Shiver Me Liver
Skagit River Brewery

 

On Tap at the Elizabeth Station for Skagit Brewer's Night 3/21/12. Served in a 10oz Goblet and aged 5 years which I believe makes this the 2007 vintage.

Look: Pours an great amber color with minimal head and no visible lacing. Attractive looking beer.

Smell: Aromas of Toffee, malt, sherry and a heavy dose of alcohol.

Taste: Complex flavors have rounded out favorably with this barley wine. Layers of malt, muted hops, sherry and sweet toffee meld together into a complex and well crafted treat.

Feel: Thin, hoever fill bodied with little to no carbonation. Negligible alcohol burn.

Drinkability: This beer went down way too smooth for the ABV. I wish I did not have to drive home that night so I could have enjoyed more than the one.

Overall: This was a fantastic beer. Mike (from Skagit) was awesome at the brewer's night. He had great personality, which contributed to the make for an enjoyable Wednesday evening. Seek out this barley wine, it is amazing and priced well.

This was a 10oz goblet of a 5 year old version of this beer. The beer poured a clean, clear coppery mahogany color and poured very still, thus no head.

The aroma was a very hefty malt-sweet scent, as you would expect from a 5yo BW. There was also just enough of a yeasty spice note to add some interest. The flavors were very good, featuring the solid malts and some sweetness. There was that spice kicking around and just a bit of hops were still noticeable. As you might expect, there was also a bit of alcohol burn, but it wasn't annoying or distracting.

The body was very good, smooth, full and even, as befits the style. Drinkability was dangerously good, I could have downed a couple of these beauties. Overall, a very tasty brew. I've never had Skagits BW before and look forward to trying a fresher version of it.

Poured a cloudy orangish brown with good carbonation and a small white head. Nose is citrus hops a little biy of sourness and funk. Taste is citrus, fruit, wood feel, apricot and a hint of sourness. Mouthfeel is booze, sweet, medium bodied with a nice bitterness. Good overall.