#life unplugged
New Image Brewing Company

One 500ML bottle, no waiting, dated 9/14/23. My fifth brew from New Image & I’ve had a few from Alesong as well, so this is like a gathering of three old friends. At least I consider them friends.

Looks like a mud pie with equally impressive foam (that is, none). The nose is subtle cognac & bourbon mixed in with big toffee & wood.

#life unplugged feels/tastes nostalgic to me. Heavy toffee & caramel with no apologies alongside a rip-roaring ABV that one can feel all the way to one’s thighs. Cognac is on top of the barrels with a soft whisper of bourbon just behind. Earthy hops & light, dry oak round out the experience, & that drying element sticks around. This is a slugging barleywine. Taking bigger mouthfuls that I’m accustomed to of this style. I like.

Excellent brew.

Poured at fridge temp. Not a sound when the cap came off, and looks still to me. Dark muddy brown color. The nose is burnt toffee, raisins, raspberry, and a nice malty layer. Not much else comes off the nose for me.

The taste is interesting. Very fruity. Dark fruit - a lot of blackberry. A slight solvent-like note from the alcohol, but nothing too dominant. There is some toffee and slight maple, but nothing is crazy strong. The bourbon is definitely there, and I attribute some of the dark fruit to the cognac finished barrels. A bit of citrus starts to come through with time. Really nice beer overall!

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with barrel-forward aftertaste.

Medium brown clear body, tan cap. Smells barley leads the nose with pine hops, molasses, cognac, with supporting orange, slight must and dry oak. Taste has molasses, caramel, malt and cognac meeting the barley and hop pine bitters with supporting orange, dry oak, and dry earth. Feel is dry and bittering with a medium light body, barley snarl is met by moderate barrel booze

500 ml bottle into a snifter. Bottled 9/14/23, had 1/6/24.

Pours a semi opaque amber color, with a brief head and light speckled cling. Aromas of caramel, malt, cognac, grapes, raisins, some bourbon, light port. There’s a fruity aroma, kind of strawberry- like. Flavors of caramel, grapes, cognac, bourbon, vanilla, oak, some raisins, light port. Mostly smooth, a very good medium body, appropriately carbonated.

I was kind of on the fence with this, until it really warmed up. Not an intense beer beer, but this a very interesting and enjoyable blend. The barrel combo really shines, and there’s lots of solid aromas and flavors. Different, but it’s a good different.

 

This is okay but falls pretty far short of what I hoped it would be. Bought 1 for a gift, not sure I'll send it out though. There is a little toffee up front but a vaguely vinous and strongly perfumed heat brushes it aside. I get a little brown sugar and vanilla heading into the finish before a too potent raw oak note closes things out. The body is a bit thin and the carbonation is light.

As this warms the heat mellows a bit, some cinnamon and more hints of nuanced fruit emerge. Better, but this still isn't what I hoped for. Just too much wood heat.

On tap. Tan head. Caramel copper color. Clear.

Lots going on her. Caramel, brown sugar, bakers spice, butterscotch, cognac and grape notes, vanilla. Bourbon is actually and undertone. Wet oak, dark fruits. Complex. Solid.