Wood Worker Perpetual Astonishment
Baerlic Beer Company

 

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a medium, slightly reddish orange with a quarter finger white head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of dry caramel malt, coffee, raisins, light dates and vanilla. Flavor is candi malt, raisins, coffee, vanilla, hints of bourbon. Coffee and light oak finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess. An interesting take on the barleywine style, this does not really match either the American nor English styles, although it leans to the later in the dark fruit flavors and the former in light fruit, but without much hopping that is usual in American barleywines. This seems more like an imperial blonde ale, and tastes like a good idea. The coffee adds an interesting note, but almost seem superfluous, there is enough going on here. ABV remarkably well covered requiring careful sipping as it's very easy drinking. They pulled off an interesting variation on the barleywine style. I've been favorably impressed with everything I've had from Baerlic and will look for more styles.

Hardly much, if any lighter than what the mind defines as a Barleywine. A beautiful polished copper color, clean and bright. The thinnest fingernail of white crests the perimeter of the glass and stays as such. (3.75)

The aroma is quite simple and simply wonderful. Well basked in Bourbon, with the perfect compliments of golden raisins and wood. As it warms, so does the suggestion of a breakfast sticky bun, cinnamon, glaze and all. (4.25)

I wouldn't normally use this word as a taste descriptor, but I feel compelled to express how smooth this is. Raisins and fig soaked in Bourbon, with a touch of vanilla and spice. (4.0)

Ah. Now I get the "blonde". It's quite light, hence that smoothness. Watery, especially considering the style. Sweet, oak stripped dry, lightly boozy. It's too damn easy to drink. (3.75)

Another Woodmaker success. Baerlic continues to impress across the board, and this one here is a fun take on what I'd like to think as really a tribute to two styles. But of course, I wish it was just a bit more. (4.0)

Cheers.