Ol' Boy
Transient Artisan Ales

Excited to try a barleywine aged six years. Poured cellar cool to a Glencairn glass. Color is ruddy copper, clear, with an instantly evaporating sparkler fizz head. Have to stick my nose pretty close to it, but the aroma is a nice mix of light cherry, wet wood, and a tiny hint of maple syrup. First sips are immediate demonic bourbon alcohol bite. Not as in bad, but as in this hits spirits level burn. 16% is big, but it’s biting around mid to high 20%s. Profile reads like it will lean English, but the slap in the face comes across as American. This is likely one best left to aerate a bit. Mouthfeel is deceptive as it at first feels tannic and cleansing, but there is a residual oiliness that keeps the hint of maple alive after the bourbon stomp.