Highwaymen (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)
Wren House Brewing Co.

 

Canned on 2/7/19; consumed on 8/20/20

Pours a barely translucent ruddy bronze-orange body topped with a finger and a half of frothy, off-white foam; solid head retention yields a creamy half-finger of cap/collar along with a dense walling of sticky, soapy lacing covering the walls of the glass.

Aroma opens with a quick burst of silky smoked toffee, with hints of spiced oak serving as a conduit into flowing vanilla and rounded, sweet, and floral bourbon notes, which in turn interact with dark fruit and cherry esters over time; an oaky vanilla close rounds out the bouquet.

Taste is more dark fruit-forward to start, showing some bright red berries pronounced upfront before brown sugar and butterscotch encroach on the mid-palate; charry vanilla meets creamy bourbon tones and lightly smoked toffee on the finish.

Mouthfeel shows a medium-light body elevated slightly by a frothing moderate carbonation; slick and steadily creamy across the palate, though with an even, almost nondescript texture peaking through the middle; a mostly clean, dry finish with the mildest of chars lingers past the swallow.

Reminiscent in large part to a Wee Heavy/Scotch ale, this barleywine takes a softer approach to its malt-heavy design to produce a flowing and cohesive profile; extremely enjoyable, and as someone who's had complaints with the muddled tone of some English barleywines in the past, I'm finding this one to be wholly steady, appealing, and focused.

Shared a 16 oz can for $15.00 with a friend while visiting the tap room on 6-3-19.

Beer was served with a decent white head that dissipated pretty quickly.

Nose was nice, some dark fruit sweetness, bourbon, and vanilla rise nicely.

Taste was very nice, a touch of dark fruits, caramel, bourbon, vanilla, and a dose of citrus to round things out.

Mouthfeel was medium bodied and smooth.

Overall a very nice splurge. Consumed on site. Recommended if you want to indulge.

L: Cooper color, but see through. Small white head that fades fast
S: vanilla jumps out of the glass, butterscotch, caramel and spirit barrel
T: wow, huge vanilla and butterscotch with average barrel presence.
F: thinner for a babw, but oh so smooth and easy drinking

 

Appearance: Arrives hazy and amber colored with a two finger head; good stickage and lacing

Smell: Caramel, stone fruit with earthy hop tones and Bourbon aromatics

Taste: Caramel and stone fruit forward with earthy hop flavors building; the Bourbon arrives, after the swallow; the finish is moderately sweet

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation; some warmth in the gullet

Overall: A well-structured and nicely balanced barleywine