Barley Wine
Columbus Brewing Company

Firkin version at Barley's 6th Annual Mini RAF (04/26/08): This brew pours a mostly clear dark amber color with a minimal off-white head that dissipates quickly. Spotty lacing. Rich malt aroma with piney hops underneath. Full body with a strong earthy malt character, along with flavors of hops, citrus and pine. The finish is hoppy with a tart fruit aftertaste. Pretty good all around.

Poured from the tap into a tasting glass.

Appearance- Beer pours yellow and clear with a massive two finger head of foam that refuses to die down even though it's the last beer in the sampler and I took time out to talk to the brewer. Lacing clings to the sides like crazy and doesn't go away.

Smell- Hoppy and malty sweet with a strong alcoholic scent, hints of lighter fruits and honey also rise up in the left nostril.

Taste- Not near as warming as expected. Hops and malt come straight to the taste buds fairly evenly as far as barleywines go. Nothing really standout about this barleywine except that it is very balanced. Lightly sweet.

Mouthfeel- Not sticky or warming, creamy, medium-full bodied, medium light on carbonation on the mouthfeel as well.

Drinkability- With how light this barleywine tastes, I could really put some back.

From CBC's "1000th Batch," just tapped yesterday. It a cloudy tangerine color with a fluffy white head with decent retention, and some slight lacing.

The aroma is dominated by big, herbal, Columbus hops. The flavor is defintitely hop-heavy, with slight citrus, subtle malt, and a warm burst of alcohol.

The mouth is medium-bodied, light then heft is added by the dry, slightly bitter hop finish. Ample carbonation keeps it lively on the palate. Highly drinkable, the hops don't overwhelm.

It's a very good beer overall, but nothing like a Barley Wine. It has more in common with a double IPA than any Barley Wine that I have ever had. It lacks the thickness and intensity one would expect. Very good, but not sure if it is really a Barley Wine.