Double Barrel Aged Father Time
River North Brewery

Poured cellar cool to a Glencairn. Color is deep chestnut brown, clear. Barely any head, followed by the slowest, oiliest legs around the glass. Aroma is serious like a heart attack. Rye, bourbon, wood, ethanol. First sips highlight the aggressive rye and barrel presence. Alcohol burns and bites immediately. Serious beer. Flavor pulls in bourbon sweetness like the single barrel Father Time (drank yesterday, so my memory is fresh) at the end of the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is below syrupy, full, and lingering. Barleywine? All day. It never morphs into “stout flavor” territory like some big barrel / ABV barleywines do. Fucking killer. Worth every penny River North (or Tavour) wants for these beers.

2025 vintage - bottle says 21.2%ABV, not 19.2% as stated on the BA website.

Look - Pours a super dark brown/black color with a medium head that very quickly disappears.

Smell - Smells of rye, whiskey, oak, dark fruit, and brown sugar.

Taste - Tastes of whiskey, rye, and dark fruit.

Feel - Comes in slightly hot at 21.2%, but is fairly easy drinking.

Overall - This is the best barleywine I've tried from River North so far. :-)

Pours nice reddish brown. Aroma is very traditional - caramel, brown sugar & wood. Taste follows nose & is a wonderfully sweet combo of caramel/brown sugar/wood with the addition of dark fruits and bourbon. Very smooth taste and not indicative of the 19.2%. Mouthfeel is medium. Great Barleywine.