Decennial III: Father Time
River North Brewery

Shared a 375ml bottle of this last Sunday afternoon (11JUN23) with daughter Caitlin... Vintage 2020, Release #3.... This one checked in at 15.0% ABV.

Poured a clear but very dark chestnut color, nearly opaque. Had a thin, fine beige head, mostly clinging to the rim, with light lacing. Had a rich nose replete with dates, raisins and caramelized brown sugar. Body was solidly medium-plus, and was quite smooth.

Flavor? Oh my! Had a fantastic mix of caramel, brown sugar, raisins, figs, dates and prunes. Was semisweet yet never cloying. And the 15% ABV was hardly noticeable. A damn good English Barleywine!! Cheers!!!

4.43/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2413

Cellared for a year. Shades of dark brown in the opaque body, tan head that quickly settles into a collar. Toffee and honey dipped date, fig, apple, and plum lead the nose, barley and light oak cut a bit, expressive though sweet. Taste is even sweeter, same sweet actors plus molasses and apricot, maple, whiskey with barley, resin, oak, and dry earth crash in hotly to finish. Woah a lot going on, but final lasting impressions are residual sugars and booze. Feel has that barley bite with booze added, brighter than most for style, sticky and viscous up front by dries out a bit, slight oxidation kicks in near the finish before very warm sweetness lingers on the tongue. Would let this one age for awhile as I think it will be rewarding, but one year in it is complex and good but not great

 

A: The beer is nearly jet black in color and has some brownish hues when it is held up to a bright light. It only left a minuscule ring of collars around portions of the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of dark fruits and liquor from the barrel aging are present in the nose.
T: The taste has lots of flavors of dark fruits - prunes and raisins stand in out particular - along with notes of caramel, molasses and toffee.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There is some warmth from the alcohol in the finish.
O: This beer tastes more like a strong ale than a barleywine but in any event it is a slow sipper and could make for a good selection to drink on a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

375 ml bottle

Pours very dark brown, dark red tint when held to light.

Aroma of molasses, tobacco, mild nondescript dark fruits, and some nutty undertones.

Flavor is of molasses, tobacco, toast, walnut, plum, and coffee.

Body is full and syrupy. Light sting of carbonation.

This is a very rich and slow drinking BW in the English style. Very enjoyable but heavy and very thick. Definitely worth a try and I'd love to keep one cellared for a while to see how it matures.

A Tavour treat. Pours a medium brown color with a minimal head that disappears quickly. Aroma is dark fruit, raisins and roasted w. Tastes of alcohol and sweet fruit. Interesting flavour. Good mouth feel.