Drag The River
Deep River Brewing Co.

 

 

 

Look: It is a cloudy dark brown in color with low tannish head retention.

Smell: It has aromas of caramel and toffee. It also has notes of raisins, bourbon, and plums.

Taste: It has an initial sweetness with the bitterness coming in a second wave. The flavor of caramel is moderate, toffee is low to moderate with moderate raisin and low plum flavors. It also has some low floral notes. The bourbon notes are also moderate adding complexity to the overall presentation. The is a slight vinous flavor as well.

Feel: It is thick and chewy in texture with low carbonation and pleasant alcohol warmth.

Overall, this is a pleasant barleywine that has a powerful punch without the hot sensation that comes with many bourbon aged beers.

A: Pours an opaque, murky mahogany in color with light to moderate amounts of fine gentle carbonation along the edges of the glass and faint garnet red + cola brown highlights. The beer has a finger tall foamy tan head that reduces to a large patch of thin film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of bourbon, vanilla, and toasted oak over the top of moderate aromas of caramel + toffee malts with slightly heavier than moderate amount of sweetness. Light to moderate aromas of earthy hops.

T: Upfront there are strong flavors of toasted, caramel, and toffee malts with moderate to strong amounts of caramel + toffee sweetness. That is quickly followed by moderate to strong flavors of toasted oak, vanilla, and bourbon with a moderate amount of earthy hops and a light flavor of herbal hops. Light amounts of hoppy bitterness which fades away quickly and leaves a moderate to strong amount of lingering sweetness.

M: Full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly heavier than moderate amounts of alcohol warming in the finish.

O: A very nice example of a bourbon barrel aged American Barleywine and easy to drink considering the strength. Alcohol is present, mostly through the flavors/aromas of bourbon and the mouthfeel but not overwhelming. Enjoyable and I could easily have this one again.