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Pilgrim's Dole
New Holland Brewing Company
- From:
- New Holland Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Wheatwine
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 11.03%
- Reviews:
- 414
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 18, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 19, 2003
- Wants:
- 85
- Gots:
- 150
A barleywine-style ale made with 50% wheat malt (a wheatwine) aged in bourbon barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bamadog:
Reviewed by bamadog from Ohio
4.05/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
4.05/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Review is from notes taken on 5/13/2011 and poured from the bottle to a tulip.
Appearance: Pour yields a rich coppery color with strong ruby highlights; starts with a solid 2 finger off-white, creamy/frothy head; body has decent clarity and shows random carbonation, some bubbles trudging slowly up, while others zip up faster from the bottom; head leaves behind full rings and strands of lacing as it slowly dwindles to a thin and uneven, yet full cap with a frothy patch that reminds me of something that would sit on top of a glass of Ovaltine.
Smell: A very nice smell, loaded with rich and caramel sweet maltiness; bit of a spiciness to it and it really blends in with a strong booziness to the nose; bit of a dry and dark fruitiness to it -- perhaps, raisins or figs. Nose is pretty big, makes me think this one's got big things planned...
Taste: Super solid -- I'm a little disappointed that I've waited this long to try it, and I'm definitely going to be picking up one or two more to put away. Right up front, the palate is slammed with the huge plentitude of malts, very reminiscent of caramel and butterscotch; raisins, figs, and some warm sweet spiciness to them; definite presence of alcohol, but it's not quite as burny as I thought it would be based upon the nose, so yeah, it's hot, but it's a sneaky kind of hot.
Mouthfeel: Wow, body is thick and chewy, quite possibly the thickest Barleywine/Wheatwine I've had to date; carbonation comes across as very soft and smooth in this thick body; a thin and cottony dry, sticky coating is left all over the mouth; the gums are left tingly, and the belly and breath are left quite warm from the nearly 12% alcohol.
Drinkability: A bit big, thick and sweet for too much in any sitting, but it's damn tasty. Cheers to New Holland for this one!
May 14, 2011Appearance: Pour yields a rich coppery color with strong ruby highlights; starts with a solid 2 finger off-white, creamy/frothy head; body has decent clarity and shows random carbonation, some bubbles trudging slowly up, while others zip up faster from the bottom; head leaves behind full rings and strands of lacing as it slowly dwindles to a thin and uneven, yet full cap with a frothy patch that reminds me of something that would sit on top of a glass of Ovaltine.
Smell: A very nice smell, loaded with rich and caramel sweet maltiness; bit of a spiciness to it and it really blends in with a strong booziness to the nose; bit of a dry and dark fruitiness to it -- perhaps, raisins or figs. Nose is pretty big, makes me think this one's got big things planned...
Taste: Super solid -- I'm a little disappointed that I've waited this long to try it, and I'm definitely going to be picking up one or two more to put away. Right up front, the palate is slammed with the huge plentitude of malts, very reminiscent of caramel and butterscotch; raisins, figs, and some warm sweet spiciness to them; definite presence of alcohol, but it's not quite as burny as I thought it would be based upon the nose, so yeah, it's hot, but it's a sneaky kind of hot.
Mouthfeel: Wow, body is thick and chewy, quite possibly the thickest Barleywine/Wheatwine I've had to date; carbonation comes across as very soft and smooth in this thick body; a thin and cottony dry, sticky coating is left all over the mouth; the gums are left tingly, and the belly and breath are left quite warm from the nearly 12% alcohol.
Drinkability: A bit big, thick and sweet for too much in any sitting, but it's damn tasty. Cheers to New Holland for this one!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by KaBoots from Florida
4.35/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Bottle dates 10/30/17. Drinking 06/18/2022. All in all a pretty splendid English style Barley/
Wheat wine style. Dark brown in color, if anyone cares. Smells of very strong malt. Basically, it's super sweet and tasty.
Jun 18, 2022Wheat wine style. Dark brown in color, if anyone cares. Smells of very strong malt. Basically, it's super sweet and tasty.
Reviewed by JohnG190 from New York
3.84/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Slightly hazy amber with a thin cap of tan foam. Toffee and dried fruit on the nose. Slightly sweet maltiness on the front of the palate with a bit of alcohol burn. Caramel and raisin finish, hint of barrel but no bourbon to speak of. Very balanced and well crafted. Full bodied with slight carbonation. Overall, not a style I generally gravitate toward, but tasty.
Jan 31, 2021Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York
4.24/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Decanted from a 12 oz (355 ml) bottle; bottled on 10/05/18.
A: Pours a cloudy amber to brown color with less than one finger, short-lived, light tan head, barley a rim, but subtle legs. Very lively on pour, though.
S: Slightly and pleasantly pungent. Aromas of caramel/molasses, raisin, date, prune, toffee, honey, vanilla, and pepper predominate.
T: Sweet. Flavor largely follows the nose, but earthy with tobacco and leather notes late. Balanced, but with a modest peppery bitterness with the earthy notes.
M: Full bodied with solid, lively carbonation. Solid and chewy.
O: Delicious. Today is the Immaculate Conception and this is clearly designed for celebration of the days to come. Complex, fun and flavorful.
Dec 08, 2020A: Pours a cloudy amber to brown color with less than one finger, short-lived, light tan head, barley a rim, but subtle legs. Very lively on pour, though.
S: Slightly and pleasantly pungent. Aromas of caramel/molasses, raisin, date, prune, toffee, honey, vanilla, and pepper predominate.
T: Sweet. Flavor largely follows the nose, but earthy with tobacco and leather notes late. Balanced, but with a modest peppery bitterness with the earthy notes.
M: Full bodied with solid, lively carbonation. Solid and chewy.
O: Delicious. Today is the Immaculate Conception and this is clearly designed for celebration of the days to come. Complex, fun and flavorful.
Reviewed by NCAHappyHour from Kansas
4.11/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.11/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Starts off wonderfully - beautiful dark hue; good nose; and wonderful mouthfeel. So thick in your mouth and leaves a wonderful coating. Very smooth...but maybe a little boozy? This is a nice beer to enjoy in front of the fire or out on the deck on one of the first crisp nights of autumn.
Nov 25, 2020Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.63/5 rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.63/5 rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Bottled 10/31/16
Pours hazy maroon red brown with a creamy khaki colored foam head. Smells rich and sweet, malty, fruity, oaky, nutty, with dried dark fruit notes, raisin, fig, dates, prune, plum, grape, apple, dark caramel, toffee, molasses, vanilla, toasted bready wheaty malts, some chocolate, graham cracker, bourbon, marshmallowy charred oak barrel, mapley brown sugar, and mild earthy piney hops. Tastes heavy and rich, slightly boozy, sweet, with notes of bourbon oak barrel, marshmallowy vanilla, dark caramel, toffee, molasses, toasted bready wheaty malts, chocolate, graham cracker, mapley brown sugar, dried dark fruits, raisin, fig, dates, prune, plum, grape, apple, and some earthy piney hops. Feels slick, medium bodied on the lighter side, creamy with smooth moderate carbonation. Overall a nice bourbon barrel aged wheatwine ale.
Jul 25, 2020Pours hazy maroon red brown with a creamy khaki colored foam head. Smells rich and sweet, malty, fruity, oaky, nutty, with dried dark fruit notes, raisin, fig, dates, prune, plum, grape, apple, dark caramel, toffee, molasses, vanilla, toasted bready wheaty malts, some chocolate, graham cracker, bourbon, marshmallowy charred oak barrel, mapley brown sugar, and mild earthy piney hops. Tastes heavy and rich, slightly boozy, sweet, with notes of bourbon oak barrel, marshmallowy vanilla, dark caramel, toffee, molasses, toasted bready wheaty malts, chocolate, graham cracker, mapley brown sugar, dried dark fruits, raisin, fig, dates, prune, plum, grape, apple, and some earthy piney hops. Feels slick, medium bodied on the lighter side, creamy with smooth moderate carbonation. Overall a nice bourbon barrel aged wheatwine ale.
Reviewed by officerbill from New York
4.21/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Dark reddish brown with a thin tan head.
flavors of dates, raisins, plums, cherries, brown sugar, caramel, molasses.
the aftertaste is almost too sweetly sticky, that's about the only drawback; otherwise this is an outstanding example of a wheatwine
My ratings don't do this beer justice, it is one of the best of the style. If you find it, buy it. You won't regret it.
Apr 05, 2020flavors of dates, raisins, plums, cherries, brown sugar, caramel, molasses.
the aftertaste is almost too sweetly sticky, that's about the only drawback; otherwise this is an outstanding example of a wheatwine
My ratings don't do this beer justice, it is one of the best of the style. If you find it, buy it. You won't regret it.
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)
4.24/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Single 12 oz bottle purchased at the Knickerbocker in Grand Rapids, Michigan March 2018 - bottled October 30, 2017.
Poured into my New Holland High Gravity Series glass - a dark amber with copper tones - scant khaki head.
Aroma of over ripe orange, pineapple, burnt caramel, and bourbon booziness.
Taste is upfront boozy - caramelized candied orange, dark fruits, oak - a bit of spicy bittersweetness on the swallow.
Sticky sweet mouthfeel - full - boozy, warming alcoholic burn
Really good - reminds me of an amped up Nugget Nectar.
Jan 20, 2020Poured into my New Holland High Gravity Series glass - a dark amber with copper tones - scant khaki head.
Aroma of over ripe orange, pineapple, burnt caramel, and bourbon booziness.
Taste is upfront boozy - caramelized candied orange, dark fruits, oak - a bit of spicy bittersweetness on the swallow.
Sticky sweet mouthfeel - full - boozy, warming alcoholic burn
Really good - reminds me of an amped up Nugget Nectar.
Reviewed by rex_4539 from Greece
4.65/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.65/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
L: Quite clear deep red color, no head, no lacing, no carbonation.
S: Sweet, bourbon, hints of alcohol.
T: Sweet, plum, malty, hoppy, bourbon, alcohol. Delicious!
F: Full bodied, as much flavor as any beer could provide.
O: A world class beer. You will be stunned by the richness of this one.
Oct 06, 2019S: Sweet, bourbon, hints of alcohol.
T: Sweet, plum, malty, hoppy, bourbon, alcohol. Delicious!
F: Full bodied, as much flavor as any beer could provide.
O: A world class beer. You will be stunned by the richness of this one.
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
3.82/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.82/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Found in back of beer reefer – where I bought it and for how much is not recorded. Reviewed 9/15/19.
“BOTTLED 10/15/18 12:51” marked with yellow dots on the neck and shoulder of the bottle. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand-washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 3.75.
First pour – Light amber, clear.
Body – Dark brown, opaque. When held to the light, red-amber and translucent.
Head – Large (Maximum 6.2 cm, aggressive center pour), tan, medium density, average duration, diminishing to an irregular three to ten mm crown and a thin rocky cap.
Lacing – Fair. Wide partial ring of tiny bubbles with a couple of holes. Fairly remarkable for the high ABV.
Aroma – 3.5 – Sweet toffee.
Flavor – 4 – Sweet with a distinct caramel/toffee flavor. No alcohol (12% ABV) flavor or aroma, no dimethylsulfide, no diacetyl.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium, approaching syrupy, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4. Think English barley wine but a bit sweeter. Very decent, on the cusp of good.
Sep 15, 2019“BOTTLED 10/15/18 12:51” marked with yellow dots on the neck and shoulder of the bottle. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand-washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 3.75.
First pour – Light amber, clear.
Body – Dark brown, opaque. When held to the light, red-amber and translucent.
Head – Large (Maximum 6.2 cm, aggressive center pour), tan, medium density, average duration, diminishing to an irregular three to ten mm crown and a thin rocky cap.
Lacing – Fair. Wide partial ring of tiny bubbles with a couple of holes. Fairly remarkable for the high ABV.
Aroma – 3.5 – Sweet toffee.
Flavor – 4 – Sweet with a distinct caramel/toffee flavor. No alcohol (12% ABV) flavor or aroma, no dimethylsulfide, no diacetyl.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium, approaching syrupy, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4. Think English barley wine but a bit sweeter. Very decent, on the cusp of good.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
2.92/5 rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
2.92/5 rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Bottled 9/11/15; drank 1/24/16 @ the Yarchives.
See-through orange/purple appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small khaki head; nice lace.
Oak, booze heat, plum & caramel notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Booze heat, candle wax & plum flavors up front; baking soda, caramel & oak notes on the finish.
4 months in, this is a boozy mess.
Jul 18, 2019See-through orange/purple appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small khaki head; nice lace.
Oak, booze heat, plum & caramel notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Booze heat, candle wax & plum flavors up front; baking soda, caramel & oak notes on the finish.
4 months in, this is a boozy mess.
Reviewed by Tilley4 from Tennessee
4.13/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sticky...sweet....rich...
Drinks like a Christmas pudding.... lots of dark fruit and a little booze... really unique and tasty...
Had this tonight and it's the beginning of summer so I'm thinking this would be even better on a cold December evening by the Christmas tree...
I would recommend this to those who like English barleywines...
May 28, 2019Drinks like a Christmas pudding.... lots of dark fruit and a little booze... really unique and tasty...
Had this tonight and it's the beginning of summer so I'm thinking this would be even better on a cold December evening by the Christmas tree...
I would recommend this to those who like English barleywines...
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Dark copper-brown body, mostly transparent but dark, with a light tan head, persistent, with a thick curtain of tight bubbled lacing.
S - Strong booze, sharp spicy wood notes, vanilla and oak, and caramel.
T - Smooth malty booze, vanilla and caramel of bourbon, bright hit of spicy pepper notes, and a mildly bitter finish.
M - Somewhat prickly open, sticky and full weight, minor warmth in the finish.
O - A well integrated big, burly wheatwine with nice barrel notes, with a few years on it. Enjoyable.
Mar 31, 2019S - Strong booze, sharp spicy wood notes, vanilla and oak, and caramel.
T - Smooth malty booze, vanilla and caramel of bourbon, bright hit of spicy pepper notes, and a mildly bitter finish.
M - Somewhat prickly open, sticky and full weight, minor warmth in the finish.
O - A well integrated big, burly wheatwine with nice barrel notes, with a few years on it. Enjoyable.
Pilgrim's Dole from New Holland Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
968 ratings
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