Bourbon Barrel Barleywine
America's Brewpub

Dark amber colored ale. Decadent, dessert-like nose with terrific aromas of toffee, bourbon, caramel and wood. Flavor is very complex and well balanced between the malt and barrel attributes. I really like sweet, strong barrel aged barley wines and this is a standout example.

After about 9 months on oak in a Kentucky bourbon barrel the BW has taken on some good oak flavor that shows in aroma and flavor and melds well with the dextrinous caramel and dark fruity flavors from a long boil and fermentation with American Ale yeast. Well hidden alcohol seems lower that the 9% abv written on the chalk board of the brewpub. Hop bitterness balances sweetness and the full body and moderate carbonation give this a mouthfeel to hold on to. Should cellar well. Great sipping by the fireside as the stars come out and temps fall.

This bourbon barrel barley wine has been aging since February 2006 in the barrel and arrives to me in a 10oz snifter glass. A nice dark brown hue with some ruby highlights coming out the side of the glass. A small light tan bubbly head sits on top. Lookin good! Aromas begin with lots of sweet caramel and a sort of candied fruit aroma. Nice highlights of vanilla and bourbon are both instantly apparent and warm the nose. Hops are quite minimal but still shine through a bit. Overall, a really nice one to smell, with a good balance on the bourbon.

First sip brings a wonderful flow of sweet, warm caramelly malts wtih undertones of dark candied fruits. The bourbon flows in the middle with a nice touch of wood and vanilla notes. Not too overly sweet, it flows down with a nice hit of warming alcohol on the finish. Mellow hops as well. Overall, a tasty treat of a bourbon barley wine!

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and somewhat chewy. Not as dense as some barrel aged barley wines I've come across, but overall very nice and a great sipper on a cold night. The 10oz snifter ran $7.50 but was well worth the price. Obviously one of these is probably all you will need, especially if you're driving! The Roundhouse always seems to have some tasty treat on when I visit and I can't wait to get back!