Small Batch Series No. 3: English Style Barleywine
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling

Small Batch Series No. 3: English Style BarleywineSmall Batch Series No. 3: English Style Barleywine
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From:
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
 
Texas, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.39 | pDev: 26.25%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
73
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 10, 2020
Added:
Nov 10, 2012
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  18
This vintage ale undergoes a 3 hour boil to create a complex layer of malt character including caramel, toffee, ripe fruit, and leather. The floral and earth-toned Kent Goldings hops add a soft background of spice giving depth to the malt flavors and providing an overall balance. It has been aged for 6 months in oak barrels to allow time for this big beer to mature and mellow. At 10% ABV, it’s made to be laid down like a fine wine. If stored properly this barleywine should keep well for upwards of 10 years. Drink one now, save more for later!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JGlitz87:
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Rated by JGlitz87 from Texas

3.5/5  rDev +3.2%

Mar 30, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sammy
Rated by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.78/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
brett there. big bubbles. big brett. malt backing. some tart.absolute infection but interesting.fruity snd controlled funk.
Nov 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by csfcmitchell from Texas

May 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by CDCNAM from Louisiana

Mar 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.71 by shigg85 from Japan

Jan 09, 2016
Photo of XicanoBeerRun
Reviewed by XicanoBeerRun from Texas

4.33/5  rDev +27.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Smells like a sour beer which surprises me for a barley wine. It works really well though. Great caramalized sugar taste, red wine, earthy wood flavor. Dark orange color. Thick mouthfeel that lingers. Glad I aged this for 3 years.
Jan 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by nathanmiller from New York

Nov 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.35 by wethorseblanket from California

Feb 26, 2015
Photo of Goblinmunkey7
Reviewed by Goblinmunkey7 from Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Appearance: Slightly hazed burnt orange. Massive pillowy off-white head on the pour. Super sticky. Chunky cap and collar for the duration. Chunks and notches of lacing. Moderate to high carbonation on the pour.

Smell: Reasonably sure the oak barrel threw a bug. Slight lactic push with a sharp acetic bite in the back. Malts are huge and sweet adding caramel, toffee, and dark cooked sugars. Some mild roasted elements coupled with graham cracker. Very slightly bready. Hops are minimal adding a very mild earthy element Some alcohol spice as well. Oak pushes through the back. Pear. Lime zest. Some fruity esters from the original yeast strain.

Taste: Lots of oak. Some small notes of vanilla with a solid push of caramel and toffee. Lots of cooked and caramelized sugar. Malt base is sweet with some roasted elements and a touch of biscuit and bread dough. The barrel definitely added a bug of some sort but it's not necessarily bad, just way out of style. A very mild lactic element in the back but it runs mostly acetic up front. Alcohol adds a touch of heat to the back and an associated spiciness. Very mild earthy hop element. Nutty. A hint of leather.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Moderate carbonation. Creamy. Smooth.

Overall: A fortunate mishap.

It's not an English Bareleywine...it was. The oak barrel and the associated bug made for a clean malty "sour." Nothing special but I would drink it again and the malt profile lending itself to an accidental bug is enjoyable.
Feb 18, 2015
 
Rated: 1.75 by CTJman from Connecticut

Nov 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by spycow from Illinois

Oct 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Getalegup from Texas

Aug 02, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by ThreeFishes from Florida

Jul 16, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by dfhhead25 from Pennsylvania

May 23, 2014
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Reviewed by outdoor7or24 from Georgia

3.71/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Opened a bottle dated 10/10/2012 that I've been cellaring. Don't recall my notes from 2012, but I think it has improved or enhanced it.
A: pours a huge 3 finger head, off white in color, some fine carbonation bubbles, a little bubbly lacing
S: leather, musty, oak, wood, vanilla, grape must
M: medium body and kinda syrupy feel
T: big malt, hops, spice, leather, oak, some earthiness, smooth but alcohol becomes more noticeable as it warms
O: good brew,

Updated review: opened bottle on 1-1-2015, bottle date 10/10/2012, poured into dogfish Head glass.
Seems like time has helped even more.
A: pours a cloudy golden copper due to bottle conditioning, great +2 finger foam head n lacing quickly fades.
S: citrus, spice, oak, vanilla
M: medium, slight oil resin sticks on the tongue
T: orange, citrus, sweet malt, oak, boozy, earthiness, hops are a little less than what I recall.
O: good brew, didn't get a bad bottle like others have mentioned.
Apr 26, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Thanx4AllDaFish from Texas

Apr 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by MacQ32 from South Carolina

Mar 29, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by BMart from Pennsylvania

Mar 05, 2014
 
Rated: 1 by BGsWo22 from Texas

Jan 26, 2014
Photo of LittleDon
Reviewed by LittleDon from Texas

4.06/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Judging by earlier reviews, I lucked out on this one. Opened 15 months after bottle date and poured into a tulip shaped glass. Two and a half fingers of head eventually subsides into a persistent head with a fair amount of lace. The aroma is oak, vanilla, caramel, bourbon like in quality. Sweeter than I prefer, but in keeping with the style. Caramel, vanilla, persimmons, oak, with a fair amount of bitterness to finish. Medium heavy body and soft mouthfeel.
Jan 25, 2014
Small Batch Series No. 3: English Style Barleywine from Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 73 ratings