Thee Barleywine
New York Beer Project

64 oz Growler fill today. Poured chilled, moderately quickly to a snifter. No head, other than a thin white layer that almost immediately turns to vapor. Nose is honey, cinnamon, sort of whiskey spice. I've read this is aged six months in spent Jim Beam barrels. Color is a dark copper, hazy red. No overt bubbles, but fair amount of carbonation when disturbed. First sips are sweet, dark honey, with a noticeable alcohol bite. I've never had Jim Beam, but there is a strong whiskey-esque presence. I've had this brew before, where the alcohol was more subdued. Mouthfeel is full, syrupy. I've had a few barleywines, many of which were sweet, but this is a whole new level of sweet. If teeters on the edge of cloying, but does not break past it like a dessert beer. The up-front alcohol lets you know to sip, lest ye be thrown into a drunken stupor in no time at all. This is a potent ABV beverage, and it hits HARD...almost to the point where you start to think the 13.5% is under-estimated of its real potency. It is one of my favorite barleywines, albeit a different representation of the typical style offerings. I've recently tried sucaba, which is similar, but a more refined version of this. I'd say cellaring would be a good idea to cull some of the alcohol bite in this iteration, but I enjoy it too much to leave it alone! If you're local, you really need to try it. If you're not local, get a trader to toss in a crowler or two!