It'd Be a Lot Cooler If You Did
Hubbard's Cave Brewery

 

 

 

2022 vintage; drank 2/4/23 @ Pierce Cooperage.

Muddy brown appearance.

An even pour yielded no head; no lace.

Dill pickle, oak & booze heat flavors.

Medium thick, sticky mouthfeel.

This tasted like licking a 2.4 that had dill pickle rubbed on it.

Maybe the worst barleywine I've had ever.

 

Look - great dark brown iwth great rimming
Smell - has this dark fuit leather off smell that is throwing me off
Taste - like the smell something off on it, dark fruit and earthy leather
Feel - full body and creamy
Overall - just the offness wasn't sitting with me right

Love the name, one of my fav movies. 2018 vintage, and I hope there's lots of barrel
Pours a med foamy tan colored head with med retention, fair lacing, decent legs, dark hazy murky maroon mahogany color

Nose brings big sweet malt, loads of caramel, toffee, and candy, rock candy, reddish malt and candied apple, some dark fruits, candied sweetened dark fruit, some red fruit like a cranberry (without the tartness) or pomegranate, some whiskey as well, sweet bourbon-whiskey-cognac like note, getting more cognac or brandy like as it warms, into loads of barrel, more barrel than whiskey, toasted oak, buttery, caramel wood, etc

Taste brings loads more sweet malt again, toasted reddish malt, toasted grain, plenty of caramel and toffee, a touch biscuity, into mild spicy earthy hops with med bitterness, some dark fruit, candied sweetened dried fruits, a bit of roasted coffee like as well, and a bit nutty again, some toasted bread crust, some whiskey or cognac like flavors but not a ton, barrel is strong though again with some caramel characters of it's own, big toasted oak and some vanilla, little baking spice, apple cinnamon spice as well, a touch of warming alcohol, mild sticky finish, lingering sweet malt and caramel toffee like, bit more toasted oak, med bitterness and a touch spicy

Mouth is med to fuller bod, smooth rich caramel feel, med foamy carb, mild warming alcohol getting a little tingly as it warms

Overall pretty nice, good sweet barleywine base, nice alcohol characters, good fruits, candy flavors, etc, barrel was nice, not sure what the base barrel character should be, possibly cognac or brandy but hard to tell as it either doesn't come through much or blends nicely with the beer, since they don't say I can't hold it against them and there is a fair amount of barrel, and quite enjoyable, so well done

 

 

Interesting bourbon barrel-aged barleywine. Definitely pitched more towards the English barleywine style, but with a bit of an aggressive sharpness on the front palate that I'm not sure how I feel about. After a few sips and a bit of warming, it smooths out a fair bit.

Had on tap. In a blind taste test with revolution's straight jacket, it would be hard to tell the difference, this is that good. The depth is not as deep here nor is the body as defined, but the flavoring is spot on. Good bourbon upfront, with molasses, brown sugar, toffee, barley and bitters. The smell has the bourbon and barley leading a robust toasted caramel. Could be a little thicker, but scarily easy drinking for abv. Very nice

I am not a barley wine beer fan, so I tried to be as objective as possible (after 11 beers deep). If you’re a barely wine beer fan, you’ll love Hubbard’s Cave, “IT’D BE A LOTT COOLER IF YOU DID.”

look: hazy copper. Nice swath of tannish red head on the pour that mostly recedes. Messy, oily lacing.
smell: Sweet vanilla, dark fruits, distinct though not overpowering bourbon.
taste: Just as the nose predicts. All those flavors. very smooth, a bit of vanilla and spice in the finish.