Old Ruffian
Great Divide Brewing Company

Old RuffianOld Ruffian
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From:
Great Divide Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10.2%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.2 | pDev: 10%
Reviews:
1,128
Ratings:
2,513
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 24, 2023
Added:
Nov 28, 2004
Wants:
  299
Gots:
  440
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MadScientist:
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Reviewed by MadScientist from New York

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This was picked up about 7 months ago so it's probably last years release; it kind of got forgotten about in my basement.

A: A medium copper with a red hue and excellent clarity. A persistent, light-tan head that is a quarter inch of compact foam and leave small patches of bubbles on the glass instead of lacing.

S: A strong, rich malty aroma with a moderately-strong caramel malt character and a moderately citrus hops aroma. There is a low fruit ester with a slight raisin character. Smooth, perfume alcohol aroma a a moderate level.

T: An intense malt flavor with bready and caramel malt flavors. The hops bitterness is at a moderately-strong level with a moderately-low citrus hops flavor. There is a modest amount of malt sweetness up front but the balance is strongly towards the bitter with the alcohol also countering the malt sweetness. The after taste is of caramel and hops bitterness.

M: A smooth and slightly cream medium-full bodied beer with moderate carbonation. The alcohol brings a moderate warmth that keeps on creeping all the to the belly.

O: Even with a year of age it's still a sipping beer but man is smooth. Normally I'd be more than happy to enjoy this in all of it's young, aggressive, hop forward glory but a little bit of age smooths the rough edges and tamps down the hops. This beer would pair well with a steak but I'll be matching it with a Reuben for tonight's dinner.
Nov 20, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.04 by DOCRW from Kentucky

May 24, 2023
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.06/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Taken from notes-2019

Pours brown in color with a one-finger foamy off-white head that reduces to a ring. Smells of caramel, toffee, raisin, brown bread, fruit cake, faded piney and citrus hops. Tastes of malty caramel and fruit cake up front, followed by faded piney hops, raisins and figs. Finishes with caramel and faded hops. Medium body with moderate carbonation, foamy mouthfeel and slightly warming finish
Jun 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by doctorgary from New York

Nov 11, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by BeerRay from Rhode Island

Apr 10, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.88/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
1 pint 6 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.2%. Dark orange to brown colour, hazy. Big and lasting pale orange to beige head. The sweetish aroma has notes of pine, ripe fruits, raisins and molasses. Full and warming mouthfeel. Rich flavour with loads of malty sweetness, notes of raisins, caramel, molasses and udefined fruit, while the high IBU makes itself known towards the end, through a substantial and resinous hoppy bitterness.
Mar 20, 2021
 
Rated: 3.73 by emerge077 from Illinois

Mar 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by jschott75 from Illinois

Mar 18, 2021
Photo of MesaDan
Reviewed by MesaDan from Minnesota

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nov, '20 bottle aged since 1/28/16: Good nose of sweet dark fruit; Amber hue with tan head & good lace; medium mouthfeel w/ smooth effervescent carbonation; taste is bitter raisins and dank fig/date; dry quenching finish that retains bitter bark notes. For me, I would like to see a bit better balance with sweet to bitter, but my review reflects what the brewery says about their beer.
Nov 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.83 by brandoneast from Texas

Sep 16, 2020
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Barley wine bottle share on 1/31. Poured a crimson/ruby red w/ a thin soap like head. Aroma of hops, fairly astringent. The palate was smooth and slickly The flavor was bitter hops followed by sweet citrus and malts..Incredibly good and tasty.
Jul 19, 2020
 
Rated: 4.75 by tittyfish from Minnesota

Jun 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.06 by JakerLou from New Hampshire

May 17, 2020
Photo of Nass
Reviewed by Nass from Florida

4.06/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Vintage 2016

I like most of their yeti imperial stout variants so let's see how their barley wine goes & hopefully the 90 IBU's have mellowed out . The pour is umber brown color into the snifter glass. On the taste i'm getting some hops but they have mellowed out somewhat, some dark cherry, black currant, malts, caramel, pine, & burnt sugar. It's a really good Barleywine & it leave a nice lacing around the glass but I still favor Yeti variants. cheers! A-
Jan 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.98 by FreshZ from Missouri

Dec 10, 2019
Photo of Peach63
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York

4.94/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pours dark amber to brown. 1/2 inch yellowish tan head. Thick lacing. Moderate carbonation.

Aroma of roasted & caramel malts, oak, molasses, toffee.

Tastes is sweet and bitter. Rye, oak, toffee, vanilla, molasses, dates, whiskey.

Full bodied, creamy mouthfeel, very rich.

One of the best barley wines I've had so far.
Oct 04, 2019
Photo of Samlover55
Reviewed by Samlover55 from New York

4.29/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle into perfect pint
Bottled on 1/29/15
Pours a dark brown with cream colored head
Aroma of sweet rich malt, candied hops
Taste follows real mellow, with the just the right amount of hops
Smooth creamy feel, no hint of the alcohol
Overall it aged really well, this was a superb barleywine
Jul 28, 2019
Photo of Viaduck
Reviewed by Viaduck from California

4.16/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Chestnut brown with a modest head. Very pretty aroma, caramel covered malt with a hint of hops. Taste is salty bitter & very little of the sweetness promised by its aroma. Complex flavor, hoppy, pine, resin, raisin, malted barley, molasses & a strong pepper finish. Silky smooth & fairly thick, not much alcohol flavor but plenty of numbing effect. Fun to drink & delicious!
Jul 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.14 by DarrellK from Florida

May 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.49 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Apr 04, 2019
Old Ruffian from Great Divide Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 2513 ratings