Sweetwater Dank Tank DP Barleywine Ale | SweetWater Brewing Company
Brewed by:
SweetWater Brewing Company
Georgia, United States | website
Style: American Barleywine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.20%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by jdubjacket on 07-03-2009
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
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Reviews: 61 | Ratings: 80
3.85/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Bill for opening this one up, poured into a snifter.
A- Dank Tank has a ruby red look with some brown highlights. A frothy off white head reached about a inch in height leaving some sticky lace. Some bubbles seen rising up.
S- A small burst of hops with caramel malt giving off some candy. Some burnt sugar with a lot of barley. Getting some light dark fruit scent in the distance. Also some alcohol from this beast.
T- Not sure the age on this but the hops are still present with just as much malt sweetness. Candi, dark fruits, figs and raisons with a big amount of sweetness worthy of being called a english barleywine at this stage. The hops giving off a pine like taste. Some alcohol seeping through a bit more than in smell.
M- A bit hot with a above medium body with a light amount of carb. Some bitterness in the finish from the big hop bill but enough malts to smooth it out. For a B-wine this big, it is a smooth sipper.
D- Not knowing the age of the bottle I would say this is not extremely fresh as I did not get a hop bomb. What I did get was a delicious and great balanced barleywine that I would not mind having another.
★ 1,150 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Bill for opening this one up, poured into a snifter.
A- Dank Tank has a ruby red look with some brown highlights. A frothy off white head reached about a inch in height leaving some sticky lace. Some bubbles seen rising up.
S- A small burst of hops with caramel malt giving off some candy. Some burnt sugar with a lot of barley. Getting some light dark fruit scent in the distance. Also some alcohol from this beast.
T- Not sure the age on this but the hops are still present with just as much malt sweetness. Candi, dark fruits, figs and raisons with a big amount of sweetness worthy of being called a english barleywine at this stage. The hops giving off a pine like taste. Some alcohol seeping through a bit more than in smell.
M- A bit hot with a above medium body with a light amount of carb. Some bitterness in the finish from the big hop bill but enough malts to smooth it out. For a B-wine this big, it is a smooth sipper.
D- Not knowing the age of the bottle I would say this is not extremely fresh as I did not get a hop bomb. What I did get was a delicious and great balanced barleywine that I would not mind having another.
★ 1,150 characters
4/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a cloudy apricot color with less than an inch of foam; rather leggy, with some spots on the way down
Smell: Toffee, shortbread and a grainy note or two
Taste: Opens with the shortbread and toffee malt flavors, but by mid-palate, some leafy hops break into the profile; after the swallow, there is a rather fruity element that joins the other flavors and pushes into the finish; tobacco leaf flavors in the aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation
Overall: Even after two years or so in the bottle, the hops still strut there stuff; this must have been quite a hoppy barleywine in its youth; though it is no doubt different now, it is still drinking nicely
Thanks, Pullen, for the opportunity
★ 740 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a cloudy apricot color with less than an inch of foam; rather leggy, with some spots on the way down
Smell: Toffee, shortbread and a grainy note or two
Taste: Opens with the shortbread and toffee malt flavors, but by mid-palate, some leafy hops break into the profile; after the swallow, there is a rather fruity element that joins the other flavors and pushes into the finish; tobacco leaf flavors in the aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation
Overall: Even after two years or so in the bottle, the hops still strut there stuff; this must have been quite a hoppy barleywine in its youth; though it is no doubt different now, it is still drinking nicely
Thanks, Pullen, for the opportunity
★ 740 characters
4/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: This beer poured into a snifter has a nice clear deep copper almost a reddish color. It is topped with a ½” of white head. The Belgian lacing hangs around nicely.
Smell: This beer is all malt with hints of alcohol. Just as a barleywine should be.
Taste: Malt dominates the taste buds as well with a bit of alcohol heat adds to a semi-dry finish.
Mouthfeel: This is a very easy drinking brew, flows easily on the palate but the flavors lingered tastily.
★ 468 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: This beer poured into a snifter has a nice clear deep copper almost a reddish color. It is topped with a ½” of white head. The Belgian lacing hangs around nicely.
Smell: This beer is all malt with hints of alcohol. Just as a barleywine should be.
Taste: Malt dominates the taste buds as well with a bit of alcohol heat adds to a semi-dry finish.
Mouthfeel: This is a very easy drinking brew, flows easily on the palate but the flavors lingered tastily.
★ 468 characters
3.88/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz. This wins in my thinning out of the cellar to be drank during the NCAA BBall championship game.
Foggy gold/orange pour, nice finger thick layer of off white head. Retains very well.
Smell is malty, herbal hops, some red fruits. An odd funky sock or rotten fruit(is this "dankness") smell as well which is a bit off putting.
Taste is more malt forward. Toffee and caramel covered strawberry, apple. Some herbal hops, not much pine. Maybe a little brown sugar, finishes with a malty kick.
Coating, but enough carbonation to keep it from being too sticky. Really well hidden alchol. Not problems drinking this, but it is a bit subdued for the style.
★ 656 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz. This wins in my thinning out of the cellar to be drank during the NCAA BBall championship game.
Foggy gold/orange pour, nice finger thick layer of off white head. Retains very well.
Smell is malty, herbal hops, some red fruits. An odd funky sock or rotten fruit(is this "dankness") smell as well which is a bit off putting.
Taste is more malt forward. Toffee and caramel covered strawberry, apple. Some herbal hops, not much pine. Maybe a little brown sugar, finishes with a malty kick.
Coating, but enough carbonation to keep it from being too sticky. Really well hidden alchol. Not problems drinking this, but it is a bit subdued for the style.
★ 656 characters
3.9/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Big thanks to none other than the obsceneone. No better way to enjoy a tasty barleywine than by the liter swing top. Pours mildly hazy orange to copper with white head. The aroma is big with a load of pine hops mixed with sticky chewy sweet malts, mildly roasted malts and some caramel. This beers smells like a IIPA rather than a barleywine. The taste is either a IIPA or an American barleywine with a west coast hop slant. Yummy. I get a heaping helping of pine hop bitterness followed by sweet sticky malty sweetness. There is just a ton of pine hop bitterness that goes on and on and on. I don't get any dark fruity esters that I associate with the style.
★ 659 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Big thanks to none other than the obsceneone. No better way to enjoy a tasty barleywine than by the liter swing top. Pours mildly hazy orange to copper with white head. The aroma is big with a load of pine hops mixed with sticky chewy sweet malts, mildly roasted malts and some caramel. This beers smells like a IIPA rather than a barleywine. The taste is either a IIPA or an American barleywine with a west coast hop slant. Yummy. I get a heaping helping of pine hop bitterness followed by sweet sticky malty sweetness. There is just a ton of pine hop bitterness that goes on and on and on. I don't get any dark fruity esters that I associate with the style.
★ 659 characters
3.32/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle pour served in a Duvel tulip
A - Liquid honey, not much head or lacing
S - Honey & much malt
T - Fresh grains & sweet honey --> caramel --> more of the same, a sweet finish
M - A little heavy & too syrupy for my taste
D - One is enough for me
A one-note barleywine at this stage, it will only improve with time. It wasn't bad by any means, but it doesn't stand out from the pack, either.
★ 406 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle pour served in a Duvel tulip
A - Liquid honey, not much head or lacing
S - Honey & much malt
T - Fresh grains & sweet honey --> caramel --> more of the same, a sweet finish
M - A little heavy & too syrupy for my taste
D - One is enough for me
A one-note barleywine at this stage, it will only improve with time. It wasn't bad by any means, but it doesn't stand out from the pack, either.
★ 406 characters
4/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. Thanks to bmanning for this bottle.
Pours a moderate orange color with a white head with surprising staying power and lace. The nose brings strong American hops with a lot of citrus. Some sweet malt underneath with light fruits. The taste is a bit more balanced with some strong citrus flavors meeting head on with sweet malt, light fruits, cherries, and a bit of alcohol. Good medium body with a nice alcohol bite and a good level of bitterness. Overall this drinks quite well and is toward a malty DIPA.
★ 527 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. Thanks to bmanning for this bottle.
Pours a moderate orange color with a white head with surprising staying power and lace. The nose brings strong American hops with a lot of citrus. Some sweet malt underneath with light fruits. The taste is a bit more balanced with some strong citrus flavors meeting head on with sweet malt, light fruits, cherries, and a bit of alcohol. Good medium body with a nice alcohol bite and a good level of bitterness. Overall this drinks quite well and is toward a malty DIPA.
★ 527 characters
4.08/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Blind bomber # 11 from the Blind Bomber BIF-- this is my last one... Sniffle. Thanks to Mikereaser for making this loads of fun!
Reviewed entirely blind- no knowledge of brewery, beer, or even style.
Poured into snifter.
A light orangey color with an off-white head and HUGE rings and sheets of lacing. Looks like a big DIPA...
Smell has some big malts... And some big hops. This has some tobacco notes in here too. This is way to flavor packed to be a DIPA... This has to be a barleywine. Earthy hops, candied sugar, caramel sweetness in the malts, citrusy hops, and a booziness in the finish. The balance is decent, and the flavors are interesting enough to me excited.
Body is pretty full and the carbonation level is decent. Perhaps a bit too much in terms of bubbles. A little less carbonation migh make the body seem fuller, which would work well with the huge amount of flavor packed into this bottle!
Overall, pretty good barleywine here (very strong assumption that's what I have here).
Rips open envelope-- sweetwater DP Barleywine.
Wow, according to recent reviews, this is possibly 2 years old??? I can't believe the amount of hops left here!!
This is a pretty solid barleywine-- I loved the looks as much as any I've ever seen!
Thanks again to Mikereaser for 11 fun blind beers and some awesome extras!!
★ 1,325 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Blind bomber # 11 from the Blind Bomber BIF-- this is my last one... Sniffle. Thanks to Mikereaser for making this loads of fun!
Reviewed entirely blind- no knowledge of brewery, beer, or even style.
Poured into snifter.
A light orangey color with an off-white head and HUGE rings and sheets of lacing. Looks like a big DIPA...
Smell has some big malts... And some big hops. This has some tobacco notes in here too. This is way to flavor packed to be a DIPA... This has to be a barleywine. Earthy hops, candied sugar, caramel sweetness in the malts, citrusy hops, and a booziness in the finish. The balance is decent, and the flavors are interesting enough to me excited.
Body is pretty full and the carbonation level is decent. Perhaps a bit too much in terms of bubbles. A little less carbonation migh make the body seem fuller, which would work well with the huge amount of flavor packed into this bottle!
Overall, pretty good barleywine here (very strong assumption that's what I have here).
Rips open envelope-- sweetwater DP Barleywine.
Wow, according to recent reviews, this is possibly 2 years old??? I can't believe the amount of hops left here!!
This is a pretty solid barleywine-- I loved the looks as much as any I've ever seen!
Thanks again to Mikereaser for 11 fun blind beers and some awesome extras!!
★ 1,325 characters
2.58/5 rDev -34.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Thanks to TimmyP for a trade of this big-looking barleywine, another sole survivor of a fairly long-ago trade. I guess this one's been resting for over a year in the bottle if the reviews are any indication.
Bomber split with my wife, the pour is orange with a haze of light red, with little light penetration to be had. Smell is sweet, earthy malts & even now, a trace of piney hops still touches the nose.
I don't know if the name is literal or an oh-so-subtle reference, but dank is right. First impression is of rain-soaked earth, you know, the kind after a long, steady rain that brings out the nightcrawlers to drown in puddles in your driveway. Dirty, earthy, damp malts dominate the front-and-mid range of this beer, leaving a rather wet-leaves aftertaste that isn't very appealing. Underneath this layer of watery soil come peals of piney hops & light fruit, perhaps pears, apples...but with that aftertaste, who cares? As the beer warms it becomes more pronounced.
Should have known better than to pursue anything with 'dank' in the title, because the descriptor is dead-on. Sub-average barleywine that I'm going to try to find some pleasure in during the next thirty minutes or so.
★ 1,198 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Thanks to TimmyP for a trade of this big-looking barleywine, another sole survivor of a fairly long-ago trade. I guess this one's been resting for over a year in the bottle if the reviews are any indication.
Bomber split with my wife, the pour is orange with a haze of light red, with little light penetration to be had. Smell is sweet, earthy malts & even now, a trace of piney hops still touches the nose.
I don't know if the name is literal or an oh-so-subtle reference, but dank is right. First impression is of rain-soaked earth, you know, the kind after a long, steady rain that brings out the nightcrawlers to drown in puddles in your driveway. Dirty, earthy, damp malts dominate the front-and-mid range of this beer, leaving a rather wet-leaves aftertaste that isn't very appealing. Underneath this layer of watery soil come peals of piney hops & light fruit, perhaps pears, apples...but with that aftertaste, who cares? As the beer warms it becomes more pronounced.
Should have known better than to pursue anything with 'dank' in the title, because the descriptor is dead-on. Sub-average barleywine that I'm going to try to find some pleasure in during the next thirty minutes or so.
★ 1,198 characters
4.35/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On-tap at the Brick Store Pub. Slightly re-formatted Donkey Punch, and repackaged as a Dank Tank beer. Pours a nice orange amber with excellent clarity and a creamy white head that fades to a cap and leaves some very good lacing. Smells like a hop garden with some fresh, sweet malt in the background. Nice spicy pine and citrus throughout. Tastes nicely balanced between the sweet malt and the nice zingy hops. Nice citrus and pine, especially in the finish. A bit chewy in the mouth, this is a big beer. I don't know if this is a balanced Double IPA, or a hoppy barleywine, and to be honest, I don't care- It's just a very good beer.
★ 635 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On-tap at the Brick Store Pub. Slightly re-formatted Donkey Punch, and repackaged as a Dank Tank beer. Pours a nice orange amber with excellent clarity and a creamy white head that fades to a cap and leaves some very good lacing. Smells like a hop garden with some fresh, sweet malt in the background. Nice spicy pine and citrus throughout. Tastes nicely balanced between the sweet malt and the nice zingy hops. Nice citrus and pine, especially in the finish. A bit chewy in the mouth, this is a big beer. I don't know if this is a balanced Double IPA, or a hoppy barleywine, and to be honest, I don't care- It's just a very good beer.
★ 635 characters
3.53/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle into a Duvel tulip pours a crisp, bubbly dark copper with a nice frothy light khaki head that diminishes to a thin layer that leaves decent lacing on the glass. Aroma is burnt caramel malts with slight pine hop undertones. The taste is a mix of very sweet caramel malts and boozy alcohol with pine hops struggling to get through, a bit of a mess. The beer is certainly on the heavy side with its 10.2% alcohol definitely showing through. This one seems to be a shell of what it used to be when it was sold in 1L bottles and actually called Donkey Punch. Hopefully this was just a bad bottle.
★ 603 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle into a Duvel tulip pours a crisp, bubbly dark copper with a nice frothy light khaki head that diminishes to a thin layer that leaves decent lacing on the glass. Aroma is burnt caramel malts with slight pine hop undertones. The taste is a mix of very sweet caramel malts and boozy alcohol with pine hops struggling to get through, a bit of a mess. The beer is certainly on the heavy side with its 10.2% alcohol definitely showing through. This one seems to be a shell of what it used to be when it was sold in 1L bottles and actually called Donkey Punch. Hopefully this was just a bad bottle.
★ 603 characters
3.4/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Finally got a chance to try this one. I have many a fond memory of the original 1 liter bottles from several years ago so the chance to try the new recipe could not be turned down. Served at cellar temperature and poured into ten ounce sample glasses, this one was consumed on 05/02/2010.
Nice amber color, lots of light orange highlights to it, but a serious lack of carbonation seemed to plague it. I could see a nice bit of haze to it and there was definitely something at work there as carbonation could be seen streaming up from the bottom of the glass, but there was only a brief, maybe two second fleeting head of white and then the top was bare, hmm. Aroma is highly charged with hops. Very hot still even with some time on it, Ripe grapefruit and a booziness are dominant and you really need to wait until it hits room temperature to let any of the subtle malts start to come through for you. Nice overall balance is finally achieved after about an hour of sipping in it, bit to be honest the hotness still dominates over the profile. Rather one sided, the flavor just really never came together for me. The feel was spot on with a medium carbonation and a nice, non slick nature to it. But to be honest it was very difficult to be able to handle the whole bottle as it really was just too hot.
Overall it needs some time to mellow still. The original I though was much better to be honest, but what can you do. Overall it was a bit of a letdown for me.
★ 1,464 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Finally got a chance to try this one. I have many a fond memory of the original 1 liter bottles from several years ago so the chance to try the new recipe could not be turned down. Served at cellar temperature and poured into ten ounce sample glasses, this one was consumed on 05/02/2010.
Nice amber color, lots of light orange highlights to it, but a serious lack of carbonation seemed to plague it. I could see a nice bit of haze to it and there was definitely something at work there as carbonation could be seen streaming up from the bottom of the glass, but there was only a brief, maybe two second fleeting head of white and then the top was bare, hmm. Aroma is highly charged with hops. Very hot still even with some time on it, Ripe grapefruit and a booziness are dominant and you really need to wait until it hits room temperature to let any of the subtle malts start to come through for you. Nice overall balance is finally achieved after about an hour of sipping in it, bit to be honest the hotness still dominates over the profile. Rather one sided, the flavor just really never came together for me. The feel was spot on with a medium carbonation and a nice, non slick nature to it. But to be honest it was very difficult to be able to handle the whole bottle as it really was just too hot.
Overall it needs some time to mellow still. The original I though was much better to be honest, but what can you do. Overall it was a bit of a letdown for me.
★ 1,464 characters
3.66/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Hanks to Wespatrick for the nice extra.
22oz. Brown bomber into a snifter.
A: Pours red orange amber nearly opaque. Big strong head with nice retention and lots of lacing.
S: Loads of American hopping. Lots of juicy citrus and fruits as well as some herby pine and oily resin. Loads of sugary malts to back things up as well.
T/M: Decent bitterness level... Less than I was expecting but fitting for the beer. Malts aren't as thick or syrupy or chewy like I thought they might be, which is also a plus. Lots of juicy fruitiness and citrus flavors going on. Malts are a bit sweet and sugary but still controlled. Body is about full with some smooth carbonation.
D: alcohol is well hidden and is reasonably drinkable. Not bad at all but probably not something I'd go after, either.
★ 784 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Hanks to Wespatrick for the nice extra.
22oz. Brown bomber into a snifter.
A: Pours red orange amber nearly opaque. Big strong head with nice retention and lots of lacing.
S: Loads of American hopping. Lots of juicy citrus and fruits as well as some herby pine and oily resin. Loads of sugary malts to back things up as well.
T/M: Decent bitterness level... Less than I was expecting but fitting for the beer. Malts aren't as thick or syrupy or chewy like I thought they might be, which is also a plus. Lots of juicy fruitiness and citrus flavors going on. Malts are a bit sweet and sugary but still controlled. Body is about full with some smooth carbonation.
D: alcohol is well hidden and is reasonably drinkable. Not bad at all but probably not something I'd go after, either.
★ 784 characters
4.33/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks goes out to gford217 for this brew.
22oz. Bomber
Poured into a chalice a very nice cloudy copper color, nice carbonation, very nice thick/creamy one-finger off-white head, with some nice small islands and sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some nice hop notes, nice little cherry note, and caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, with some hops, cherries, and caramel. Medium body, the ABV is alittle up front, but a very nice sipper. Very drinkable, really liking this one tonight, recommended.
★ 516 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks goes out to gford217 for this brew.
22oz. Bomber
Poured into a chalice a very nice cloudy copper color, nice carbonation, very nice thick/creamy one-finger off-white head, with some nice small islands and sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some nice hop notes, nice little cherry note, and caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, with some hops, cherries, and caramel. Medium body, the ABV is alittle up front, but a very nice sipper. Very drinkable, really liking this one tonight, recommended.
★ 516 characters
4.03/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to csmiley and Rbald42 for the bottles.
The Dank Tank version of Donkey Punch is a nice copper color. It's clouded with a wealth of haze and looks more orange with backlighting. The head is off-white and enormous. It easily tops three and a half fingers. Retention was excellent for such a big abv beer. Lacing was thick and sticky. Very nice.
The nose is interesting. Lots going on in here. Hops strike first and feature a blend of floral and light citrus notes. It smells...well...kind of dank. Light grapefruit and orange add some pizzazz. Sweet caramel malt is abundant. No big surprise there. It does seem to take over the nose, so I'm interested to see how the feisty the hops are in flavor. Dark fruit is noted, but is somewhat subtle. I am getting a little raisin and plum. More fruit seems to emerge in the form of peaches and apples. It definitely smells sweet. Alcohol is blended extremely well for a 10.2% beer.
The flavor is quite good. Caramel malts give it a nice base and a very sweet flavor throughout. It is very fruity. I'm getting a peach and apple much more in flavor. There are some citrus grapefruit and orange notes from the hops, but they're negated by the wealth of malt. There's a floral aspect to them, as well. It's a little bitter, but doesn't have quite the bite it needs. Raisin, plum, and fig are noted, but they're very much a secondary player. Nonetheless, they add quality depth. I'm really not getting much alcohol at all. It's not warm or hot. Finishes sweet and a little earthy.
DTDP has a medium body that feels damn near thick with a little warming. It's a little chewy and feels smooth. Carbonation is nice and light. Drinkability is good for this big, badass Barleywine. It's deceptively strong and goes down easy.
Sweetwater brews some damn good beer. It's easily some of the best coming out of the Southeastern U.S. DTDP is quite good. I haven't experienced the regular Donkey Punch release, so I can't compare the two. This one's very good, but could be improved with a stronger hop presence. I don't know how old this bottle is, so maybe they've just faded. Hard to tell. It's impressive otherwise. Definitely recommended.
★ 2,183 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to csmiley and Rbald42 for the bottles.
The Dank Tank version of Donkey Punch is a nice copper color. It's clouded with a wealth of haze and looks more orange with backlighting. The head is off-white and enormous. It easily tops three and a half fingers. Retention was excellent for such a big abv beer. Lacing was thick and sticky. Very nice.
The nose is interesting. Lots going on in here. Hops strike first and feature a blend of floral and light citrus notes. It smells...well...kind of dank. Light grapefruit and orange add some pizzazz. Sweet caramel malt is abundant. No big surprise there. It does seem to take over the nose, so I'm interested to see how the feisty the hops are in flavor. Dark fruit is noted, but is somewhat subtle. I am getting a little raisin and plum. More fruit seems to emerge in the form of peaches and apples. It definitely smells sweet. Alcohol is blended extremely well for a 10.2% beer.
The flavor is quite good. Caramel malts give it a nice base and a very sweet flavor throughout. It is very fruity. I'm getting a peach and apple much more in flavor. There are some citrus grapefruit and orange notes from the hops, but they're negated by the wealth of malt. There's a floral aspect to them, as well. It's a little bitter, but doesn't have quite the bite it needs. Raisin, plum, and fig are noted, but they're very much a secondary player. Nonetheless, they add quality depth. I'm really not getting much alcohol at all. It's not warm or hot. Finishes sweet and a little earthy.
DTDP has a medium body that feels damn near thick with a little warming. It's a little chewy and feels smooth. Carbonation is nice and light. Drinkability is good for this big, badass Barleywine. It's deceptively strong and goes down easy.
Sweetwater brews some damn good beer. It's easily some of the best coming out of the Southeastern U.S. DTDP is quite good. I haven't experienced the regular Donkey Punch release, so I can't compare the two. This one's very good, but could be improved with a stronger hop presence. I don't know how old this bottle is, so maybe they've just faded. Hard to tell. It's impressive otherwise. Definitely recommended.
★ 2,183 characters
4.3/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to mr.andypandy for yet another Southern masterpiece.
Pours a beautifully cloudy gold topped by a half inch beige foam that fades to a nice skim and bubbling amoebae. A gentle swirl leaves oily lacicles on the snifter.
The bouquet is a heady aroma of raisin bread, figs, tart yeast, subtle notes of peach and apricot, and floral hints at the edge. Alcohol is a spicy ghost that adds a nice complexity to it.
At cellar temp. (45 deg. app.) the flavors in this big brew don't assert themselves, and it drinks too sweet. Once it warms they charge out to play. It starts with a deep caramel sweet, which hands the play off to some ripe fruity flavors, fig, currant, ripe plum, and lingers through the sip to end in a flourish of floral, herbal, and earthy bitter. Once the sweet subsides, it is a complex artwork of taste. There are many estery flavors, and subtle tart accents in this that seem to change with each sip as it approaches room temp. and the bitter in the finish shines. At room temperature this beer morphs into a taste that is a combo of all the flavors, and none of them, it is a luscious new flavor that defies description, stunningly delicious. I don't know what was better, enjoying the changes the beer went through as it warmed, or enjoying that final perfection when it had gotten to proper temp. (66 deg.)? Both things make for a superb beer.
Low carb., perf. for style, very viscous and lasting, but not sticky or mediciny in the least, promotes the flavor profile very well, perhaps a bit too juicy in the finish when fully warmed.
Quite sippable, and a joy.
Impression: A superb barleywine, easy sipper, complex, warming, enlightening. What more could you ask, except for Sweetwater to start shipping to NY?
★ 1,743 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to mr.andypandy for yet another Southern masterpiece.
Pours a beautifully cloudy gold topped by a half inch beige foam that fades to a nice skim and bubbling amoebae. A gentle swirl leaves oily lacicles on the snifter.
The bouquet is a heady aroma of raisin bread, figs, tart yeast, subtle notes of peach and apricot, and floral hints at the edge. Alcohol is a spicy ghost that adds a nice complexity to it.
At cellar temp. (45 deg. app.) the flavors in this big brew don't assert themselves, and it drinks too sweet. Once it warms they charge out to play. It starts with a deep caramel sweet, which hands the play off to some ripe fruity flavors, fig, currant, ripe plum, and lingers through the sip to end in a flourish of floral, herbal, and earthy bitter. Once the sweet subsides, it is a complex artwork of taste. There are many estery flavors, and subtle tart accents in this that seem to change with each sip as it approaches room temp. and the bitter in the finish shines. At room temperature this beer morphs into a taste that is a combo of all the flavors, and none of them, it is a luscious new flavor that defies description, stunningly delicious. I don't know what was better, enjoying the changes the beer went through as it warmed, or enjoying that final perfection when it had gotten to proper temp. (66 deg.)? Both things make for a superb beer.
Low carb., perf. for style, very viscous and lasting, but not sticky or mediciny in the least, promotes the flavor profile very well, perhaps a bit too juicy in the finish when fully warmed.
Quite sippable, and a joy.
Impression: A superb barleywine, easy sipper, complex, warming, enlightening. What more could you ask, except for Sweetwater to start shipping to NY?
★ 1,743 characters
3.77/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a nice shade of amberish orange with a thin white head. Not much retention and no lace.
S: Caramel malt, citrus, and hints of pine sweetness.
T: The caramel malt can be picked up along with a bit of roast. It is rather hoppy with the hops tending to be more resionous pine than citrus. Both flavors can be picked up though.
M: On the fuller side of medium, bold, sweet yet hoppy.
D: Just good, not great.
★ 417 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a nice shade of amberish orange with a thin white head. Not much retention and no lace.
S: Caramel malt, citrus, and hints of pine sweetness.
T: The caramel malt can be picked up along with a bit of roast. It is rather hoppy with the hops tending to be more resionous pine than citrus. Both flavors can be picked up though.
M: On the fuller side of medium, bold, sweet yet hoppy.
D: Just good, not great.
★ 417 characters
3.55/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
The appearance is best described as orange. It has a darker heart that starts to take on an amber-like color. Overall the census says that it is orange. It pours a white head that leaves a good amount of lacing around the glass. The head doesn't go away either, which gives this beer a higher score. The orange was a little off putting.
The smell is of sweet malts with apricots and ABV.
The taste is a bit hot, with lots of malt sweetness. It does have some nice sweet fruit flavors in this as well. There is just one depth to this beer, and it's malt sweetness. Not really complex or interesting.
The mouthfeel is sweet, but carbonated well. It has a bit of an alcoholic breath, but not too bad. The ABV is present and not hidden in the best way. This style is very touchy, especially with me. If you do it right though, I will love you forever. This is not bad, it just won't stick out in my mind for the future.
J
★ 925 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
The appearance is best described as orange. It has a darker heart that starts to take on an amber-like color. Overall the census says that it is orange. It pours a white head that leaves a good amount of lacing around the glass. The head doesn't go away either, which gives this beer a higher score. The orange was a little off putting.
The smell is of sweet malts with apricots and ABV.
The taste is a bit hot, with lots of malt sweetness. It does have some nice sweet fruit flavors in this as well. There is just one depth to this beer, and it's malt sweetness. Not really complex or interesting.
The mouthfeel is sweet, but carbonated well. It has a bit of an alcoholic breath, but not too bad. The ABV is present and not hidden in the best way. This style is very touchy, especially with me. If you do it right though, I will love you forever. This is not bad, it just won't stick out in my mind for the future.
J
★ 925 characters
3.57/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
A: pours a hazy, honey-toned amber with two fingers of very volatile head with extremely large bubbles. It's somewhat persistent, but only due to being fed by a constant stream of tiny carbonation bubbles--the bubbles are popping left and right. Little to no lacing.
S: Smells sweet, with molasses, brown sugar and caramel candy notes as well as plenty bready malty notes. There's slight alcohol in the nose as well as a slight floral hop note.
T: Sweet, again--almost overwhelmingly so--with heavy bready malts, candy notes (particularly toffee and vanilla) and a hint of spice. Finishes warm with some alcohol and a slight hoppy, piney aftertaste. Almost too sweet... would be nice to have some balance. Some notes of tropical fruits, but they are most certainly overwhelmed.
M: Medium bodied with a nice carbonation level. Slight heat in the finish. Creamy yet bubbly, and able to counter the taste easily.
D: Goes down pretty easily for the ABV. Simple but nice, however, a little too syrupy which makes it one to sip.
★ 1,026 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
A: pours a hazy, honey-toned amber with two fingers of very volatile head with extremely large bubbles. It's somewhat persistent, but only due to being fed by a constant stream of tiny carbonation bubbles--the bubbles are popping left and right. Little to no lacing.
S: Smells sweet, with molasses, brown sugar and caramel candy notes as well as plenty bready malty notes. There's slight alcohol in the nose as well as a slight floral hop note.
T: Sweet, again--almost overwhelmingly so--with heavy bready malts, candy notes (particularly toffee and vanilla) and a hint of spice. Finishes warm with some alcohol and a slight hoppy, piney aftertaste. Almost too sweet... would be nice to have some balance. Some notes of tropical fruits, but they are most certainly overwhelmed.
M: Medium bodied with a nice carbonation level. Slight heat in the finish. Creamy yet bubbly, and able to counter the taste easily.
D: Goes down pretty easily for the ABV. Simple but nice, however, a little too syrupy which makes it one to sip.
★ 1,026 characters
3.15/5 rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours with a 3 finger creamy off white head that shows a great deal of structure. Slightly hazy orange/ amber color. Deep color. Retention on the head is amazing. Nice sticky lacing.
Aroma is classic barleywine aroma. Deep malt, ripe pineapple, slight alcohol and lots of other fruit. Strawberries/Blueberries...
Well I hate to say this, but the flavor is quite a let down from the aroma. I was getting excited for a moment. My God is this a sweet beer. Earthy caramel, sticky sweetness, almost corn syrup like. Some alcohol flavor.
Rather thick body and almost syrup like.
Needs more balance and less sweetness.
Not my favorite.
★ 634 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours with a 3 finger creamy off white head that shows a great deal of structure. Slightly hazy orange/ amber color. Deep color. Retention on the head is amazing. Nice sticky lacing.
Aroma is classic barleywine aroma. Deep malt, ripe pineapple, slight alcohol and lots of other fruit. Strawberries/Blueberries...
Well I hate to say this, but the flavor is quite a let down from the aroma. I was getting excited for a moment. My God is this a sweet beer. Earthy caramel, sticky sweetness, almost corn syrup like. Some alcohol flavor.
Rather thick body and almost syrup like.
Needs more balance and less sweetness.
Not my favorite.
★ 634 characters
4/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to jay for sending this along in the barleywine BIF
I poured the 22 bottle into my DFH snifter to enjoy for a while. It produced a finger worth of white head that trailed of to a thin lace. The body of the brew was a cloudy burnt orange in color
The first thing I got from the aroma was a slight oxidation, I due expect to find that on a barleywine with some age. I got some citrus aromas' in there as well as some caramel malts. The flavor was sweet malts followed by a nice little orange maybe even tangerine flavor. It finished with a nice light bitter from the hops. I am guessing probably it was even hoppier a few months ago. It had a light to medium feel in my mouth with light carbonation so what I expect for the style
It is an easy drinking brew. I am having no problems working through the bomber. I liked it but it wasn't one of my tops in the style but by no means one of the worse
★ 907 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to jay for sending this along in the barleywine BIF
I poured the 22 bottle into my DFH snifter to enjoy for a while. It produced a finger worth of white head that trailed of to a thin lace. The body of the brew was a cloudy burnt orange in color
The first thing I got from the aroma was a slight oxidation, I due expect to find that on a barleywine with some age. I got some citrus aromas' in there as well as some caramel malts. The flavor was sweet malts followed by a nice little orange maybe even tangerine flavor. It finished with a nice light bitter from the hops. I am guessing probably it was even hoppier a few months ago. It had a light to medium feel in my mouth with light carbonation so what I expect for the style
It is an easy drinking brew. I am having no problems working through the bomber. I liked it but it wasn't one of my tops in the style but by no means one of the worse
★ 907 characters
4.2/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
My wife says across the room, "I want to try Donkey Punch".
Poured and orangish copper with good carbonation. Nose is strong, fruity with caramel. Taste is good and sweet. I picked up on lighter fruits, perhaps apricot, caramel. Booze and sherry like finish and flavor as well. Bread and toffee. Mouthfeel is coating boozy, caramel and a treat. I am a fan!
★ 356 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
My wife says across the room, "I want to try Donkey Punch".
Poured and orangish copper with good carbonation. Nose is strong, fruity with caramel. Taste is good and sweet. I picked up on lighter fruits, perhaps apricot, caramel. Booze and sherry like finish and flavor as well. Bread and toffee. Mouthfeel is coating boozy, caramel and a treat. I am a fan!
★ 356 characters
3.48/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to FooFaa for sharing this 22oz. bomber on 1/18/10.
A - Poured a hazy burnt orange body with copper tones and a bit of bubbly yet creamy off-white head that reduced to a swirl, leaving behind some decorative lacing.
S - Opens with toffee, caramel and malty notes up front, then gives way to a sugary sweet, hard candy-esque aroma and a moderate waft of alcohol.
T - Flavor is extremely sweet and malty with caramel and toffee notes at the forefront. An alcohol bite emerges in the middle and lasts through the backend, but is softened a bit by a sugary sweetness. Still, this finishes with a wash of boozy notes and an subtle earthy hop bite.
M - Texture is smooth and softly carbonated, albeit a bit thin and flimsy overall. Finishes with moderate alcohol warmth and plenty of residual sweetness on the palate.
D - Pretty good barleywine overall, although more of a hop presence and less sweetness would have been appreciated.
★ 941 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to FooFaa for sharing this 22oz. bomber on 1/18/10.
A - Poured a hazy burnt orange body with copper tones and a bit of bubbly yet creamy off-white head that reduced to a swirl, leaving behind some decorative lacing.
S - Opens with toffee, caramel and malty notes up front, then gives way to a sugary sweet, hard candy-esque aroma and a moderate waft of alcohol.
T - Flavor is extremely sweet and malty with caramel and toffee notes at the forefront. An alcohol bite emerges in the middle and lasts through the backend, but is softened a bit by a sugary sweetness. Still, this finishes with a wash of boozy notes and an subtle earthy hop bite.
M - Texture is smooth and softly carbonated, albeit a bit thin and flimsy overall. Finishes with moderate alcohol warmth and plenty of residual sweetness on the palate.
D - Pretty good barleywine overall, although more of a hop presence and less sweetness would have been appreciated.
★ 941 characters
4.5/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
appearance: reddish brown, not as dark as I would have thought
smell: good hop presence from the first sniff, some floral aroma
taste: strong hops, sublte citrus, rich and touch of caramel sweetness. hidden alcohol
mouthfeel: high carbonation and very tasty
drinkability: perfect american bareywine.
★ 303 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
appearance: reddish brown, not as dark as I would have thought
smell: good hop presence from the first sniff, some floral aroma
taste: strong hops, sublte citrus, rich and touch of caramel sweetness. hidden alcohol
mouthfeel: high carbonation and very tasty
drinkability: perfect american bareywine.
★ 303 characters
Sweetwater Dank Tank DP Barleywine Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company
3.94
out of 5
based on 80 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
1 PINT 6 FL. OZ. beer
Served in a tulip glass
Acquired in February 2013
A - It is a cloudy burnt orange in color. It is topped with an inch of tan head.
S - I smell some floral hops and bready malt.
T - It is a nice balance of floral hops and toasted malt. It has an almost tea-like taste.
M - Medium.
O - It is easy drinking for a 10.2% abv beer. I know it is well past it's prime, but it is an enjoyable try.
★ 418 characters