Charley Wine
Mammoth Brewing Company

Charley WineCharley Wine
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From:
Mammoth Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 15.16%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
25
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 20, 2016
Added:
Oct 02, 2005
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  6
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mhaugo:
Photo of mhaugo
Rated by mhaugo from California

2.5/5  rDev -33.5%

Feb 20, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Kinda weird this is classified as an old ale and not a barleywine but whatever, substantially similar styles. Comes in an auburn color, yet lots of clarity for something of that darker SRM.

Aroma of wood, booze, bourbon, vanilla, smoke. Nicely done.

Taste was a complex but not overly so meld of everything that you pick up in the nose. Lots of vanilla to it without the adjunct.
May 20, 2016
 
Rated: 2 by vma from California

Mar 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by RBassSFHOPit2ME from California

Jun 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Skeeze from California

Apr 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by sloelco from California

Dec 26, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by t0rin0 from California

Oct 23, 2012
Photo of mdaschaf
Reviewed by mdaschaf from Indiana

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Morgan for this one!

A: Pours a dark reddish/brown with a small egg-white head on top, about a finger in height that reduces to a nice cap on top. Thin lacing forms all around the glass.

S: Upfront there is some brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, and caramel. Faint dark fruit mixed in, some raisin and plum.

T: Really nice flavors up front, more vanilla and brown sugar with some dark fruit in the middle, but then the flavor pretty much disappears, leaving no real finish or lingering flavor.

M: On the thin side, but abv is well hidden.

O: Pretty good, a little thicker and I think this would could be a real winner.
Jul 06, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by TrojanWheels from California

Jan 18, 2012
Photo of baybassboy
Reviewed by baybassboy from California

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
22oz. bottle of the 2011 batch. Poured into a Duvel Tulip. Reviewed while drinking.

Let me first say that I am very happy they made this beer again. Spike Todd of Mammoth Liquor kept telling me how good this beer was, and with this second run, I will finally get a chance to try it.

Pours a very dark red brown with a small, slightly off-white head. Not much lacing. Doesn't look to have the body of other Old Ales, but looks inviting.

Smell is of dark fruits and sugar. Definite vanilla/bourbon/oak character from the oak aging. All these smells are great, but not to aromatic. You gotta work to smell this beer.

Taste is great! I cant express my utter suprise on first sip. First thing I got was the oak aged character, vanilla, and sugar; subsiding into the dark fruits (raisin, fig, etc.). Taste is crisp, doesn't linger.

Mouthfeel... the downfall of this beer. While not poor, it is quite watery and really a bit of a let down. I wish it was more viscous and would coat the mouth better. Suprised this is 10% as it feels like much less in the mouth.

Overall, this is one fine beer from Mammoth Brew Co. At $10 a bomber, it is pretty affordable and I will be sure to sneak a few away to see how it develops over time. I wish there were something I could do about the body of this beer. Methinks I may try some sort of freezing/distill method. Whats the worst that could happen?
Jan 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by Exiled from Texas

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of Beerandraiderfan
Reviewed by Beerandraiderfan from Nevada

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A neat little treat at the brewery. Dark amber pour, a pristine amount of clarity, head was just right, a little beige. Aroma, wood, alcohol, vanilla, bourbon.

Taste, all those aroma flavors, lots of sweetness melding into the wood, vanilla is about the strongest I've ever had from a beer that didn't have "vanilla" in the name (and more than some that do). Maybe even a little juniper and cherry in there as well. Complex. Really enjoyed on tap, should be interesting to see what happens when this ages.
Nov 09, 2010
Photo of Machinehead
Reviewed by Machinehead from California

5/5  rDev +33%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Very surprised by this one. Very similiar to the the old/older viscosity. Smell is almondy. Taste is fruity of rasins and butterscotch that typically comes with barrel aged beers. Not too foamy or much head, but that is typical of this style of beer. Very enjoyable "dessert" beer.
Oct 31, 2010
Photo of charlzm
Reviewed by charlzm from California

3.87/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Consumed August 13th 2010 in a Triple Petrus tulip/snifter from a bottle purchased at the brewery on May 28th, 2010.

Deep brown pour with slightly lighter brown highlights. Very short tan head emerges then becomes the tiniest ring of foam clinging to the edges of the glass. No notable carbonation after a few minutes, due perhaps to a combination of the style and the altitude and correspondingly lower atmospheric pressure the beer was bottled in.

Very aromatic: sweet caramel malts, oak, vanilla, raisin.

Flavor is close to nose, with the addition of toast, cocoa and maple syrup. Tannic with oaky bitterness at the end. Some alcohol flavor as well, though subtle.

Sadly, mouthfeel, while somewhat thick and oily is still somewhat thin for the style; lack of carbonation is sorely missed as well. At brewing elevation, this may improve dramatically, but that's not where I drank it.

Drinkability suffers slightly due to the mouthfeel, as the lack of effervescence makes the flavor almost syrupy and cloying. Still, the flavors are pleasing and the beer is enjoyably potent.
Aug 14, 2010
Photo of largadeer
Reviewed by largadeer from California

4.2/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tried this one both on tap at the brewery and out of the bottle. Quite good on tap, mediocre from the bottle.

Ruddy mahogany brown, pours with a small cap that recedes to a thin collar.

Nice whiskey barrel aroma, caramel and vanilla with some toasted oak and faint oxidation. The caramelized malt character is rich but not overly sweet, and there's a hint of booze.

It tastes even better, caramelized malts and vanilla, some tannic oak, leathery oxidation, bourbon, a little grape-like dark fruit. There's a pleasantly mild heat to it. Full-bodied, it finishes with some tannic woody earthy flavors and a nice raisin/dark fruit sweetness.

This is a surprisingly nice beer, but I must emphasize that it's much better on tap, the barrel character is very muted in the bottled version.
Aug 04, 2010
Photo of gford217
Reviewed by gford217 from Georgia

3.45/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz bomber courtesy of EinWeizenbitte poured into a tulip.

Pours dark mahogany in the glass that actually shows through a deep, deep copper when held up to light. There is a large fizzy head that recedes quickly to a big collar.

The aroma is rich and sweet - thick sweet caramel richness with some toffee and fruits. There is vanilla and some wood character with a bit of toast as well.

The taste is a little less impressive with all the same characteristics but just a tad thinner. It's got caramel malts and an oaky alcohol character to it. Lots of toasted bread coming through as well.

The mouthfeel is thin with soft carbonation and keeps the flavors from developing on the palate completely. Very roasty and oaky.

This is a cross between a barleywine and old ale but the flavors are a little light to be a great beer. I think if the body was heftier it would be more memorable.
May 21, 2010
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle at the after-Bruery tasting last weekend.

Opaque dark brown appearance with a small off-white head.

Aroma is decent, roasty and woody with vanilla and dark fruit.

Flavor is also good but not amazing, very roasty, with chocolate, wood/earth, vanilla, and some fruity notes.

Medium-full on the body and fairly smooth; carbonation average.

Drinkability is good. Overall this is a decent old ale (not sure why it's called "charleywine" if it's not a barleywine).
Jan 25, 2010
Photo of barleywinefiend
Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington

3.18/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured a cloudy deep brown with good carbonation. Nose is chocolate, caramel. Taste follows nose pretty well with an earthiness and caramel plus cocoa. I felt this brew was very astringent. Body is think with booze and some flavor but nothing inspires me at all.
Jan 24, 2010
Photo of vacax
Reviewed by vacax from California

3.73/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours dark, looks nearly black in the glass. One finger of dark tan head, fair retention and decent lacing. Strong aroma of raisins, dry and fruity. Earthy, some oxidation, slight funk. Unique nose for sure. Tastes of a lot of malt up front, raisin, chocolate, caramelized sugars, biscuit, peat, bread, and vanilla. Hops show up in the finish followed by an earthy sweet malt to end it. Unique and interesting brew. Full bodied, low-medium natural carbonation is nice. I've had hundreds of beers this year and this one brought some new flavors to the table still. In a way, I really like this, but it also just doesn't feel quite right.
Dec 31, 2009
Photo of magictrokini
Reviewed by magictrokini from California

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
As another rater pointed out, I don't think this is a barleywine as the label says its an old ale. Pours a cloudy dark brown with auburn edges. Creamy, squatty tan head. Moderate lacing. Nutty, chocolate malt aroma. Smooth mouthfeel with low carbonation. Long finish. Toffee and vanilla flavors with a large amount of malt. Tangy chocolate and light coffee flavors as well. Malty finish. Very nice.
Jun 10, 2009
Charley Wine from Mammoth Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 25 ratings