Old Bad Cat Barleywine 2004
Wolf Brewing Company

2004 Vintage, aged over 2 years. Special thanks to Viggo for this one!
Leaves great lacing to follow plenty of head. (great sign for a beer its age!) The aroma noticeably faded but still with plenty of life left in it. The hops subdued but ever present. Very tasty malt bill. Buttery texture with notes of dried fruits and a sweet note of something like maple. The finish is fantastic! No alcohol detected. The malts are like drinking fruit! The wine barells did it much good! Even more impressed to know the alcohol percentage is higher than the 2005. Smooth mouthfeel, tasty flavours and plenty of life in the aroma! This was a truly rare and spectacular example of a nicely aged - and crafted - barleywine. Thanks again Eric!
I sampled this side by side with the 2005 and it was so much better I had to go back and lower my marks of the 2005.

This one poured fairly clear, deep coppery orange with a fine, off-white head. Although it fell quickly, it left behind some spotty lacing. The aroma was quite interesting - caramel and toffee along with cakey malt, buttery, a little oak and vanilla. Mild bitterness with lots of sweet caramel and alcohol warmth. Some citrusy hops were still remaining, oak and dates filled out the mid. Short-lived bitterness finished things off. Lots of butterscotch here too. Full bodied with lowish carbonation, nice texture. A decent drinker too, nice and smooth with the high abv well hidden. They just need to be a little more careful with the diacetyl.

Thanks for sharing this Viggo!

Viggo was nice enough to share this one. thanks eric!

22oz bottle, reviewed side by side with the 2005 vintage.

pours deep reddish copper in colour with a big very dense fine white head. the head drops fairly quick and leaves lots of lace.

aroma is great. tons of caramel and toffee, but without being buttery. bit of alcohol. touch of sweetness. bit of pine and grapefruit, but just a hint.

taste is great. lots of caramel and bready malt. bit of toffee. bit of alcohol. light sweetness. medium-low bitterness level. really mellowed and meshed together well.

mouthfeel is good. light carbonation with a nice full body.

drinkability is great. well balanced and very enjoyable. smooth and well rounded, this one has meshed together nicely with age.

This one is aged in wine barrels if I remember correctly, purchased from the brewery December 2005, and bottled December 2004 I think. Ghetto pink label.

Pours a clear red/amber, very nice thick off white head forms, copious lacing, great retention, certainly looks fine. Smell is great, lots of butterscotch, sweet dates, grains, oak and vanilla. Taste is tons of butterscotch again, but very nice, wine, oak, dates, nice clean bitter finish, perfect balance. Mouthfeel is very full bodied, quite thick, low carbonation, nice sipper, very mellow. Good thing I have another bottle!