A Fortnights Journey
Newport Beach Brewing Company

 

On nitro at Newport Beach Brewing Co.

A: The pour is a dark amber with some ruby read notes and a big khaki colored head.

S: Definitely a lot of bourbon on the nose, but just as much oak/barrel. Fairly boozy with sweet brown sugar and caramel, and some toffee and toasted bread. Just a touch of chocolate to it.

T: The flavor isn't quite as pleasant as the nose. Stronger in terms of the alcohol presence and the nitro detracts from the sweetness of the brown sugar and caramel notes. Mild chocolate and fairly heavy on the oak.

M: Lighter in body than I would expect for a barleywine with a low but smooth carbonation.

O: Smelled good but far too hot on the palate.

Served in a snifter (the second one I ordered was full, the first was nowhere near the rim). Wonderful bourbon aroma, and deep malt complexity. The menu said this beer was aged in a bourbon barrel for a year, so the hop character was very subdued for a barleywine (I would not have guessed it was a barleywine). The flavor was wonderfully rich, with a nice balance of bourbon and oak flavors from the barrel. This was by far the best beer I had at this visit.

I know that this was released earlier in the year, so I am guessing that they must have sat on some kegs to age a bit. I had this at the brewery just before the Carlsbad Strong Ale Fest, that also featured this beer.

This is definitely the best beer that I have ever had at NBBC. This beer bursts with hops and malts at the same time without it feeling like a battle. To say a beer is balanced can sometimes be interpreted to mean that it is tame, but this is the exact opposite. This is one of the most exciting, yet balanced beers that I have had in a while.

This was brewed as the 14th anniversary beer. Served in a Goblet at the brewery only.
A nice deep deep amber color produced from the carmel malt that holds the the white head nicley afloat. The addition of corn, oats wheat and American Barley malt and to the complexity in flavor.
Hop additions are in full force in this one. You can pick up domonate aromas from the Chinook, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops. Fading into at sizable bitterness with a touch of Centennial for an added simple character.
Spending 6 weeks in fermentation gives a nice sweetness on the pallet with great hop flavor and balance. 15% of this beer was aged 1 year in a Rye Whiskey Barrel bringing out startling flavors of vanilla, citrus, dried fruit, caramel and spice.
This will mellow with some age but right now it is a nice change of pace with the ordinary. This boarders on a triple IPA. HOP HEADS YOU WILL LOVE THIS!