Proximal (2019)
Around the Bend Beer Co.

Almost like like a red wine on this brilliantly bright spring afternoon, indoors it's a murky reddish brown, more on the red side, small reddish khaki head fades to a ring. Nose gets some booze, candy, sugars and some hops. Some serious flavors emerge as this warms, molasses, vanilla, some fruit & booze. This is 13% BA Barleywine, and the heat is evident as it warms. It seems a bit thin for the style, but I'm just getting into Barleywines. Sold a s a 2fer with its 2020 sibling. Tasty stuff for sure!

 

Cellared 2.5 years. Reddish brown body with a tan head with little retention. Rye whiskey backed dry barley, molasses, oxidation, mild earthy hops, and caramel make up decently simple yet pleasant nose. Taste hits you with the rye and barley being soaked in bourbon, molasses, and brown sugar so beautifully, lingering dark fruit especially prune, lighter oxidation than the nose, and dry earth finish. Feel is warm, dry, sneaky viscous and moderately smooth. The wife loved it

 

Released early 2021; label states "September 2019" but I'm not sure if that's when it was brewed, racked in a barrel, or canned.

Opaque orange/red appearance.

A violent pour yielded a big, noisy tan head; strong, frothy lace.

Bourbon, oak, mild cream & faint hop notes in the nose.

Creamy, thick mouthfeel.

Oak, cream & bourbon flavors up front; caramel, hop bite & faint baking soda notes on the finish. Booze heat emerged as this warmed.

Probably too hoppy to really be an English barleywine; this is good, but far from great, and isn't one to track down. Interesting, at least.