Honey Badger
Ausable Brewing Co.

rad beer, maybe the first or one of the first packaged beers ive had or seen from these guys, a really interesting take on barleywine, darker than most and complex on the grain side, done with a fair bit of local honey, very impressive and i think my favorite of the ausable beers i had this time though. deep brown color to this, medium viscosity but still with fine carbonation, a short khaki head on it, looks well refined, patient, and richer than expected. the aroma is amazing, definite chocolate malt, some hearty earthy grain there too, wheaty maybe, molasses and maple notes well before the honey, but when the honey hits its obvious, floral and raw and real, some almond and even hazelnut character here too, lots going on, tons of malt depth, maybe an english ale yeast at work. gorgeous flavor, honey all through it, earthy and essential, autumnal overall, with a chestnut thing happening, honey cereal, granola even, oatmeal although im not sure there are even oats in here, hearty like that, some toasted dark bread and cocoa but the grain stops well short of roasted intensity and there is no bitterness at all here. fallen leaves, nettles, black tea, and this lovely silky sweetness from the honey, bready with the yeast in this, old worldy but also really evolved, smooth and long, gentle carbonation is just right, palate coating but not overly decadent, this warms up so well and is drinkable as can be around the fire late night for what it is. our bottle says 10.2% abv. i think this is something quite special, lovely malt build, among the best ive had from ausable to date, not to be missed! i should have gotten two, likely to age with the best of them. a glorious expression of this honey.