Barley Wine
Mayflower Brewing Company


- From:
- Mayflower Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
- ABV:
- 10.5%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.83 | pDev: 12.79%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 37
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 08, 2015
- Added:
- Feb 27, 2010
- Wants:
- 13
- Gots:
- 3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands
2.76/5 rDev -27.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
2.76/5 rDev -27.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Got this from bring a while back. Cheers for hanging out man!
From a bomber into a snifter
Aged in bourbon barrels for several months
APPEARANCE: Pours a two finger, medium-thick looking, off-white head with great retention. Murky copper or dark burnt orange with higher levels of carbonation evident. Head fades to a full cap but only a slight wisp remains leaving touches of lacing down the glass. Good looking.
SMELL: Bourbon barrel with oak, vanilla and alcohol. Toffee and some leather on the nose as well. Some white wine and green grapes in there as well, which is a little odd. Quite aromatic, though a little different than expected.
TASTE: Alcoholic and boozy for sure. Booze, oak, and white wine qualities up front with toffee, caramel sweetness, and a big alcohol punch at the swallow. Bourbon barrel puts some oak and a touch of vanilla in there, then some leather, white wine and booze linger after the swallow. Quite flavorful, though quite odd as well, with the wine flavors giving it a slight tartness. Not bad, but not quite my take on bourbon barrel aged barleywines.
PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Not overly creamy, goes down with a huge burn at the swallow finishes somewhat sticky. Harsh and boozy at the swallow with a big burn as well.
OVERALL: This is flavorful and interesting, but not really typical for the style. The white wine flavors make it slightly tart, and the bourbon barrel aging doesn't really give it that typical bourbon barrel quality either. This is also harsh, boozy and a huge alcohol bomb, making it difficult to enjoy. A decent beer, but not quite for me. Thanks again bring!
Apr 17, 2013From a bomber into a snifter
Aged in bourbon barrels for several months
APPEARANCE: Pours a two finger, medium-thick looking, off-white head with great retention. Murky copper or dark burnt orange with higher levels of carbonation evident. Head fades to a full cap but only a slight wisp remains leaving touches of lacing down the glass. Good looking.
SMELL: Bourbon barrel with oak, vanilla and alcohol. Toffee and some leather on the nose as well. Some white wine and green grapes in there as well, which is a little odd. Quite aromatic, though a little different than expected.
TASTE: Alcoholic and boozy for sure. Booze, oak, and white wine qualities up front with toffee, caramel sweetness, and a big alcohol punch at the swallow. Bourbon barrel puts some oak and a touch of vanilla in there, then some leather, white wine and booze linger after the swallow. Quite flavorful, though quite odd as well, with the wine flavors giving it a slight tartness. Not bad, but not quite my take on bourbon barrel aged barleywines.
PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Not overly creamy, goes down with a huge burn at the swallow finishes somewhat sticky. Harsh and boozy at the swallow with a big burn as well.
OVERALL: This is flavorful and interesting, but not really typical for the style. The white wine flavors make it slightly tart, and the bourbon barrel aging doesn't really give it that typical bourbon barrel quality either. This is also harsh, boozy and a huge alcohol bomb, making it difficult to enjoy. A decent beer, but not quite for me. Thanks again bring!
Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey
3.5/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Don't remember where I acquired this bomber...might have been during a trip to Boston or as an extra from a generous BA.
Appearance: Pours a dull cloudy auburn with minimal head and minimal lace.
Smell: Lots of sugar, caramel, booze, and a bit of fruitiness from the english yeast.
Taste: Same as the nose.
Mouthfeel: Thick side of medium bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Pretty stock English Barleywine with no standout quality whatsoever.
Sep 14, 2012Appearance: Pours a dull cloudy auburn with minimal head and minimal lace.
Smell: Lots of sugar, caramel, booze, and a bit of fruitiness from the english yeast.
Taste: Same as the nose.
Mouthfeel: Thick side of medium bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Pretty stock English Barleywine with no standout quality whatsoever.
Reviewed by BostonHops from Massachusetts
2.86/5 rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
2.86/5 rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
bomber served in on oversized wineglass. (which, incidentally, is fast becoming my go-to glass.)
pours a deep, hazy copper color with about a finger of head that lingers for a while before giving way to a decent amount of lacing.
nose is very sweet and fruity with a little tartness and booze evident; vinous, all i can think about is a white wine. in the first sip i get some grape, apple, alcohol, and a notes of caramel and molasses. i wonder if mine was spiked with chardonnay. (suddenly the wineglass seems very appropriate.) thick, chewy mouthfeel; moderately carbed. the vinous characters don't seem to be a recurring theme in other reviews which leads me to speculate whether i landed an off bottle. going to have trouble finishing the bomber.
original reviewed on: 08-12-2010
May 10, 2012pours a deep, hazy copper color with about a finger of head that lingers for a while before giving way to a decent amount of lacing.
nose is very sweet and fruity with a little tartness and booze evident; vinous, all i can think about is a white wine. in the first sip i get some grape, apple, alcohol, and a notes of caramel and molasses. i wonder if mine was spiked with chardonnay. (suddenly the wineglass seems very appropriate.) thick, chewy mouthfeel; moderately carbed. the vinous characters don't seem to be a recurring theme in other reviews which leads me to speculate whether i landed an off bottle. going to have trouble finishing the bomber.
original reviewed on: 08-12-2010
Reviewed by nas5755 from Massachusetts
4.15/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A-Copper with a decent head that lingers with solid retention for a big and old beer(just shy of 2 years)
S- Roasted caramel, raisins, some tannins and vanilla.
T-Very interesting and complex. I get alot of apple brandy and cider notes mixed with the traditional barley-wine flavors, caramel, raisins, some oxidized malts and hops. Very nice.
M- The only flaw with this beer is the fusel heat on the finish and depending on my mood I either love it or hate it with big beers. Tonight it is sorta clawing at me as it is a bit harsh. Carbonation is on the lower end of the specturm.
Overall- This is a tasty beer, nice bal characters are present. I get a very big apple brandy flavors and some Utopia flavors blended in. Very nice beer.
At or near the peak, I can only see more oxidation coming into play.
Feb 20, 2012S- Roasted caramel, raisins, some tannins and vanilla.
T-Very interesting and complex. I get alot of apple brandy and cider notes mixed with the traditional barley-wine flavors, caramel, raisins, some oxidized malts and hops. Very nice.
M- The only flaw with this beer is the fusel heat on the finish and depending on my mood I either love it or hate it with big beers. Tonight it is sorta clawing at me as it is a bit harsh. Carbonation is on the lower end of the specturm.
Overall- This is a tasty beer, nice bal characters are present. I get a very big apple brandy flavors and some Utopia flavors blended in. Very nice beer.
At or near the peak, I can only see more oxidation coming into play.
Reviewed by rowingbrewer from Massachusetts
3.98/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This beer pours a orange golden color with a decent off white head. the smell is sweet bourbon hints of oak vanilla and toffee. the flavor is a nice bourbon sweetness, vanilla oak, the mouthfeel is a little thinner than i would like and slightly to much carbonation. overal this is a solid barrel aged barleywine. if you have the chance its worth trying
Dec 22, 2011Reviewed by eclipse54 from Minnesota
4.27/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.27/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A 22 ounce bottle I received from FluffyMcTingle a while back; thank you! Opened on my birthday back in May, and this is from notes taken then.
Body appears a hazy copper with golden hues near the edges of the glass; there is little retention on the tan had that develops. Smells of hazelnut, caramel, brown sugar, plum, date, and bourbon in the front followed by a very woody scent from the barrel. Tastes of bourbon, hazelnut, caramel, malt, and brown sugar. There is a strong wood/straw flavor throughout. Mouth is rather sweet, yet smooth with a dry finish. Overall, a great beer that I’d love to have again, especially with the same amount of time on the bottle.
Sep 02, 2011Body appears a hazy copper with golden hues near the edges of the glass; there is little retention on the tan had that develops. Smells of hazelnut, caramel, brown sugar, plum, date, and bourbon in the front followed by a very woody scent from the barrel. Tastes of bourbon, hazelnut, caramel, malt, and brown sugar. There is a strong wood/straw flavor throughout. Mouth is rather sweet, yet smooth with a dry finish. Overall, a great beer that I’d love to have again, especially with the same amount of time on the bottle.
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