First Gold Rush Barleywine
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

The beer pours a dull coppery amber with a thin off-white head that fades quickly - no residual oil, but some attempt at lacing. The nose is syrupy sweet with hints of orange marmalade, masked booze, and spicy hops. The taste is sweet and bready upfront followed by a hoppy spiciness and an unexpected, lingering bitterness in the finish. This beer is quite malty and feels clean, full bodied, but not chewy, has a good bite from the hops, some citrus/lingering bitterness, minimal fruit, and very hidden booze. This is a really great barleywine, though I'm unsure on price/availability, it definitely scratches that malt itch when you're craving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012 Vintage in to tulip.

A - Hazy dark orange/amber colour with a bright orange glow along the bottom and half a finger of taupe coloured head.

S - Caramel, biscuit, toffee and floral notes.

T - Sweet brown sugar, caramel and toffee flavours are dominant with some floral and fruity flavours also present and a warming alcohol presence throughout.

M - Medium to full body. Light carbonation.

 

Appearance: Pours orange-brown in color (mostly orange when held to the light). Head initially stood about a half of a finger tall and was beige in color. It dissipated quickly, but there is still a ring of foam left around the outside of my glass with some spotty lace in the center as well.

Aroma: Caramel, Raisins, Grilled Pineapple, Earthy, as well as some Candied Hops.

Taste: Nice combination of subtle hop bitterness and sweet earthy malts right up front. There's some caramelized pineapple and a touch of orange zest towards the middle. A definite sweetness surfaces, but it stops WELL short of cloying, as there is an underlying bitterness that last right on through the finish. I'm getting little to no alcohol, which is quite the feat considering the ABV.

Mouthfeel: This one clocks in right around medium with a carbonation level that is on the lighter side of medium.

Morey's Bottom Line: The back of the bottles says that the Brett is there to lend a bit of pineapple flavor, and I have to agree. It certainly isn't adding much in the way of tartness...although this beer isn't nearly as sweet as I was anticipating either. A really nice sipper in my humble opinion.