Gooey Valves
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Really nice. Borders on stout territory, but pulls out dark sweet notes in the middle. I knock some points due to a persistent prune flavor in the back, which is not terrible, but a little distracting to the other more refined elements.

 

The pour exudes a deep, mahogany red tone where the body is a near-opaque, near-black appearance; decent head, one-finger thick with a medium khaki hue. Fine, malty nose; light dark malts, light caramel; light toffee; an edge of rye spiciness. Delightfully balanced taste; rich, dark chocolate with associated sweetness; rye and vanilla underpinnings; dark fruit sweetness and esters such as cherry and fig; low-key whiskey presence lurking in the background. Heavy, sticky body; wonderful boozy heat and warmth that grows with each sip.

Like many big, barrel-aged beers, letting the beer warm and open readily exposes nuanced character and depth. This beer is a prime example. Overall, it is intense, but in an open-arm, friendly sort of way. Sipping this is the best way to understand its personality. Wonderful, tasty, impressionable.

ABV: 13%; pouring temperature: 50.4 °F; bottling info: 2025; No:01
Source: Tavour

Pours a dark brown to black in color with a slow rising tan head. Head gave way to decent lacing. Nose is slightly bourbon and sweet cinnamon. Taste is sweet, burnt toffee and cinnamon. Fairly thick beer, with a nice warmth from ABV and then a slight bitterness. Backend is a slight tobacco flavor.

 

Looks like a stout.

Bourbon, hint of cinnamon or some spice.

Not low ABV, reminds me of pecan pie. Needs something hoppy or herbal for balance.

Warm no question, very dense, I would've guessed a stout - barley wine blend.

Look - super dark brown with a great tan head and sticky
Smell and taste - barrel toffee brown sugar prune slight bitter
Feel - full body light carb
Overall - complex and fantastic

12 oz bottle into snifter

Dark brown ale, no visible carbonation. Nose is grainy malts meets oak meets booze. A little more nuanced on the palate - lots of toffee and pit fruit, strong suggestions of raisin.

Decent sipping barleywine, but I've never been a big Horus fan. Their business model is a turnoff, the brews are redundant and overpriced. So I might be a little biased here...