Burly Barleywine
Craftsman Brewing Co.

 

 

On tap at Lucky Baldwin's strong ale fest.

Pours an opaque reddish-orange-brown. Off white low density head accompanies it. Smell is that rich and fruity malt I usually get in barleywines. The taste is a rich malty, caramelly type malt with a booziness coming along with it. This beer wasn't bad but didn't stand out a whole lot in terms of other barleywines I've had.

Reviewed from notes taken while sitting at the bar with Ben, this is a barlewyine aged in oak barrels with cherries, color is closest to a copper, some brighter tones though in the light, one inch white foamy white head, decent lacing, aroma is made up of cherries, wood, caramel, booze, sweetness, and mild hops, taste is rather strong at first, alcohol hits you in the finish, sweet malts in the middle, dry at times with an oaky stickiness, warms up into more fruit and the little bitterness that was there before fades, sweet, hot, and fruity mouthfeel, taste lingers, on the lighter side for carbonation, could drink another glass of this but it can be a bit filling, alcohol is not hidden greatly but it never gets to be too much, not bad drinkability, glad to see Craftsman continue experimenting with barrel aging, not a bad beer at all, wish this was around more often, would drink again without hesitation, recommended

I had this one on tap.

Poured a deep and hazy amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of wood, citrus, and fruitiness. Tastes of citrus, wood, caramel, and fruity. The body was a little syrupy. This one was definitely on the sweet side.