Barkley's Belgian Style Ale
Anderson Valley Brewing Company
- From:
- Anderson Valley Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.97 | pDev: 5.79%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 23, 2022
- Added:
- Apr 08, 2016
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
No description / notes.
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Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
3.57/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.57/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
$ 6.00 (Including tax)/bomber ($0.273/oz) from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. Reviewed 10/27/19.
Undated bottle. Stored on the shelf at the store, stored at home at 42 degrees and served at 55 degrees.
Appearance – 3.5.
First pour – Amber, hazy.
Body – Dark brown, opaque. When held to the light, some penetration occurs at the top, showing dark brown and murky.
Head – Medium (Maximum 3.2 cm, aggressive center pour), tan, initially fizzy but settling into a high-density head with a few rocks, short duration, diminishing to a two to four mm crown fed by effervescence with a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None. Not unexpected at 9% ABV.
Aroma – 4 – Malt, dates, figs, brown sugar.
Flavor – 3.5 – Begins with medium malt flavors and approaches cloying. The nose does not directly translate to the taste, the taste being more muddled and of generic dark fruit. No alcohol (9 % ABV) flavor or aroma, no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide. Gastric warming does abruptly occur after the first swallow but does not repeat.
Palate – 3.5 – Full, almost creamy, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.25. (-0.25 point for undated personal container). Drinkable, but not really a good example of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. The price is appropriate.
Oct 27, 2019Undated bottle. Stored on the shelf at the store, stored at home at 42 degrees and served at 55 degrees.
Appearance – 3.5.
First pour – Amber, hazy.
Body – Dark brown, opaque. When held to the light, some penetration occurs at the top, showing dark brown and murky.
Head – Medium (Maximum 3.2 cm, aggressive center pour), tan, initially fizzy but settling into a high-density head with a few rocks, short duration, diminishing to a two to four mm crown fed by effervescence with a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None. Not unexpected at 9% ABV.
Aroma – 4 – Malt, dates, figs, brown sugar.
Flavor – 3.5 – Begins with medium malt flavors and approaches cloying. The nose does not directly translate to the taste, the taste being more muddled and of generic dark fruit. No alcohol (9 % ABV) flavor or aroma, no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide. Gastric warming does abruptly occur after the first swallow but does not repeat.
Palate – 3.5 – Full, almost creamy, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.25. (-0.25 point for undated personal container). Drinkable, but not really a good example of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. The price is appropriate.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Unknown vintage; drank 5/5/16 @ Fischman's.
Murky brown/purple appearance.
Minimal khaki head; almost no lace.
Plum, leather & faint banana notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Dried plum, banana & faint booze heat flavors up front; spiced bite notes on the finish.
Nice Quad vibes here; not transcendent but definitely above average.
Feb 19, 2019Murky brown/purple appearance.
Minimal khaki head; almost no lace.
Plum, leather & faint banana notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Dried plum, banana & faint booze heat flavors up front; spiced bite notes on the finish.
Nice Quad vibes here; not transcendent but definitely above average.
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.21/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a bomber from TW Arrowhead 4-15-17 for $7.99. Received at TW 3-7-17; no visible bottling date.
Beer poured a burgundy brown with a nice off white head on the initial pour.
Nose is classic Belgian esters and phenols.
Taste is figs and currants forward with light cloves on the back end over a medium malt base.
Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied and smooth.
Overall this is a nice surprise to have an authentic Belgian strong dark ale made by an American brewery at a reasonable price. I recommend this to fans of this style!
Jul 30, 2017Beer poured a burgundy brown with a nice off white head on the initial pour.
Nose is classic Belgian esters and phenols.
Taste is figs and currants forward with light cloves on the back end over a medium malt base.
Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied and smooth.
Overall this is a nice surprise to have an authentic Belgian strong dark ale made by an American brewery at a reasonable price. I recommend this to fans of this style!
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio
4.1/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thoroughly enjoyed from the 22 oz bottle in a snifter. This Belgian Strong pours a deep brownish mahogany with a nice head of off white foam that subsides to a thick ring, thin layer, and decent light sudsy spotty lacing. Nose of brown sugars, subtle yeasty funk, dates, and cherries, and booze. Flavors follow the nose with candy brown sugars on the front and middle, cherries, figs and prunes hit middle and sides of the taste, and a nice earthy yeasty funk comes through nicely on the back with a touch of booze. Nice mouth feel, medium carbonation, medium mouth feel, and a sweet boozy finish. Substantial and definitely in line with the style. Excellence brewed in California. Very nice.
Cheers
Apr 08, 2016Cheers
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