Mashtadon
Sisyphus Brewing

Had on tap. Actually listed as an english barleywine at brewery, so how I will rate. Has the thinner and dryer influence of the english style, but the caramel, caramel, and more caramel promise is limited to the smell, where it is a lot of caramel, barley, booze, and slight hops. Taste is well balanced but not super caramel forward, if anything the hops come out in the taste more. Very clean and crips in look and feel

 

super grain heavy, this is a really interesting take on the style, very different from any other i can think of, it has a serious density to it, but it also quite lively, holding over an inch of off white head nearly the entire time it takes me to drink through it, and lots of bubbles, especially for the style. sort of a nut brown color with indian red undertones, pretty beer really, but awfully burly. aromas of dried fruits, apricots and raisins alike, with a warm alcohol presence and some toffee notes, but really, this is about the grain pure and simple, i taste a few different barley malts in here, some more toasted, others sweeter, but its like a multi grain loaf in liquid form, really sturdy and rich. less sweet in the flavor than many, and oddly enough less boozy too until it comes up to temperature. bready again, maybe some oats in here, starchy for a moment, weighty in the gut but somewhat clean in the finish as they go, aided by the vibrant carbonation. one is plenty, but this was intriguing all the way through. unlike others, this is neither hoppy (american) or yeasty (english), instead, its purely the grain than flavors this one. i dont love it honestly, but i have a lot of respect for it. very cool brew, this should do well for them here as the cooler weather sets in.