Big Gnarly Barleywine
Richbrau Brewing Company

Sampled at the brewpub in mid-August, Big Gnarly came out a cloudy light brown with no head, and thus no retention and no lace. The nose is very mild, nothing distinct at all. The mouth is light and quite prickly. Strong alcohol taste with caramelized malt and a hint of fermented grape. Strong roasted hops bitter dominates the aftertaste, although the alcohol is never deep in the background. A fine product indeed.

A half pint is the only way Richbrau serves this. Probably a good idea overall.

Appearance: A hazy and thick and milky dark amber. Looks like a barleywine, in my opinion, should. It was filled to the top so there wasn't much head, and by that token not much lacing either. But man, the color, I love this color. Looks a lot like a Belgian Strong Dark.

Smell: Lots of sweet malt, overripe apples and cherries, tons of sourness. Almost akin to a Flemish Red in a weird way. It was cold at first but got much better as it warmed. Pretty impressive.

Taste: Wowness. For a microbrewery tackling such a crazy style, damn. I was thinking it'd be a hop bomb, but it wasn't. Lots of the overripe fruit and nice sourness, in addition to some sharp and bitter chocolate, and finally a finish that starts with a rush of hops and ends mildly that way also. Very balanced, very distinct, and somehow, in its green state, pretty awesome.

Mouthfeel: Thick, yes. Cloying, no. Pretty much right on I'd say.

Drinkability: Beyond impressed with this. It was a great post-lunch brew, and I hope it's on tap when I go back again. Bravo, fellas.

Appearance: Cloudy medium amber body with neither head nor lacing

Smell: Sweet caramel nose lacks the complexity I expect in a barleywine

Taste: Starts out with a promising sweetness but, like all of the Richbrau beers I tried, the finish is flawed - alcoholic but not flavorful

Mouthfeel: Heavy body with little carbonation

Drinkability: Poorly balanced with too much alcohol and too little complexity in the flavor profile

Taste