Old Salty Barleywine 2004
Heavyweight Brewing Co.

Old Salty Barleywine 2004Old Salty Barleywine 2004
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From:
Heavyweight Brewing Co.
 
New Jersey, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 10.8%
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
47
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 14, 2012
Added:
Oct 30, 2004
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Phyl21ca:
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a deep mahogany color barleywine with a medium off-white foamy head with good retention. Aroma of plums and prunes with some sweet caramel malt. Taste is quite sweet but not disgustingly so with some nice touch of plums and prunes. Hops are clearly present bit not overpowering on the sweet caramel malt. Body is above average but could be a bit more full. Alcohol is well hidden. Overall a very good barleywine but missing some character to make this a truly great beer.
Jul 06, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by t0rin0 from California

Oct 14, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by rab53 from Washington

Dec 01, 2011
Photo of cbl2
Reviewed by cbl2 from New York

4.17/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
6/25/2005 $9.99 4 pack

Brewed 8/22/04 clearly labeled on the bottle, no best by date necessary as this one should have enough alcohol to go the distance.

Appearance:

Pours a relatively still murky dark brown with a thin film lacing the rim of the glass.

Aroma:

Sweet figs and ripe plums compete with the heady aroma of a lot of alcohol. This one is clearly going to pack a punch!

Taste/Mouthfeel:

Nice chewy mouthfeel with sweet dark fruit flavors (plum, some cherry) that envelops the mouth followed by an intense presence of alcohol. Finish is slightly nutty, with some similarities to a belgian double. Not perfect for the style, but a rather enjoyable beer nonetheless. Definitely worth picking up and sipping slowly!
Aug 02, 2006
Photo of gbarron
Reviewed by gbarron from Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
From a 12 oz. bottle, 2004 edition.

A - deep, dark caramel, mahogany. Head is massive as the beer is grossly overcarbonated. Rocky, off-white, large bubbles. Lacing is extensive and head retention excellent, despite the beer's alcohol content.

S - rich, malty, sweet aromas fill my nose. Hints of plums, raisins, over-ripe dark fruits. Candy sugar. Very little hop aroma and strong notes of higher alcohols. Smells like an English-style barleywine.

T - initially very sweet and syrupy, malty. Followed by a decent amount of bitterness but little hop flavor. Reminiscient of a fine port, sherry, or fortified wine. Slightly tangy, lots of rich, deep dark malt and fruit flavors. Old, bruised pears, fermented raisins. Balance is respectable in this beer, but tilts decidedly towards malt with an almost total absence of hops save for the IBU's. Tasty.

M - a thick bodied brew, slightly syrupy but not over the top, leaves some sweet stickiness in your mouth. However, I have to take a significant deduction because every bottle from this four-pack has been very overcarbonated, almost over flowing from the bottle after opening. If you pour it into a glass and let it sit a 10 minutes or so, it dies down. But it is a serious distraction. Noticeable alcohol warming.

D - I love English barleywines and this one is top notch flavor/aroma-wise. Have to take off points, though, due to the carbonation problems mentioned above. Try it while you can still find some.
Jul 11, 2006
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Flawless garnet with bright cherry highlights when backlit with afternoon sun. The beer is capped by an impressively creamy golden beige head that crests the edge of the snifter on the pour and then drops back to a tidy one finger within minutes. There's very little lace, but Old Salty still looks gorgeous in the glass; especially when viewed in tandem with Old Sol.

Even though I've smelled more aggressive and more complex barley wines, this one is more than solid. I've been enjoying it since the pour and have discovered that it holds up very well to a few more focused sniffs as well. It's more vinous than most with concentrated Cabernet and tawny port notes. I don't pick up an abundance of hops, but given the style and the fact that it's nearly two years of age, that's not surprising.

It's apparent after a few sips that Old Salty 2004 is a refined, well-mannered, almost apologetic version of the style as opposed the raging beasts that American-style barley wines can be when young or the velvet sledgehammers that they can be when aged. When I saw the 'warning: this product contains lots of malt and hops' on the label, I expected roman candles to go off in my mouth... but didn't quite get them.

That isn't to say that OS is bad beer; far, far from it. It's just that it's a quintessentially English barley wine and, for better or for worse, I happen to be less than wowed by that particular sub-style. Authentically English ingredients have been used, including English pale malt, Challenger hops and (in typical Heavyweight fashion) an ingredient that I'd never heard of before, Lyle's Golden Syrup. Which, as far as I can tell, is a sort of golden treacle.

There's an acceptable amount of malt, although the less than bombastic flavor is matched by the less than huge body/mouthfeel. Nothing wrong with being on the lighter end of the style spectrum; someone's got to hold down that end. The best part of the flavor profile as far as I'm concerned is the bursting berry fruitiness. Cherries, blackberries and winey red grapes are most prominent. Again, vinousness is a distinguishing characteristic.

As in the nose, I don't appreciate the Challenger hops much at all. Hard to believe that they've faded so completely in less than two years, so they must not have been anywhere close to Old Crustacean-like to begin with. The pleasureable warmth that is spreading down to my toes keeps me mindful of the double-digit ABV. There's very little alcohol appreciated on the palate though.

As alluded to above, the body/mouthfeel is something less than 'thicky and sticky'. Given the remainder of the beer's attributes, more viscosity wouldn't necessarily have been a good thing. I always enjoy a beer whose mouthfeel matches its mouthflavor. The carbonation is barely noticed with no trace of flatness or lifelessness.

The goofy Old Salty dog on the label reminds us that beer is supposed to be fun. This 2004 vintage may not be the biggest or the baddest barley wine dog on the block, but it's still a delicious, approachable, easy to sip version that is as comfortable as an old pair of slippers and twice as warming. It's beer like this that reminds me how much Heavyweight will be missed.
May 25, 2006
Photo of mrasskicktastic
Reviewed by mrasskicktastic from New Jersey

3.77/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - A cloudy sienna brew with only a minute head and no lacing.

S - Smells like pomegranate and grape juice left out overnight. I have always liked that smell personally, but I am sure a lot do not. There are a bit of the smell from assorted sugary fruit hard candies as well. Like a big jar of lollipops. Slight alcohol as well, but it is low of the aroma ladder.

T - A nice bit of the grape and pomegranate flavor as well, there is a caramel malt backing and a touch of alcohol. I would guess this at about 12%, but it is well masked and tastes like a 7 percenter. There is a sweet and tart aftertaste, like that of grape juice. After a long while a light bitterness kicks in.

M - Fairly high carbonation, but the brew is thick enough that it isn't a major drawback, yet still a bit thinner than most Barleywines. It strikes me as being fairly dry, yet it is doesn't leave me parched. It actually is pretty refreshing. Probably the sweetness making me salivate more than anything.

D - Pretty good. It isn't the flavor bomb that is many barley wines, yet it does have a lot of interesting aspects. It is and all around nice brew. Easier to drink than some barleywines, but nothing too impressive.
Mar 24, 2006
Photo of jdhilt
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours with a one-finger, light tan head that fades quickly and leaves no lace. Cloudy amber color. Good carbonation. Nose is sweet malt. Starts and finishes smooth and sweet, high ABV is in background. Medium bodied. Good alternative to DFH Olde School. $2.99 for a 12oz bottle from Julio's Westborough, Ma.
Jan 10, 2006
Photo of sacfly
Reviewed by sacfly from Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours an almost opaque dark brown color. What little head it starts with is gone before you can blink. Smell is lightly of sweet cherries and alcohol. First taste is syrupy sweet with over ripe fruit… plums…dates… Strange aftertaste. Somewhat salty as the name implies… Not sure if it is just subliminal… Alcohol again makes an appearance in the aftertaste. Definitely an English style barleywine. Don’t expect any hint of American. A good product from an OK brewery.
Dec 30, 2005
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

4.49/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I remember trying this beer last year around this time and I also recall being underwhelmed compared to the two Old Salty's before this one. Appearance: Lively carbonation is evident on the pour so take your time and tilt that glass the body appears ruby plum brown hue slightly opaque with cloudiness from the bottle conditioning forms quite a thicket of foam two fingers plus has a chunky texture to it, and as it slowly dwindles down lacing is left unevenly around my chalice. Aroma: After aging for a year hops do mellow a bit deep alcohol and fruit tones mix with a hoppy edge of pine and grassy notes with a somewhat tart and vinous malt profile. Taste: Big flavor with piney, earthy hops and big juicy alcohol soaked overly ripened fruit meet to wow the senses. It all melds into one flavor very warming still a bit rough around the edges, but much better than it was a year ago. Mouthfeel: Succulent with carbonation lively enought to have to let mellow after decapping, it was a bit syrupy very big body. Drinkability: Tom Baker always has an interesting way of portraying his art Old Salty 04 is no different, a bit heavy on carbonation but flavor and aromatics are all representative of a great barleywine.
Dec 11, 2005
Photo of canucklehead
Reviewed by canucklehead from Canada (BC)

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This is another beer from Malto. The head on this was huge to the point where it over ran the glass which is a first for a barley wine. The beer is quite nice to look at once the head subsided, as it seemed to glow in the light. The nose is malt and some alcohol. The taste is refined and semi sweet with the malt coming to the fore on the finish. It tasted very English in its presentation and quite drinkable at one year old. A good BW that needs little cellaring to improve.
Nov 07, 2005
Photo of Dogbrick
Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Acquired via trade. 2004 Bottle: Dark chestnut color with a thin wispy off-white head and minimal lacing. Aroma of toasted malt, bread and caramel. Rich and sweet mouthfeel with lots of malt and caramel flavoring. Nice amount of hops and alcohol to balance it. The bitterness is less pronounced by the end of the glass. The finish is sweet and salty with a bit of citrus. This is an enjoyable Barley Wine.
Nov 04, 2005
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle purchased somewhere, I forget where... Bottle begins to slowly foam out the neck after uncapping.

Carefully poured in a Rapscallion glass, 3" of foam over 1" of clear coppery amber brew. It is obvious that drinking will not be happening anytime soon, as the head is falling V-E-R-Y slowly, leaving sporadic rocky lacing. Nose is heavily malty, with dark fruits, and alcohol. Taste is sweet malts, with a somewhat earthy note, and then lots of fruity alcohol. Mouthfeel and drinkability are along the lines for the style, and this is a nice representation of an English-style barleywine.
Nov 03, 2005
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.65/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Promise of a good brew with barley, roastiness, chocolate malts. Very nice dark appearance. But the second Heavyweight I have had, and I am underwhelmed by the sourness, and in this case heavy saltiness.. Ok in aftertaste. Needs more malty taste to cover up. Or some other good taste. Thanks Lubiere for sending.
Oct 16, 2005
Photo of meathookjones
Reviewed by meathookjones from Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Muddy looking dark reddish brown with a smallish of white head that holds tight. Sweet ripe fruits fill the aroma. Notes of sweet syrup, alcohol and a light musty earth mix in well. Big fruit sweetness over a syrupy back drop. This is definitely a complex malt pack beer if I ever had one. Light caramel and some earthiness. Alcohol is there but not overwhelming but just right. Plenty of over little complexities in there. Lightly bitter and sweet fruity finish with a touch of must. Perfect at room temperature. Pretty damn thick and sticky sweet. Drinkable as hell too. I remember it being good when it was released but it is excellent now, wish I would have bought a case or two.
Sep 13, 2005
Photo of BeerResearcher
Reviewed by BeerResearcher from Massachusetts

3.32/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Short 12oz brown bottle. No freshness date (not that it needs one)
It pours a dark rusty, murky brown color with a small, fast-fading beige head.
It smells like a Barley Wine. A smell of prunes and light citrusy nose. with a hint of port or sherry.
The heavy, nearly syrupy malt body has flavors ranging from figs to honey, from canned fruit cocktail to sherry. A light citrusy bitterness lingers throughout.
There's an odd off flavor of salty cheese that I just can't quite pinpoint. A very noticeable alcohol fuminess seems to increase in potency with each gulp.
Odd beer!
Aug 25, 2005
Photo of goodbyeohio
Reviewed by goodbyeohio from Connecticut

3.92/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
bought a 4pk of this beer for a friend at work who is referred to as 'old salty,' kept one for myself.

cloudy reddish-orange.. somewhat murky and lacking any head other than the expected bubble ring from a barleywine. aroma is super-malty as promised.. with some real off-notes. something fishy, maybe sweaty? hints of bacterial tartness, like a lambic? all this behind burnt-sugar molasses type maltiness? wtf? i am dreading the first sip.

raisiny malt in the first sip and a hint of something soapy.. light overall with a slight alcohol burn that really doesn't interfere. further, less cautious sips kick that alcohol up, approaching lighter fluid status. i knew i should have held this bottle for a couple years (joe at spuyten duyvil informed me of the 01 and 02 current popularity) but i didn't listen. buyer beware.. if you don't have a cellar.. dogfish this one up (bury it outside in the yard).

very sweet and reaching sherry-like vinousness at an early age. this will be a funky ass yet smooth brew when it's about 4 or 5, and i would love to revisit it then. for now, not bad.. but this has potential.

like licking a cake batter-covered spoon.
Aug 17, 2005
Photo of AlexJ
Reviewed by AlexJ from North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Another interesting offer from an adventurous brewer. Old Salty reveals itself a dark chestnut brown with a brick red cast and is rather hazy. A surprizingly large, frothy head of large, streaming bubbles stays throughout the beer. Upon tasting I will realize this is from over-carbonation.

A generous nose displays assorted fruits, chewy caramel, toffee, molasses, rum soaked fruitcake, a hint of dry oak, light ly fruity hops, and a warming nudge of alcohol.

Flavor follows closely, with lots of dark caramel and lightly scorched toffee, rum-soaked strawberries and dark cherries, oak, dusty leather, a hint of campfire smoke, vanilla, and fruity and floral hops in the finish. Licking my lips, I discover why it's called Old Salty. A briney taste that reminds me of a fresh sea breeze. Interesting.

Body is a chewy medium. Mouthfeel suffers due to the ridiculous carbonation. After many swirls of the glass, it finally settles down. Drinkability is decent regardless.

Thanks to BrewMoose for a chance to try this rare brew.
Aug 13, 2005
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The 2004 Old Salty is a little more fruity and alcoholic than the previous vintages were. It doesn't have quite the same, direct, 'all about the malt' quality... and that's odd, because this year was supposed to be all about bumping up the malt! In fact, the Salty Dog is trying to jam just one more bag of malt into the bottle on the label! Or, perhaps it has something to do with the addition of the Lyle's Golden syrup. I think so, but who really knows? Maybe Tom. Regardless, it's left with a bit more complexity, which is nice.

It delivers the same appearance as it has in the past, and it maintains a decent collar. As usual, it's alcohol cuts down on its leaving lace about the glass, but it does put out some effort aroud the collar.

The nose offers a whiff of spicy alcohol over a finely entwined combination of caramelish malt and yeasty fruitiness (run soaked blackberries; oily raisins; figs; and plums). It's almost like some kind of candy! And some leafy and grassy hops do try to make an appearance, but they're basically relegated to the back of the room until later notice.

In the mouth it's supremely supple and smooth like a worn leather chair at the end of a long day. The medium-full body and restrained, natural carbonation massage the tongue lightly, and then simply disappear.

The alcohol returns in the flavor, but actually acts as a catalyst to liven it's fruity and malty sides. It perks everything up with a touch of pepper; and the dark-fruit (that borders on becoming slightly vinous) and light caramel combination is splendid. Some leafy and grassy hops again sneak in, but don't really appear until the finish along with a note of dark cherry that's oh-so-nice.

In essence, the 2004 is softer, but hotter... and fortunately a touch more complex and fruity... but only time will tell where this one will go. It's not my favorite year because of the heat, but it's still very good.
Aug 04, 2005
Old Salty Barleywine 2004 from Heavyweight Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 47 ratings