Clare's Right Hook - Woodford Rye Barrel Aged
Haymarket Beer Co. Pub & Brewery

 

Pours a ruddy dark brown color. Completely opaque and even somewhat cloudy when held to the light. Lovely, thick, velvety head forms on the beer initially, a full three fingers of it. That head dissipates until just a thin ring of velvety foam lingers along the outside of the top of the beer.

Aroma has notes of toasted bread, figs, soft caramel, some earthy hops, musty oak and rich, pungent notes of bourbon. There is a pretty strong hop note on the aroma - leaving no doubt that this is an American barleywine underneath all that bourbon.

Taste follows the nose with notes of caramel, dark bready malts, figs, prunes, oak, bourbon, earthy hops with a spicy peppercorn note along with the bourbon soaked oak on the back end.

Feel is fizzy, spritzy, medium bodied for the style. Pretty smooth overall with a dry finish.

Overall a nice barrel aged barleywine from Haymarket.