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Old And In The Way | High Water Brewing
Brewed by:
High Water Brewing
California, United States
highwaterbrewing.com
Style: British Barleywine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Old and In The Way Barley Wine Style Ale is brewed in the traditional English Barley Wine Style. Flavors of toffee, treacle and caramel emerge as the beer opens up. Enjoy this beer a little warmer to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of flavors in this beer. Brewed to be enjoyable as a sipping or fireside beer. Share one with a good friend.
11% ABV 95 IBU
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 63 | Reviews: 19
3.93/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Side by side tasting of properly cellared 2013 and 2016 bottles. Both poured into Fremont small snifters.
2013: Pours a dark, hazy orange brown with a quarter finger light khaki head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, dates, figs, dried plums, light oxidation. Flavor is dry biscuit and caramel malt, dates, figs, slight dried plums, a hint of oak and cocoa. Medium bodied with light creaminess. Flavor is dominated by dry biscuit malt and dates, closer to an old ale at this point. Fairly mellow, but not too complex.
2016: Pours a medium reddish orange with a thin, persistent light khaki head and light lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, dried plums and citron, a little orange and raisin. Flavor is mild caramel malt, candied fruit with orange, plum and citron, toffee. Medium bodied with light creaminess. This one has a more American style profile, with lighter fruit notes, however not with any of the hopping of that style. I'm not sure I've had a barleywine with this flavor before. It's a little sweet and relatively uncomplicated, but quite enjoyable.
Summary: these are two completely different barleywine and because High Water has some of their beer brewed by different breweries, I'm have to assume that these are two different recipes and actually different barleywines.The 2013 is closer to a classic English barleywine, but of the biscuity, maltier style rather than the more common plummy one. At five years, it has a clear aged large old ale profile and a nice mellow one at that. I regret not reviewing this one fresh, but I'm guessing that the original was biscuity too. It has aged well considereing that it is somewhat less complex than others of the style, but I'm a big fan of aged old ales, so this hit the spot. I'm not sure it would improve with any more age, but it seems to be holding its own very well. The 2016 is also a bit on the uncomplicated side, and as mentioned above, has more of the "triple IPA/American barleywine" profile of the base malt, but with slight hopping. That's probably a good thing for me because I'm not that enchanted with aged hoppy beers any more and this is probably more enjoyable at two years without strong hops. Despite the basic flavors, I liked this quite a bit. I probably would not age this much further as the flavors are nice and balanced right now and probably would not improve.
One of the more unusual of my comparisons of two aged beers due to the fact that the base beer was probably not the same. Fortunately, tasting barleywines is a reward in and of itself.
The rating is a rough amalgam of the two barleywines. Since I liked them both and they were relatively straightforward for each of their styles, the ratings were similar.
2,762 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Side by side tasting of properly cellared 2013 and 2016 bottles. Both poured into Fremont small snifters.
2013: Pours a dark, hazy orange brown with a quarter finger light khaki head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, dates, figs, dried plums, light oxidation. Flavor is dry biscuit and caramel malt, dates, figs, slight dried plums, a hint of oak and cocoa. Medium bodied with light creaminess. Flavor is dominated by dry biscuit malt and dates, closer to an old ale at this point. Fairly mellow, but not too complex.
2016: Pours a medium reddish orange with a thin, persistent light khaki head and light lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, dried plums and citron, a little orange and raisin. Flavor is mild caramel malt, candied fruit with orange, plum and citron, toffee. Medium bodied with light creaminess. This one has a more American style profile, with lighter fruit notes, however not with any of the hopping of that style. I'm not sure I've had a barleywine with this flavor before. It's a little sweet and relatively uncomplicated, but quite enjoyable.
Summary: these are two completely different barleywine and because High Water has some of their beer brewed by different breweries, I'm have to assume that these are two different recipes and actually different barleywines.The 2013 is closer to a classic English barleywine, but of the biscuity, maltier style rather than the more common plummy one. At five years, it has a clear aged large old ale profile and a nice mellow one at that. I regret not reviewing this one fresh, but I'm guessing that the original was biscuity too. It has aged well considereing that it is somewhat less complex than others of the style, but I'm a big fan of aged old ales, so this hit the spot. I'm not sure it would improve with any more age, but it seems to be holding its own very well. The 2016 is also a bit on the uncomplicated side, and as mentioned above, has more of the "triple IPA/American barleywine" profile of the base malt, but with slight hopping. That's probably a good thing for me because I'm not that enchanted with aged hoppy beers any more and this is probably more enjoyable at two years without strong hops. Despite the basic flavors, I liked this quite a bit. I probably would not age this much further as the flavors are nice and balanced right now and probably would not improve.
One of the more unusual of my comparisons of two aged beers due to the fact that the base beer was probably not the same. Fortunately, tasting barleywines is a reward in and of itself.
The rating is a rough amalgam of the two barleywines. Since I liked them both and they were relatively straightforward for each of their styles, the ratings were similar.
2,762 characters
4.38/5 rDev +17.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.02/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Got this one in Buffalo
From a bomber into a snifter
APPEARANCE: Pours a 2 finger, medium looking, creamy, off-white head with great retention. Opaque dark maroon red in color with no carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a full wisp leaving some lacing on the glass. A splotchy wisp remains until the end leaving traces of lacing on the glass as it empties.
SMELL: Caramel and toffee with some spicy booze and red fruits on the nose. Slightly bread with bubble gum as well. Bold and boozy.
TASTE: Caramel and toffee sweetness up front with some spicy booze and piney notes up front. Bold finish of malty sweetness, piney hops, bitterness and some boozy alcohol too. Flavorful and plenty of bittersweet character.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy on the palate, goes down fine and finishes somewhat mouth-coating. Some spicy booze lingers. Creamy and weighty for the style.
OVERALL: Really good stuff here. This reminds me of Laguintas’ Gnarleywine. Top notch flavor and feel here with lots of sweet malt character and hoppy bitterness as well. Really enjoyed this and will be picking up more next time I see it. Give this one a shot if you’re a fan of the style. Recommended.
1,222 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Got this one in Buffalo
From a bomber into a snifter
APPEARANCE: Pours a 2 finger, medium looking, creamy, off-white head with great retention. Opaque dark maroon red in color with no carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a full wisp leaving some lacing on the glass. A splotchy wisp remains until the end leaving traces of lacing on the glass as it empties.
SMELL: Caramel and toffee with some spicy booze and red fruits on the nose. Slightly bread with bubble gum as well. Bold and boozy.
TASTE: Caramel and toffee sweetness up front with some spicy booze and piney notes up front. Bold finish of malty sweetness, piney hops, bitterness and some boozy alcohol too. Flavorful and plenty of bittersweet character.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy on the palate, goes down fine and finishes somewhat mouth-coating. Some spicy booze lingers. Creamy and weighty for the style.
OVERALL: Really good stuff here. This reminds me of Laguintas’ Gnarleywine. Top notch flavor and feel here with lots of sweet malt character and hoppy bitterness as well. Really enjoyed this and will be picking up more next time I see it. Give this one a shot if you’re a fan of the style. Recommended.
1,222 characters
4.75/5 rDev +27.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.04/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.86/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
this was a 2011 model, it was a B+ in my opinion. it was more alcohol on the front than barrel aged goodness. lacked those toffee, vanilla, caramel notes you come to expect from a 4 year old bba
197 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
this was a 2011 model, it was a B+ in my opinion. it was more alcohol on the front than barrel aged goodness. lacked those toffee, vanilla, caramel notes you come to expect from a 4 year old bba
197 characters
3.48/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.09/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2013 vintage served in a snifter at cellar temps.
Appearance: deep garnet with a very sticky off white head that lingers. Lacing galore.
Nose: dark fruits, caramel, almost butterscotch, toffee, creamy and rich, chocolate, well integrated and balanced but still has some boozyness in there.
Taste: very chewy, toffee, dark fruits, Malt forward with some residual bitterness for balance. No hot alcohols at all but there is some booz on the tongue.
Overall: my only bottle. Need more. This is a fantastic English barleywine, not hot or solventy but the booz is still very present just not like what I'd expect from an 11% beer thats almost 2 years in the bottle.
665 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2013 vintage served in a snifter at cellar temps.
Appearance: deep garnet with a very sticky off white head that lingers. Lacing galore.
Nose: dark fruits, caramel, almost butterscotch, toffee, creamy and rich, chocolate, well integrated and balanced but still has some boozyness in there.
Taste: very chewy, toffee, dark fruits, Malt forward with some residual bitterness for balance. No hot alcohols at all but there is some booz on the tongue.
Overall: my only bottle. Need more. This is a fantastic English barleywine, not hot or solventy but the booz is still very present just not like what I'd expect from an 11% beer thats almost 2 years in the bottle.
665 characters
3.89/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.51/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark brown with hints of ruby, slightly murky. Smell is roasted noted with chocolate. Taste is chocolate, roasted malt, carmel, no fruit notes. Mouthfeel is heavy, and abv is hidden. Getting some bourbon notes on the end. Pair with nuts, sausage, or lamb stew.
260 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark brown with hints of ruby, slightly murky. Smell is roasted noted with chocolate. Taste is chocolate, roasted malt, carmel, no fruit notes. Mouthfeel is heavy, and abv is hidden. Getting some bourbon notes on the end. Pair with nuts, sausage, or lamb stew.
260 characters
4.08/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.47/5 rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2011 was very well balanced and smooth.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2011 was very well balanced and smooth.
39 characters
3.84/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.93/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Not a fan at all, to light for me
33 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Not a fan at all, to light for me
33 characters
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Old And In The Way from High Water Brewing
Beer rating:
3.72 out of
5 with
63 ratings
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