The Morrigan
Martin House Brewing Company

RB transfer

 

 

Picked up a “box” of this and I expected a bottle inside (much like you’d find in a Firestone Walker special release “box”), however, I was pleasantly surprised to see 2 cans instead. This even though I previously tried another Martin House release from a 2-can box. Anyway...
Pours a rich clear copper color. Mild head, fair lacing when glass is tilted. Very little visible carbonation.
Scent is sweet malts, sugary-nice with some vanilla/ butterscotch notes too. Mmmm.
Taste is interesting. An initial wine-like flavor of white grapes, then vanilla, hops, lightly charred wood & some earth. The butterscotch-vanilla comes back to dominate the aftertaste along with an alcoholic bite that’s perfectly suited for the style. Complex for sure. It all starts off sweet and finishes tightly on the dry side. The Jameson barrel is a subtle knot-tying afterthought here...it does NOT get in the way.
Feel is medium with medium carbonation. Creamy. This works.
I don’t recall ever hearing of, much less trying, a blonde barley wine...yet I saw 2 separate breweries offering the style while making my retail run for the big game weekend. I chose this (can’t even recall the first one I saw). Great choice. (Brewed June 22nd, 2018)

 

Very boozy but not hot - the vanilla is incredible. Nice lacing on a large tulip
Creamy mouth feel
I wouldn’t call this an American barleywine because the hops isn’t excessive.