Barleywine Style Ale
Green Flash Brewing Co.

Barleywine Style AleBarleywine Style Ale
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From:
Green Flash Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
Ranked #163
ABV:
10.9%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,969
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 11.63%
Reviews:
439
Ratings:
850
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 16, 2023
Added:
Nov 08, 2006
Wants:
  48
Gots:
  88
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.04 by travolta from California

Nov 16, 2023
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.51/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This is a review of the 2009 vintage that was consumed round the pool on August 23. 2016. Hit that 7 year itch with this one down in the cellar.

Pours a deep amber to auburn color. Thin head barely around 1/6" at most when it settled. Aroma of caramel, wasn't picking up those cardboard oxidation notes in the nose. Hopping wasn't evident at this stage either.

Taste revealed that this wasn't going to be a heavy boozy barleywine. Also there was minimal oxidation, but what there was you could say was complimentary, the caramel notes bonded nice with a light woodiness instead of a beat up cardboard box kind of vibe. The bitterness was high, but not three digit hypothetical ibu number high. I'd guess around 75 ibu at this point. Caramel not only bonded with the light woodiness but also a light brandy nuttiness to it as well. Dude, I think this aged pretty well.
Jun 19, 2020
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Rated by pathman from Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
05/25/20 bottle (2010 vintage; cellared at ambient basement temp since purchase) @ home
May 25, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Apr 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by Avatar113 from California

Jan 23, 2018
 
Rated: 3.63 by chuckgietzen from Michigan

Apr 17, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by Lukass from Ohio

Mar 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by colbster92 from Pennsylvania

Mar 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.98 by chard_wells from California

Dec 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by mitch3114 from New York

Dec 10, 2016
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into a glass.

Deep, dark orange-rust color. Very murky.

Nice offwhite head; a veritable blanket of lace.

Treacly sweet caramel nose, plus some booze; very much of the style.

Medium mouthfeel.

Taste is of sweet caramel with a subtle hop undertone. Not as over-the-top as many US Barleywines can be. Not amazing, but better than average for the style.
Nov 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.31 by Treesmakewater from South Carolina

Oct 23, 2016
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

4.02/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Nearly no head which leaves no lace. Deep copper color. Clear.

Sickly sweet. Good alcohol aroma.

Rich and brownish in taste, meaning there's a slight burnt flavor with string caramel tastes. Not to sweet in the flavor. Good hoppy bitterness in the swallow which makes for a bittersweet aftertaste. I get a Grappa taste in the finish.
Oct 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by bcm75 from Illinois

Jul 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by Zaphog from Michigan

Jul 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.33 by beergorrilla from Michigan

Jul 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.64 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Jun 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.64 by CBrodbeck from Florida

Jun 04, 2016
Photo of pmarlowe
Reviewed by pmarlowe from Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
"Early" 2010 vintage. Thanks spry.

Beautiful ruby color. Malt forward with nice toffee aroma and taste. Very dry and mildly bitter. Not an ounce of sweetness here. This has aged gracefully, the hops have receded but still leave mild bitterness to balance the malt.
May 27, 2016
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Drier and hoppier than historical British barleywine, the American thumbprint on the style takes full advantage of pacific northwest hops and indigenous American yeast with its more tenacious fermentation character. Often times blurring the line between barleywine and imperial IPA gives Green Flash's version its uniqueness and its challenge.

Hazy crimson and carrying a gentlemanly visual density, the ale crowns with a rich ecru lather. Scents of deeply caramelized and nutty malts couple with citrus, pine and orchard fruit for a powerful perfume with a spicy tingle on the nose. Robust sweetness flirts with toffee as its nutty character reflects a "cracker jacks" candy memory.

The beer's hoppy side blossoms on the middle palate as the dryness of the beer begins to pull the reins on the sweetness and the fruit-forward flavor emerges. Grapefruit, orange and apricot pull ahead, doing so with an unexpected taste of ripe red apple. Its balanced taste refuses to prefer the hops or the malt while the taste trails with a spicy bitterness of deeply resinous pine, citrus peel and pith and oddly enough- cinnamon.

Strong and full in body, the ale's spicy, brandy-like burn, it's bitter, snappy hop character and a gentle quiver from the malt structure suggests a semi-dry finish. As pine and citrus mingle deep in aftertaste, its the hops that finally outlasts the malt with a firm grip on the gullet.
May 19, 2016
Barleywine Style Ale from Green Flash Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 850 ratings