Grow Old With You
Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project

 

Fig, Brown Sugar, Molasses. Best damn barley wine!

a really fantastic and enormous barleywine here, incredibly good really, wildly underrated in my opinion, and frankly one of the best beers i have had from these guys, but i feel like i always say that when i drink their stuff, they remain just crazy under the radar somehow, really some of the better beers in colorado across a huge range of styles, they deserve more hype for sure. this is pretty dark for the style, deep deep amber, almost brown, thick like molasses in the glass but holding a short tan head here too, surprising for what it is. aroma is strong bourbon, really quality stuff too, rich and sweet, woody as heck, loaded with vanilla and honey character, and nicely set up alongside the grain, notes of almond, molasses, maple syrup, and dense brown bread, and even some roast all come together, the malt is awesome in this, huge and sweet, but i find myself drinking it up, its not too sweet and heavy and boozy to be kind of easy down the throat for me, lots and lots of body though, richness, and complexity, but also a cohesiveness and a sort of fancy appeal about it, mature as can be, classically english but on steroids, and just overall an exceptional example of the style, a worthy specimen to say the least. this is a beer to be a fan of, a brewery to pay more attention to, and an experience to be shared. i loved it! as good a barleywine as i will likely have all year long...

edit: this is just as good many many years later in a different newer vintage i presume, 13.5% listed abv now, so much malt depth, darker and more complex than the vast majority of these, oak forward with complimentary but not dominant whiskey, insane body and smoothness, one of their very best beers. looks like they do some cool barrel treatments on it now, i will have to track those down. this is gold standard level for the style, wonderful english malts on full display, great attention to detail for something so big, elite! rightly well decorated with medals now, this is a banger!

11/17/18 (Chicago): 1 oz 13.5% ABV pour into taster glass at FOBAB (won gold medal for Barleywine/Wheatwine). Brown color, off-white ring around glass. Light whiskey aroma, harsh whiskey taste, not balanced. Thin sweet mouth feel. Overall OK offering.