North Shore Iron Works
Right Brain Brewery

 

Very nice barley wine. Light amber I color with a thin ring of clingy foam. Aromas of burnt sugar, plum, fig. Nice complexity of flavors with dark fruit (figs, prune) upfront followed by brown sugar, syrup, honey, and toffee. Avoids being too sweet with a nice balance of floral and earthy hops. Booze is only slightly noticeable.

22oz undated per label poured into a sample snifter and split between four. Bottle calls out 9.6% ABV and 40 IBU. An amber color with virtually no head or lacing at all. Aroma was sweet and boozy. Taste was sweet and boozy as well. Neither the honey or maple syrup took the lead. Mouthfeel was medium bodied, lowly carbonated and sweet. Overall, good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A - Pours a dark amber with a thin off white head. Heavy soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is dark fruits, honey and toasted malts.

T - The tastes is dark fruits, brown sugar, toffee, and earthy hoppiness. The honey and maple syrup add a nice light sweetness that is not overpowering.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Smooth creamy mouthfeel with a dry finish.

O - A very solid Barleywine. The honey and maple syrup are subtle and nice depth to the flavor.

 

Bottled May 21, 2015, so nearly a year old. 8.9% says thel label.
A: Great looking spritsy dark amber copper, translucent, and with a lasting cap of eggshell foam leaving pretty good lacing
S: maple syrup toffee honey sweetness. A touch of booze comes through at basement/cellar temperature.
T: Hop presence is minimal, even for the style, but just balanced enough bitterness to round out the welcome assault of honey and maple syrup. Not a fruit-forward or especially complex barleywine, but solidly enjoyable. Almost old-ale like ( a la Curmudgeon or Old Stock Ale). Lingering honey and maple sweetness that I'm not complaining about, really pronounced honey flavors..
F: full-bodied to thick, the honey really coats the tongue and it's smooth as can be, really. Carbonation is spot-on.
O: I really like this beer. I think there are a few bottles of the more recent waxed batch still around here, I'll probably pick at least another up at $9/22oz. Solid, if slightly different take on an English BW by a Michigan brewer. Recommended.

 

 

 

 

8.9% according to my 2015 bottle. One of the better brews I've had from Right Brain.