makes it quite interesting - taking it far beyond the realm of a standard barleywine. I had a capped bottle that was specially made up, but it's currently available on tap (11/02). Not to be missed.