Did Anyone Think To Dredge The Lake
450 North Brewing Company

450 North Brewing Co. "Did Anyone Think To Dredge The Lake?"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating although the label does state "PLEASE ENJOY SOON AFTER PURCHASE FOR MAXIMUM FRESHNESS".

Notes via stream of consciousness: This is labeled as an "ENGLISH BARLEYWINE WITH TOFFEE AND ROASTED HAZELNUT". Coming from Indiana it's certainly more of an English-style barleywine but that's OK, my question is are the toffee and hazelnuts and real or flavorings. The label doesn't mention anything so I'm assuming it's all real. Toffee contains butter though so it'll probably kill the head. It's poured a hazy chestnut brown body with orange and crimson highlights beneath a thumb's width of yellowed tan foam. The aroma is quite bright with toffee and nuts so if they've done this with real ingredients they've at least seriously hit the mark on that one. On to the taste... the toffee remains with a lot of additional fruitiness and some nuts remaining. The fruitiness is mainly apple but there's also some fig and red and white grape to it. I wish there was less fruitiness to it and I could just drink what I found in the aroma but this is nice too. Why don't I get the fruitiness in the aroma? Is the toffee just that strong? I guess so. It's really an interesting, rich, and complex beer. As it's warming I'm getting wheaty bread, golden caramel, and a light edge of toastiness as well. A moderate bitterness balances it but the fruitiness and a light touch of alcohol help to balance it. Nuts and fruit linger. In the mouth it's full-medium in body and smooth with a fine-bubbled, moderate carbonation. As I'd expected the head retention was limited, and with that the lacing but that's OK. All around this is a special beer that's unlike anything I've ever encountered. It works as a dessert beer, but also just as a sipper on its own. I personally wouldn't consider it as anything else but who knows? Everyone has their own tastes. Fantastic!!! In the end, however, the truth of the matter is that this is anything but an English barleywine. I'd call it an American strong ale but maybe that's just me. I won't ding it for style though as it's clearly not an English barleywine to begin with as you'll never find one with toffee and nuts added.
Review #9,134

Dredging the kettle after making barelywine is a tall task for any brewer. 450 North looks to stray from their sour and smoothie ways to make a British styled barleywine, swirled with toffee and roasted hazelnut.

Did Anyone Think to redge the Lake? is the brainchild of 450 North with a stiff ale that pours with a amber and copper to resemble honey pouring into the glass. As a loose and lofty froth forms, the scent of butter pecan, caramel, toffee and nuttiness floods the nose, along with a peculiar hint of green apple. Its first sip reveals much the malty same- caramel, toffee, peanut brittle, butter pecan, light praline and simple syrups.

Simple sweetness persists across the middle palate as the buttery goodness of weather’s originals drape green apple for a unique fruitiness that comes with the caramelized sweetness. Nearly praline-like, the sweetness brings hazelnut, macadamia, pistachio and cashew softness as the ale dissipates into a softly bitter, sweet and savory finish.

Full bodied, cloying to the palate, and rife with buttery sweetness. the ale shows a sultry and savory taste to please the sweet tooth, but the distraction of tart apple flavors are a far departure from the style, and so are the forced extract character that prevents more genuine barleywine character.

Very typical amber color of a barley wine. But that is it. Nose is is very much toffee sweetness. Taste is same toffee flavor sweet. Not your typical barley wine