Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine (2021)
Sebago Brewing Company - Tasting Room at the Brewery

 

This is the single nastiest thing I've ever had the displeasure of feeling slide down my gullet. This was so bad I gave it to someone as a joke, he vomited.

I'm convinced I'm the only person who has had the misfortune of mistaking this as drinkable; It isn't. This tastes like drinking drain declogger mixed with whiskey and sugar. I never leave reviews anywhere, but I made an account specifically to let the world know the pure horror that this absolute war crime of a "beverage" has assaulted mankind with.

This is the taste of God's light leaving you condensed into a singular can. Lord forgive us for we know not what we do.

Look: Dark murky brown, almost Black and opaque like a stout. Nice head that reduces to a nice ring with excellent lacing on my Spieglau glass.

Smell: Sweet with roasted coffee and vanilla notes. Dark chocolate and Nice toasty malts. Refreshing alcohol, like a cool breeze.

Taste: Very chocolate-forward, mocha, vanilla with nuts. Reminiscent of a good porter. Malts are darkly roasted. A solid hit of hoppy bitterness follows the chocolate-forward sweetness.

Feel: Full-bodied, rich and chocolatey.

Very much like a stout and that is a HUGE plus in my opinion. New to barleywine and this was my first. I will never forget this one. I have enjoyed trying others, but this is a huge act to follow.

Received a can from DIM (Dan) 10-19-22. Thanks Dan!

Beer poured a murky brown with a nice tan head with the original pour.

Nose is figs, raisins, and a touch of bourbon.

Taste is really well balanced, finishing a touch hoppy. Huge malt base provides dark fruit flavors as i am getting some fig with the base. Upon aspirating after a sip, the bourbon becomes very pronounced which along with the hopping balances this beer to the point where there is a noticeable bitterness in the finish. Getting a touch of vanilla in the subsequent aspirations.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and very smooth.

Overall a very nice American Barleywine that was a pleasure to try!

Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours a dark and murky brown with a relatively thin layer of tan head. Very nice looking! The nose is wonderful. Loads of toffee, vanilla, figs, and a light layer of citrus peel. The taste is fantastic. Soft toffee, brown sugar, maple, figs, raisins, pine, and almonds. Maybe a hint of leather, a nice earthy note, and some sharp oak. Boozy for sure. This is a beast! Mouthfeel is medium bodied, the aftertaste is a mix of bitter and sweet, and the alcohol is very detectable. Overall, a wonderful BA barleywine.

In a lot ways this is a classic bruiser of an American barleywine. Up front is assertively boozy, sweet caramel with hints of chocolate and vanilla as it warms. The finish adds a hoppy/oaky tingle and a strong bourbon exhale. Big, bruising, and unapologetic.