BBA Ginger Barleywine
Starpoint Brewing

Undated bottle. Poured into tulip glass. It pours a medium brown with orange hues, and a half finger of light khaki-colored head and lacing with very good retention. It somewhat resembles apple cider. The nose is unique insofar as it combines the typical butterscotch and caramel of a barleywine with the fresh scent of ginger. However, as the glass warms, you really begin to smell the bourbon. The taste features the same combination. The first thing I taste is the ginger which has a distinct bitterness. That's followed by a heavy dose of bourbon and, to a lesser degree caramel and butterscotch. The flavors blend very nicely but it's by no means a sweet barleywine. This ale is surprisingly thin in its mouth feel, with only moderate carbonation. It isn't very creamy. The 10.5% ABV is noticeable and warming. It's decidedly a sipper. Overall, while I generally prefer English Barleywines to their American cousins, the ginger makes this offering unique. Starpoint brews some very fine ales and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to enjoy this one.