Barleywine 2016
Sebago Brewing Company

Barleywine  2016Barleywine  2016
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From:
Sebago Brewing Company
 
United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
13%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.29 | pDev: 4.43%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
33
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 12, 2021
Added:
Dec 26, 2016
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  5
No description / notes.
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Ratings by jlindros:
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.39/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a nice frothy thicker foamy 1 finger head that retains very well for the abv, nice soapy lacing, dark mahogany chestnut brown color

Nose is very nice, a good aged sweet caramel malt aroma, aged malt effect, caramel, toffee, a little nutty, nice bourbon notes and a little vanilla barrel, some dark fruits, little brandy soaked raisin like, very nice

Taste brings a little sweetness but quickly into that soft aged malt again, sweet caramel and candy reddish malt, mild toffee and nutty notes but not much, a flash of alcohol warmth and tingle but not much of that either but a little perfumey alcohol note, mild bourbon not as much as the nose but it's there as well as a little vanilla barrel, hint of baking spices, then more dark fruits, mild raisin fig date like with brandy notes, mild sweet sticky finish flash of alcohol

Mouth is fuller bod, but soft aged malt, decent carb, a little warming tingly booze but not bad for 13%

Overall this was quite a nice beer, the age possibly helped the alcohol presence and aged malt effect, but may have toned down the barrel, so if the taste had more barrel and bourbon this would be outstanding, but still very nice.
Nov 22, 2018
More User Ratings:
Photo of StoutElk_92
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

4.69/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
12oz. can

Pours a dark burgundy maroon red brown with a creamy light tan khaki colored foam head that has decent retention. Smells like molasses, dark toffee, cherry, dried dark fruit like fig, raisin, woody oak bourbon barrel, caramel, vanilla, slight chocolate, char, hint of cinnamon spice, with some earthy herbal piney hops. Taste follows for the most part, big molasses, dark toffee, dark caramel, dark toasted bready malts, cherry, fig, raisin, maybe prune, dried dark fruit, woody oak bourbon barrel, hints of vanilla, chocolate, char, subtle cinnamon spice, with some slightly bitter earthy herbal piney hops. Feels medium plus bodied, a bit thick and viscous, slick, creamy with smooth moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice bourbon barrel aged barleywine.
Jun 12, 2021
Photo of darktronica
Reviewed by darktronica from Indiana

4.36/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2016 can poured to a snifter. I would definitely classify this as an English barleywine rather than American. It leans much more heavily towards the leather, tobacco, and prune realm; although it has plenty of caramel and turbinado to complement those notes, it does not present much of the hop bitterness or bright fruitiness that distinguishes American barleywines. The closest comparison I would draw is a slightly less boozy, slightly lower-ABV version of Mother of All Storms.
Jun 29, 2018
 
Rated: 4.31 by bl00 from Pennsylvania

Feb 26, 2018
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4.7/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2016 on the label.
This was poured into a snifter.
The appearance was a thick dark brown close to black color with a stifled little off white foamy head that slid off at a fairly decent pace. Little bit of concave lace speckled the sides nicely.
The aroma captured a superb blend of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, woody spice, dark fruits, anise, earthy sweetness, leather, refined sweet barrel and a touch of brown sugar.
The flavor matches the aroma sweetly with the earthy edges and spice coming in for a good sturdy balance. Ever so light bitterness from the dark chocolate slid in underneath. Aftertaste was moderately sweet through the milk chocolate, dark fruits and anise.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sipping quality about it. Carbonation seemed to have kept up with the age of the can, surprisingly enough. ABV felt fairly close to par. Some acceptable stickiness in the feel, not cloying.
Overall, who would have thought Sebago would brew a killer Barleywine that can hold up this long. Well, I just need to go back to Five Corners Beverage in Essex to get more of this fine gem.
Feb 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.04 by CraftFan5 from New Jersey

Jan 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.36 by edcarrjr25 from Maine

Dec 03, 2017
Photo of thebeers
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a very dark, rich blood-red tinted near-black color. Two fingers of creamy tan head -- much larger than expected for the style. Solid lacing.

Big bourbon in the aroma, with chocolate, a little toffee, slight mustiness, stale hops, a hint of sherry, a hint of plum.

Vanilla, toffee, hazelnut and dark fruit up front in the taste. The musty yeast and stale hops contribute to a semi-dry finish with just a hint of sherry, wood, chocolate and warming alcohol.

Nice smooth, creamy feel with enough carbonation to add to the slight dryness. Not as heavy or sticky as some other.

Plenty of depth in this one. Maybe I'd prefer a bit more of an aftertaste, but still really great all around. 10/31/16 canned-on date.
Nov 12, 2017
Photo of Tony210
Reviewed by Tony210 from New Jersey

4.31/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: pours a dark amber with scattered off white foamy head that dissappates quickly.

Smell: big aroma of caramel, toffee, oak, bourbon, raisin, booze, cola.

Taste: lots going on here - full bodied, big flavors, robust. Caramel and toffee lead off, followed by raisin, bourbon, rum, has a kind of weird finish, almost tart, and short, not a lingering finish. Not overly sweet like a lot of Barleywines can be.

Feel: again, full bodied, great carbonation, sticky, sweet.

Overall: really neat brew in a can - I have never seen anything Barrel Aged in a can before. Very tasty, worth picking up if you come across it.

10/10/17
12 oz can (canned on 10/31/16)
4.25 rating

9/19/20 update - aged very nicely, smoothed out beautifully.
Oct 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by mltobin from Connecticut

Oct 03, 2017
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Many thanks to SawDog505 for this can.

A - Dark chestnut brown color with a frothy, creamy, toffee colored head and a nice thick foam layer on top.

S - Figs, dates, raisins, vanilla, light bourbon, roasted toffee, toasted caramel.

T - Alot of bourbon up front and hits the palate with vanilla roasted caramel followed by more bourbon.

M - Full bodied, thick, and not much burn for 13%. Lip smacking sticky.

O - Pretty solid!
Sep 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by ElGallo from New Hampshire

Sep 06, 2017
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Picked up a 2-pack of cans today at The Beer Store in Nashua, for $14.... here goes!!

Popped the tab and had a bit of foamage coming out of the can. Managed to get about 10oz into a small tulip. It is a deep, dark, opaque brew, with a healthy, frothy tan head, which leaves super lacing behind. The aroma emits lots of malty sweetness and dark fruit. Suggests a rich, strong bier. It is rather smooth, and the body slightly reaches above medium.
Flavor is full-on with caramel and toffee; nice malty semi-sweetness. I am also getting some figs and raisins mixed in there. Though I have not been made aware, it seems to have some barrel-aging.... More flavors evident are akin to rum-soaked brown bread with some dates mixed in. An interesting brew, in the English Barleywine branch of the family. Cheers!!!

4.1/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

1932
Aug 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by jbarletto from Massachusetts

Jul 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.14 by colbywatts from Maine

Jun 30, 2017
Photo of ManapuaMan
Reviewed by ManapuaMan from Massachusetts

3.92/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Malty, fruity, smooth. Odd sensation pouring a barleywine, or anything barrel aged, or a barrel aged barleywine (!), from a can. Even the way the cans were sold - one on top of the other with a plastic wrapping around both cans - was unique but you have to give Sebago props for doing something different and keeping the price low for a BA beer. Cheers to that!

2016 vintage stored in appropriate conditions, served just below room temp. Cracked open with an audible pop-and-fizz like any other beer from a can. Deep brown-garnet-but-almost-black color with a nice thin head that lingers.

Aroma of dark fruit, light caramel, sticky malt, resinous hops and toffee. The barrel is more prominent in nose than taste: candied fruit, resin, figs, dates, blood orange, caramel, oak, peat. Almost tastes like a BA scotch ale/wee heavy with a pronounced fruit and resin-profile from the hops.

Alcohol brings warmth not heat - super smooth throughout. Enjoyable sipper with that familiar cola-undertone that BA barleywines often have.
Jun 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.22 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

May 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4.03 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

May 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by kbuzz from North Carolina

May 26, 2017
Photo of von_kaiser
Reviewed by von_kaiser from Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
vintage 2016....13.0% abv....outstanding barleywine! under the radar worth seeking out! will have a difficult time letting 1 or 2 age as they're so good now.
May 08, 2017
Barleywine 2016 from Sebago Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 33 ratings