Old Ruffian Barley Wine | Great Divide Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Great Divide Brewing Company
Colorado, United States
greatdivide.com
Style: American Barleywine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.20%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Old Ruffian is a hefty, hop-forward Barley Wine. Seemingly mellow at the start with subtle fruit aromas and complex caramel sweetness, it quickly becomes aggressive with its bold hop flavors and huge hop bitterness. Ultimately, the big body, succulent sweetness and massive hop character come together to work wonders on your palate.
Added by gbontrag on 11-28-2004
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Reviews: 1,095 | Ratings: 2,413
4.66/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Bottled in January of 2015.
Pours a murky, maroon with a thin, creamy off-white head.
I can smell the wonderful mix of citrus hop and malt from a couple feet away. Candied mango and orange smell also.
Boy, the hop an malt combine very well for a wonderful mouth experience. The bitter hop is right up front, with many subtle fruits showing up along with citrus notes. This would include dark fruits of plum, cherry and dates. The malt bill in pleasant that expresses molasses as well. An alcohol bite lingers with slight resin. A wonderful Barleywine!
★ 559 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Bottled in January of 2015.
Pours a murky, maroon with a thin, creamy off-white head.
I can smell the wonderful mix of citrus hop and malt from a couple feet away. Candied mango and orange smell also.
Boy, the hop an malt combine very well for a wonderful mouth experience. The bitter hop is right up front, with many subtle fruits showing up along with citrus notes. This would include dark fruits of plum, cherry and dates. The malt bill in pleasant that expresses molasses as well. An alcohol bite lingers with slight resin. A wonderful Barleywine!
★ 559 characters
3.98/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottled January 2015. Got away from me in the cellar.
Aroma is boozy, with specialty malt fruitiness, deep notes of caramel, toffee, dark fruit in the form of prunes, plums, and dates, with plenty of floral hop notes.
Flavor is specialty malt fruity at the forefront. Hop flavoring has faded, with just a hint of citrus underlying a fairly sweet, caramelly malt character that becomes bitter, grassy, and earthy as it carries into the finish. The aftertaste is earthy and fairly bitter and lingers. Bitter bite overwhelms.
★ 529 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottled January 2015. Got away from me in the cellar.
Aroma is boozy, with specialty malt fruitiness, deep notes of caramel, toffee, dark fruit in the form of prunes, plums, and dates, with plenty of floral hop notes.
Flavor is specialty malt fruity at the forefront. Hop flavoring has faded, with just a hint of citrus underlying a fairly sweet, caramelly malt character that becomes bitter, grassy, and earthy as it carries into the finish. The aftertaste is earthy and fairly bitter and lingers. Bitter bite overwhelms.
★ 529 characters
3.7/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle with a bottling date of 24 Feb. 2015.
Look: Cloudy brown-copper colored body. Some sediment in the bottle even after a full pour.
Aroma: Ripe and dried fruits, yeasty baked bread.
Flavor: Toffee, alcohol esters, ripe and dried fruits, hops, baked bread. Slightly boozy (low for style). Mildly bitter.
Overall: a good example of the style with relatively well hidden alcohol.
★ 397 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle with a bottling date of 24 Feb. 2015.
Look: Cloudy brown-copper colored body. Some sediment in the bottle even after a full pour.
Aroma: Ripe and dried fruits, yeasty baked bread.
Flavor: Toffee, alcohol esters, ripe and dried fruits, hops, baked bread. Slightly boozy (low for style). Mildly bitter.
Overall: a good example of the style with relatively well hidden alcohol.
★ 397 characters
4.05/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle, bottled JAN 18, 2016 printed on the label. Acquired a single bottle of this stuff from a friend and have been holding it down. Finally getting around to reviewing this one.
Poured into a Central Waters snifter.
A - Pours a deep bright ruby body, semi-translucent with two fingers of frothy khaki-cream head that stays awhile and leaves excellent strands of scattered lacing throughout. Looks excellent.
S - Aroma is nice - the fruity hops & the bitterness is still there, with a touch of alcohol heat on the end. Notes of juicy stone fruit - grapefruit, mango, orange, pine. Slightly subtle, but a pleasant and inviting aroma.
T - The taste kicks it up a few notches from the nose: big hop bitterness still fresh, bitter, piney, & dank. Extremely prevalent hop presence, even after over 6 months in the bottle. Bitter citrus fruit rings, orange, grapefruit, mango, citrus pith. The malt is there, but has not even begun to creep forward. Not overly sticky or sugary, with subtle flavors of caramel, toffee, or brown sugar. Extremely bitter & resinous. Touch of smoke in there?
M - Feel is smooth, crisp, creamy, full-bodied, with good carbonation, and lots of lingering piney hop bitterness / resins, with a fair deal of lingering alcohol heat on the finish also. Goes down very smooth and easy for a 10.20% abv beer, though.
Overall, a nice barleywine from Great Divide, and a very likely contender for your cellar; i would love to see what some serious aging would do to some of these bottles. Highly recommended stuff.
Great Divide Old Ruffian -----4/5.
★ 1,589 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle, bottled JAN 18, 2016 printed on the label. Acquired a single bottle of this stuff from a friend and have been holding it down. Finally getting around to reviewing this one.
Poured into a Central Waters snifter.
A - Pours a deep bright ruby body, semi-translucent with two fingers of frothy khaki-cream head that stays awhile and leaves excellent strands of scattered lacing throughout. Looks excellent.
S - Aroma is nice - the fruity hops & the bitterness is still there, with a touch of alcohol heat on the end. Notes of juicy stone fruit - grapefruit, mango, orange, pine. Slightly subtle, but a pleasant and inviting aroma.
T - The taste kicks it up a few notches from the nose: big hop bitterness still fresh, bitter, piney, & dank. Extremely prevalent hop presence, even after over 6 months in the bottle. Bitter citrus fruit rings, orange, grapefruit, mango, citrus pith. The malt is there, but has not even begun to creep forward. Not overly sticky or sugary, with subtle flavors of caramel, toffee, or brown sugar. Extremely bitter & resinous. Touch of smoke in there?
M - Feel is smooth, crisp, creamy, full-bodied, with good carbonation, and lots of lingering piney hop bitterness / resins, with a fair deal of lingering alcohol heat on the finish also. Goes down very smooth and easy for a 10.20% abv beer, though.
Overall, a nice barleywine from Great Divide, and a very likely contender for your cellar; i would love to see what some serious aging would do to some of these bottles. Highly recommended stuff.
Great Divide Old Ruffian -----4/5.
★ 1,589 characters
4.41/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This barleywine is at least 6 years old, heck it is so old I cannot read the the born on date. Poured into a tulip glass at 50 degrees. A very tall two finger light tan/ orange head that has good retention. The beer is orange and brown in color and is opaque. Some lacing is left on the glass from the head. The beer does present with some carbonation bubbles.
A rich hop note is still noticeable, with grapefruit, caramel, bread, floral, brown sugar, earthy, and floral.
A very big tasting beer, with earthy note, grapefruit, caramel, bread, floral, caramel, toffee, grapefruit, and some yeast.
The mouthfeel is carbonated slightly astringent, and chewy.
This is a good barleywine, rich flavorful, and really good. The age on it mellowed it out. I think fresh this would be a huge monster if fresh.
★ 807 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This barleywine is at least 6 years old, heck it is so old I cannot read the the born on date. Poured into a tulip glass at 50 degrees. A very tall two finger light tan/ orange head that has good retention. The beer is orange and brown in color and is opaque. Some lacing is left on the glass from the head. The beer does present with some carbonation bubbles.
A rich hop note is still noticeable, with grapefruit, caramel, bread, floral, brown sugar, earthy, and floral.
A very big tasting beer, with earthy note, grapefruit, caramel, bread, floral, caramel, toffee, grapefruit, and some yeast.
The mouthfeel is carbonated slightly astringent, and chewy.
This is a good barleywine, rich flavorful, and really good. The age on it mellowed it out. I think fresh this would be a huge monster if fresh.
★ 807 characters
4.21/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I have to agree with what seems to be the consensus around hear: Old Ruffian is a fine barleywine, but not quite as good as Bigfoot. Had this fresh and at exactly 2.5 yrs old and thought the older was slightly better, but not anywhere near "aged." It didn't even show the first signs of mellowing out. Seems like this could last for many, many more years and I would love to have one at, say, 6-10 years old. (Have the BBA version around that's ~1yr old and think I'll sit on that for a while.)
★ 494 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I have to agree with what seems to be the consensus around hear: Old Ruffian is a fine barleywine, but not quite as good as Bigfoot. Had this fresh and at exactly 2.5 yrs old and thought the older was slightly better, but not anywhere near "aged." It didn't even show the first signs of mellowing out. Seems like this could last for many, many more years and I would love to have one at, say, 6-10 years old. (Have the BBA version around that's ~1yr old and think I'll sit on that for a while.)
★ 494 characters
4.33/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Nice amber color. A fair amount of head that recedes quickly with minimal lacing. Smell of flowery, citrusy hops, with some honey sweetness coming through. Taste follows the nose: bitter, hoppy, but also sweet with some nutty or bready aftertaste. The hops definitely dominate this one, but I'm drinking a relatively fresh bottle, so I wonder how that will change with some aging. Nice amount of carbonation, but the mouthfeel is a little thinner than many barleywines. Hides the alcohol pretty well with just a tinge of warming in the throat. Overall: a pretty dang good hoppy barleywine, but emphasis on the "hoppy" in that sentence. I think it could do with a little more balance and sweetness.
Bottle dated February 1, 2016.
★ 729 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Nice amber color. A fair amount of head that recedes quickly with minimal lacing. Smell of flowery, citrusy hops, with some honey sweetness coming through. Taste follows the nose: bitter, hoppy, but also sweet with some nutty or bready aftertaste. The hops definitely dominate this one, but I'm drinking a relatively fresh bottle, so I wonder how that will change with some aging. Nice amount of carbonation, but the mouthfeel is a little thinner than many barleywines. Hides the alcohol pretty well with just a tinge of warming in the throat. Overall: a pretty dang good hoppy barleywine, but emphasis on the "hoppy" in that sentence. I think it could do with a little more balance and sweetness.
Bottle dated February 1, 2016.
★ 729 characters
4/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Mike at the Barleywine tasting.
Deep copper color off white head. Rich caramel and toffee with light pitted fruits and hints of floral earthy hop. Pretty tasty and I'm surprised I haven't rated this before.
★ 223 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Mike at the Barleywine tasting.
Deep copper color off white head. Rich caramel and toffee with light pitted fruits and hints of floral earthy hop. Pretty tasty and I'm surprised I haven't rated this before.
★ 223 characters
4.21/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
outstanding barleywine. smell was really fresh when I opened the bottle. Color was perfect. Taste was good. Not the best barleywine I've had but a really good one
★ 162 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
outstanding barleywine. smell was really fresh when I opened the bottle. Color was perfect. Taste was good. Not the best barleywine I've had but a really good one
★ 162 characters
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle dated 1/29/15 into pint glass. Pours a hazy, translucent amber, with a light tan head. Initial impression is fairly innocuous: light caramel sweetness...but that quickly morphs into hoppy bitterness and a very dry finish. Medium-to-thick mouthfeel (just about perfect) and medium carbonation (perhaps a tad on the high side). Alcohol is pretty well hidden, but even at 14 months of age it's still noticeable and just a little ragged around the edges. Not what I'd call "smooth", but actually that adds to the character. This is quite a good barleywine - if you have to choose between this and SN Bigfoot, choose this.
★ 630 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle dated 1/29/15 into pint glass. Pours a hazy, translucent amber, with a light tan head. Initial impression is fairly innocuous: light caramel sweetness...but that quickly morphs into hoppy bitterness and a very dry finish. Medium-to-thick mouthfeel (just about perfect) and medium carbonation (perhaps a tad on the high side). Alcohol is pretty well hidden, but even at 14 months of age it's still noticeable and just a little ragged around the edges. Not what I'd call "smooth", but actually that adds to the character. This is quite a good barleywine - if you have to choose between this and SN Bigfoot, choose this.
★ 630 characters
4.23/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a tulip glass.
A: A clear burnt amber with a one-finger eggshell white head that lingered. Nice thick lacing.
S: Caramel, toffee and bready malts combine with citrus-y hops to produce that perfect American barleywine nose. Nice.
T: The taste is classic, too. A rush of malts, brown sugar and caramel followed by citrus hops that give it a bitter burn on the end.
M: Medium with medium to heavy carbonation. A real sipper with good friends.
O: This one could go toe to toe with SN's Bigfoot. I'll seek it out in the future. If you like American barleywines, take the Great Divide.
★ 609 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a tulip glass.
A: A clear burnt amber with a one-finger eggshell white head that lingered. Nice thick lacing.
S: Caramel, toffee and bready malts combine with citrus-y hops to produce that perfect American barleywine nose. Nice.
T: The taste is classic, too. A rush of malts, brown sugar and caramel followed by citrus hops that give it a bitter burn on the end.
M: Medium with medium to heavy carbonation. A real sipper with good friends.
O: This one could go toe to toe with SN's Bigfoot. I'll seek it out in the future. If you like American barleywines, take the Great Divide.
★ 609 characters
4.23/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had on-tap at Champs in State College, Poured into a goblet.
L: Pours a deep clear amber-reddish color. 2 fingers of thick creamy off-white head. Lovely lacing.
S: Caramel and sweets, newly baked bread, citrusy hops, and brown sugar.
T/F: Malty and rich up front.. caramel and brown sugar vie for prominence.. faint spiciness, and then the floral and citrus hops kick you in the other direction on the backswing. Sticky and thick... warming and complex. Just so much to think about with this on the tongue.
O: A delicious American style Barleywine.. hoppy, malty, boozy... it's like your crazy ex. Complicated and needy and will take you places you didn't quite know you could go.
★ 694 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had on-tap at Champs in State College, Poured into a goblet.
L: Pours a deep clear amber-reddish color. 2 fingers of thick creamy off-white head. Lovely lacing.
S: Caramel and sweets, newly baked bread, citrusy hops, and brown sugar.
T/F: Malty and rich up front.. caramel and brown sugar vie for prominence.. faint spiciness, and then the floral and citrus hops kick you in the other direction on the backswing. Sticky and thick... warming and complex. Just so much to think about with this on the tongue.
O: A delicious American style Barleywine.. hoppy, malty, boozy... it's like your crazy ex. Complicated and needy and will take you places you didn't quite know you could go.
★ 694 characters
4.19/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12oz bottle dated 1/28/16 into a DFH snifter L: deep red with 2 fingers of cream colored fluffy head and tons of lacing A: sweet brown sugar mixed with piney notes T: very hop forward with a slight caramel sweetness too much alcohol followed by a bitter pine aftertaste M: smooth and creamy O: this is too hot fresh, age might help the alcohol subside a bit. However, it's very fine representation of an American barleywine, but for my money SN Bigfoot is better
★ 476 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12oz bottle dated 1/28/16 into a DFH snifter L: deep red with 2 fingers of cream colored fluffy head and tons of lacing A: sweet brown sugar mixed with piney notes T: very hop forward with a slight caramel sweetness too much alcohol followed by a bitter pine aftertaste M: smooth and creamy O: this is too hot fresh, age might help the alcohol subside a bit. However, it's very fine representation of an American barleywine, but for my money SN Bigfoot is better
★ 476 characters
3.9/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Cool red and light brown appearance, full inch of off white head to it. Aroma was a lot of caramel and alcohol.
Taste was a real rich and mellow but not mild flavor excursion with plenty of caramel. A little bit of hopping, straddles the American and English barleywine genre, but leans American. One of the more reliable, consistent types of top tier base barleywines out there.
★ 383 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Cool red and light brown appearance, full inch of off white head to it. Aroma was a lot of caramel and alcohol.
Taste was a real rich and mellow but not mild flavor excursion with plenty of caramel. A little bit of hopping, straddles the American and English barleywine genre, but leans American. One of the more reliable, consistent types of top tier base barleywines out there.
★ 383 characters
3.97/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark copper color with minimal head. Really have to throw the beer into the glass to get one. A ripe fruit aroma. Taste is similar but with caramel sweetness and a strong hop bite. Flavors get a lot more complex and appetizing as the beer warms. So much so that I really didn't like it at first but once it got very warm, my feelings changed quite a bit. Don't store in the fridge!
★ 381 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark copper color with minimal head. Really have to throw the beer into the glass to get one. A ripe fruit aroma. Taste is similar but with caramel sweetness and a strong hop bite. Flavors get a lot more complex and appetizing as the beer warms. So much so that I really didn't like it at first but once it got very warm, my feelings changed quite a bit. Don't store in the fridge!
★ 381 characters
4.93/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Damn, I love a good, hoppy-barleywine! This really hit the spot with it's robust caramel/toffee notes, pungent stone fruit flavored and subtle yet powerful hop-profile.
★ 185 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Damn, I love a good, hoppy-barleywine! This really hit the spot with it's robust caramel/toffee notes, pungent stone fruit flavored and subtle yet powerful hop-profile.
★ 185 characters
4.58/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
bottled on 12/12/13, purchased in late August 2015. kept in a 42 degree mini fridge until i consumed it just now.
pours a dark auburn with some orange/brown tones to it (which i guess is Auburn but it's an off color). it's dark but not completely brown, like a dark clay color. thick head as well.
smell is sweet, maybe some caramel malt and fruit hops.
taste is pretty good. some heavy malt caramel taste followed by hop bitterness. some earthy hops at that. has a boozy tinge to it as well. goes down easy, isn't too thick and certainly isn't thin.
overall i really like this. it's my first barleywine and i wasn't sure what to expect but i like this. it has nice hoppiness to it but is clearly not a dIPA. it's full of malt but is balanced by big sweetness and earthy hops. will certainly be trying more barleywines in the future.
★ 837 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
bottled on 12/12/13, purchased in late August 2015. kept in a 42 degree mini fridge until i consumed it just now.
pours a dark auburn with some orange/brown tones to it (which i guess is Auburn but it's an off color). it's dark but not completely brown, like a dark clay color. thick head as well.
smell is sweet, maybe some caramel malt and fruit hops.
taste is pretty good. some heavy malt caramel taste followed by hop bitterness. some earthy hops at that. has a boozy tinge to it as well. goes down easy, isn't too thick and certainly isn't thin.
overall i really like this. it's my first barleywine and i wasn't sure what to expect but i like this. it has nice hoppiness to it but is clearly not a dIPA. it's full of malt but is balanced by big sweetness and earthy hops. will certainly be trying more barleywines in the future.
★ 837 characters
4.52/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Really enjoyed this beer. I'm not a big hop fan, in the sense of IPAs, but this hoppy barleywine is highly enjoyable. Pours with a relatively thick head, hazy brown color. The aroma is enticing. I'm not well versed enough to pick out all the scents, but I'm immediately impressed. The taste follows the nose and is a complex flavor with a nice thick mouthfeel. I highly recommend.
★ 386 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Really enjoyed this beer. I'm not a big hop fan, in the sense of IPAs, but this hoppy barleywine is highly enjoyable. Pours with a relatively thick head, hazy brown color. The aroma is enticing. I'm not well versed enough to pick out all the scents, but I'm immediately impressed. The taste follows the nose and is a complex flavor with a nice thick mouthfeel. I highly recommend.
★ 386 characters
3.75/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottled on Jan 29th, 2015, consumed on April 7th. Poured cold into a tulip glass.
Look = 4.25 Clearish amber color with red highlights and 2.5 fingers of off white head that fades to a cap. Good retention and lace.
Aroma = 3.5 Caramel and toffee malt notes in the nose, highlighted with hoppy citrus and pine notes.
Taste = 3.75 Caramel and toffee maltiness, balanced somewhat with hoppy pine and orange peel, moderate bitterness on the finish and mild boozy taste.
Feel = 4.0 Thick and full bodied, sticky and resiny feel like a syrup with low to medium carbonation.
Drinkability = 3.5 Thick and boozy, big barleywine with lower drinkability.
Overall = 3.775 Disappointing score for a well respected American style barleywine. It didn’t come together for me.
★ 761 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottled on Jan 29th, 2015, consumed on April 7th. Poured cold into a tulip glass.
Look = 4.25 Clearish amber color with red highlights and 2.5 fingers of off white head that fades to a cap. Good retention and lace.
Aroma = 3.5 Caramel and toffee malt notes in the nose, highlighted with hoppy citrus and pine notes.
Taste = 3.75 Caramel and toffee maltiness, balanced somewhat with hoppy pine and orange peel, moderate bitterness on the finish and mild boozy taste.
Feel = 4.0 Thick and full bodied, sticky and resiny feel like a syrup with low to medium carbonation.
Drinkability = 3.5 Thick and boozy, big barleywine with lower drinkability.
Overall = 3.775 Disappointing score for a well respected American style barleywine. It didn’t come together for me.
★ 761 characters
3.88/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 12oz. bottle.
A: Pours a deep clear ruby amber with an inch and a half of off-white head. Solid retention and leaves behind some nice lacing.
S: Aromas of caramel malt, barley, fermented yeast, and red licorice initially. Then dark fruits, citrus, fig, and earthy hops. Also a noticeable alcohol note.
T: A very hop forward barleywine. Earthy hops, and caramel malts up front, then red licorice, citrus, and peppercorn. Finishes with flavors of caramel, sweet bready malts, and a pine/earth like hop spiciness.
M: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Dry astringent aftertaste with a alcohol warmth.
O: A very pleasant American Barleywine, I like the hop forward take they did but I feel like it is slightly overrated. A very pleasant and drinkable brew that I will buy again but I feel this would be better after cellaring for a year or two.
★ 878 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 12oz. bottle.
A: Pours a deep clear ruby amber with an inch and a half of off-white head. Solid retention and leaves behind some nice lacing.
S: Aromas of caramel malt, barley, fermented yeast, and red licorice initially. Then dark fruits, citrus, fig, and earthy hops. Also a noticeable alcohol note.
T: A very hop forward barleywine. Earthy hops, and caramel malts up front, then red licorice, citrus, and peppercorn. Finishes with flavors of caramel, sweet bready malts, and a pine/earth like hop spiciness.
M: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Dry astringent aftertaste with a alcohol warmth.
O: A very pleasant American Barleywine, I like the hop forward take they did but I feel like it is slightly overrated. A very pleasant and drinkable brew that I will buy again but I feel this would be better after cellaring for a year or two.
★ 878 characters
4.23/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a beautiful dark reddish brown color with a big tan head with good retention and lacing. This is what a beer should look like!
Aroma of sweet caramel malts, dark fruits, and alcohol. Fig, cherry, and a splash of grapefruit are most notable.
The taste follows the nose. Caramel malts and dark fruits dominate the first sip. A good deal of bitterness provides a nice bite on the finish. Very sweet. Aged cherry. Some earthy flavors and bready malts pair well with the warmth from the alcohol. As with many Barley Wines, the beer really transforms as it warms.
Full bodied with low carbonation. 10.2% ABV is well hidden, which results in a beer that can and will sneak up on you. As drinkable as you'll find at this ABV.
Overall, a very well done Barley Wine. Not overwhelming in any aspect, but solid on all fronts.
★ 824 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a beautiful dark reddish brown color with a big tan head with good retention and lacing. This is what a beer should look like!
Aroma of sweet caramel malts, dark fruits, and alcohol. Fig, cherry, and a splash of grapefruit are most notable.
The taste follows the nose. Caramel malts and dark fruits dominate the first sip. A good deal of bitterness provides a nice bite on the finish. Very sweet. Aged cherry. Some earthy flavors and bready malts pair well with the warmth from the alcohol. As with many Barley Wines, the beer really transforms as it warms.
Full bodied with low carbonation. 10.2% ABV is well hidden, which results in a beer that can and will sneak up on you. As drinkable as you'll find at this ABV.
Overall, a very well done Barley Wine. Not overwhelming in any aspect, but solid on all fronts.
★ 824 characters
4.24/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a polished dark wood color under a 1" thick off-white head which leaves good lace. Aroma is dominated by caramel, toasted malts, and somewhat fruity. Taste follows smell with a hoppy bitterness. Good balance. Slightly boozy.
★ 230 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a polished dark wood color under a 1" thick off-white head which leaves good lace. Aroma is dominated by caramel, toasted malts, and somewhat fruity. Taste follows smell with a hoppy bitterness. Good balance. Slightly boozy.
★ 230 characters
4.1/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Deep amber color. Nice fruity, toffee smell. Beer is as described. A hoppy barleywine. A lot of bitterness from the hops which doesn't pair as well as I'd like with thr sweet malts. Very light carbonation.
★ 206 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Deep amber color. Nice fruity, toffee smell. Beer is as described. A hoppy barleywine. A lot of bitterness from the hops which doesn't pair as well as I'd like with thr sweet malts. Very light carbonation.
★ 206 characters
4.53/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I'm typically not a huge fan of GDBC beers. This Ruffian, however, is something special. It's well worth the price and after drinking 8 bottles in the last few weeks, I'm very tempted to fork'over the $$ for the BA Ruffian.
L: Amber, with a good head and perfect lacing for the style.
S: A great mix of sweet fruit, toffee and a niceboozy after tone.
T: almost the opposite of the aroma. It starts off a bit bitter and boozy and finishes sweet.
F: I really like that this doesn't have a dry feel with a a bunch of carbonation.
O: Well done, Great Divide...well done.
And bonus points for actually stamping the bottling date on the bottles!!!
★ 652 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I'm typically not a huge fan of GDBC beers. This Ruffian, however, is something special. It's well worth the price and after drinking 8 bottles in the last few weeks, I'm very tempted to fork'over the $$ for the BA Ruffian.
L: Amber, with a good head and perfect lacing for the style.
S: A great mix of sweet fruit, toffee and a niceboozy after tone.
T: almost the opposite of the aroma. It starts off a bit bitter and boozy and finishes sweet.
F: I really like that this doesn't have a dry feel with a a bunch of carbonation.
O: Well done, Great Divide...well done.
And bonus points for actually stamping the bottling date on the bottles!!!
★ 652 characters
Old Ruffian Barley Wine from Great Divide Brewing Company
4.22
out of 5
based on 2,413 ratings.
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
**
04/11/2014
Bottle (2012) to glass
Aroma Is not strong for the style. Turpentine, tar, apple, pear. Look is creamy head, orange-ish brown. Cloudy. Legs. Taste is more apples, tar-ish aroma is woody in tasting it. Caramel. Alcohol well masked. Most completely hidden of course at almost 13%, ....actually the bottle says 10.2%; But still impressive. Liking it more as I drink (but isn’t that always the case). Smooth, sour aftertaste.
**
★ 443 characters