Something Like a Phenomenon
Sand City Brewing Co. - North

 

Canned 03/12/19, it pours reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger thick tan colored head that was packed with very tiny sized bubbles, the head faded very slowly and left excellent foamy lacing clinging to the glass with rings as it went down.

Smells of freshly ground dark roast coffee, a pot of burnt coffee, coffee beans, toffee, piney hops, earthy notes, smoked malts, ash and oaky notes. The coffee absolutely dominates and smells wonderful. It's not the most balanced beer out there, but I'm a sucker for coffee beers and this aroma is great.

Tastes of very burnt dark roast coffee, coffee grinds, espresso beans, toffee, piney hops, earthy notes, smoked malts, ash, dry floral hops, rum, charred wood, oaky notes, campfire smoke and hints of vanilla and wet cardboard. It's malty, but the roasted coffee and char notes make each sip different and bring in different complexities with each sip.

Mouthfeel is on the thicker side but still slides down smooth with an medium bitterness, mild carbonation and a smoky feel that leans more towards burnt coffee than a barleywine. Finish is dry and ashy. The 10% ABV is very well hidden and the bitterness and smoky aspects keeps this interesting. It's a different spin on a barleywine, but I really enjoyed this overall.

Pours an effervescent copper hue with a thumb+ of tan head. Average head retention & better lacing

S: A little coffee, not much else

T: Toffee, roastyness, dryness & and pine up front. Roastyness & dryness really pick up, some vanilla as this warms. Finishes roasty, with coffee, a little dryness & just a little booze warmth

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation

Would've faired better as an Imp Stout or Porter, ABV is well hidden, nothing much about this says Barleywine. Glad for the chance to try this!