Life On Standby
Hidden Springs Ale Works

 

I'm ordinarily a sucker for anything aged in apple brandy barrels, but this one actually makes me out as a sucker. It's a bit clumsy and hamfisted, whereas barleywines need a lot of sophistication and complexity. Perhaps this should have been expected with Hidden Springs' being known for skill at overloading kettle sours and stouts with additives, rather than restraint and subtlety. In any case... this is fine. Fairly low carbonation on the pour, with a nice enough nose that portrays a typical sweeter archetype of an English barleywine, rich malts, brown sugar, light vanilla and hints of the brandy barrel. On the palate though, the eau de vie pomme takes over to the detriment of any other complexity that might lie underneath. Some harsh crabapple and tartness that doesn't play well with the sweet caramel of the base. It's still enjoyable, so I don't want to knock it too much, but this was not what I expected from a takehome bottle after a good number of positive experiences in the taproom.