Old Battleaxe Barleywine
Ice Axe Grill / Mt. Hood Brewing Co.

 

Served in a small Pils glass, Old Battleaxe is a hazy auburn with a small, creamy off-white head that leaves pretty heavy lace at first, although none from the rest of the beer.

Smell is malty and rich, sweet. Caramel and toffee, some alcohol and nice fruity apricot notes, overall not to intense though.

Taste is big toffee malt, some nice English noble hop spice, clean. Obviously strong but very smooth, with just a slight solvent character. Could use a bit more depth and complexity though, maybe that would come with age, although in my experience it generally just rounds out the edges. A nice treat after an epic day on the mountain.

Mouthfeel is sticky, with a decent carbonation level, dry finish, medium body.

Drinkability is good, not to exciting but no flaws, and the smoothness makes it dangerous. Still, why not age some barrels and pour this as a vintage, as it's probably not a huge seller, they wouldn't need to set aside that much to have a 1 or 2 year vertical going.

Another great sexy beer from Mt. Hood; the kind you can really relax and sink into a sofa with. The color is clouded cinnamon sunset, alive with hypnotic radiance and capped by a thick sandy head. A crushing lace drapes the glass, augmenting a perfumed fragrance of dark, enticing fruits.

Old Battleaxe delivers all the ornate complexity of a solemn wintry nectar, while promulgating an immediate accessibility owing to its refined state of mellowness. The taste is at once peppery and fruity with a wealth of clover honey and raisin. A tempered alcoholic glow lends a seductive warmth to a body that is fully contoured but never syrupy.

A treasure of a beer and the perfect après-ski.