Rudy Juice
Rushing Duck Brewing Company

Pours a translucent ruby color from a crowler (kudos to zid for the opportunity). Modest head that quickly dissipates, but enough to show that the Juice is none the worse for wear after packaging and transport in the crowler. A single-malt, single-hop barleywine weighing in at nearly 16% ABV, this is quite ambitious. Fortunately, the end product is far from gimmicky: sweet enough to live up to its name, but also complex, balanced, and not overly boozy or hot. Scuppernong grapes and baked apples on the nose, along with a twinge of alcoholic fusels which are otherwise the only evidence of a high alcohol content. On the palate, a nice malty biscuit anchors the fruit notes. Reminiscent of a slightly diluted brandy, with some nice vanilla and oak notes thrown in despite not being barrel-aged--richer than expected for the lack of ageing, the high ABV, and a moderately thin body.

I am drinking this way too quickly for an after-dinner treat. It's my first beer from Rushing Duck, delightfully good, and slightly dangerous. A great introduction to a brewery I now hope to sample more from in future.

 

English barleywine. alcohol. apple flavour. burning in the mouthfeel barleywine. caramel.Decent body but even more mouthfeel would be a suitable match.

 

 

 

I had this on draught at the brewery. It was served in a pint glass. It pours an orange-amber color with a fluffy, milk-white head and lacing with great retention through the pour. The smell was rather subdued, mostly a sweet malt. This is really a special Barleywine; it is fruity and tart but not the least bit cloying. It manages to be fruity, malty, flavorful, and tart without over-sweetness, and while the alcohol content is huge, it is not overly boozy. It is medium-bodied and moderately carbonated. Rushing Duck seems to have pulled off the miraculous: they've brewed a 15.9% Barleywine that is flavorful but not overwhelming. It's really quite an achievement!

 

As good a non-barrel aged barleywine as I have had. Such a beautiful heavy body and subtle but solid carbonation. The alcohol is there but the showcase of a single malt(a maris otter like NY malt) and single hop(??) is incredibly well executed, not cloying at all and drinks dangerously easy for almost 16%!!?!?! All I can say in conclusion is wow, just wow.