Santa Compaña
Menduiña

Menduiña “Santa Compaña”
33 cl brown glass bottle coded “Best before 12/2026 SC0908” and sampled on 29/11/2023
€6,25 @ El Corte Inglés, Sevilla, ES

Notes via stream of consciousness: This is a barleywine at 9.5% ABV that’s been refermented in the bottle. It’s unfiltered and brewed with 8 malts including barley, rye, and oats. It’s also aged in oak for 1,001 days. The label reads “Whiskey Barleywine” so I’ll assume that those barrels once held whiskey. As I pour it it sounds like I’m pouring a Coca Cola with a lot of fizzing going on and that’s probably not a good thing. The tan head contains a lot of larger bubbles and it seems to be dropping almost as soon as it rises. The body is a hazy brown and appears red when held to the light. I can also see a whole lot of bubbles rising quickly to the surface and I’m apprehensive about tasting it because I can see that it’s over-carbonated. The aroma is sweetish with caramelish malt, and oaky and barrel-like. I can’t say that I smell any whiskey particularly but there is definitely alcohol there. The head has dropped to just a thin collar and there’s no lacing left behind at all ~ it looks like a glass of cola. On to the taste… as I thought might be the case the carbonation interrupts the flavor. It’s malty and sweetish with caramel and oak but the carbonic acid from the C02 jumps right into it and cuts it short and dry. Let me try to de-gas it by pouring it from one glass to another… I’ve been brewing professionally for about 30 years now and I’m guessing that this is around 3.2 volumes of C02 per liter which is way too high. I’ve brought it down some but probably not enough as a barleywine should really be lower than a standard carbonation at about 2.0 volumes of C02/liter. I’m getting caramel in both medium and dark forms, cherry and some dark dried fruits, some acidity, toastiness, nuttiness, a bit of bittersweet chocolate, an edge of roastiness, and some dusty herbal and leafy hops. A firm bitterness balances it and it finishes earthy and a little bit spicy, probably due to the alcohol. After I’ve decarbonated it the mouth feel is medium bodied on the fuller side and gently crisp but the alcohol also lends a little bit of a bite and some heat. If this beer were in proper form it might score better but as it is it’s kind of a disaster.

 

De Club del Gourmet del Corte Inglés de El Duque. En copa Mahou Barrica. Jugando a Spiderman. Alcohólica, con sensación aguada en boca y notas acarameladas rancias y un toque a madera que únicamente aporta una ligera acidez y nada de sabor. Sin llegar a resultar desagradable, aburre. Sin espuma

 

Dark brown in appearance, this offers an ember glow, hold against the light.

Smells of raisins, sugared plums, licorice and a phenolic, herb accompanied boozy barrel. Offers a note of bakers chocolate underneath, adding very well to the dried fruits.

Has a soft mouthfeel with just enough carbonation to create a light effervescence during the beers finish.

Develops an early oaken burn which goes well with lots of charred, balancing toffee malts, dipped into melted caramel. Raisins from the nose, together with a hint of smoke are recognizable on the tastebuds as well, enriched by licorice and a note of fudge. Got a grainy, bready aftertaste with a nice rustic character resulting from the barrel. This goes hand in hand with an additional caramel sweetness on top, and rich, fermented berries from which mainly a boozy note remains.

I get why not everyone likes this, its strong headed, uncompromising and packs an unusual herbal to fruity booze punch. It remains balanced though, although it likes to push it to the limit.

Brown reddish colour, minimal head and retention, with big bubbles, small lace.
Aroma of wood, tobacco, dried fruits, caramel, notes of chocolate, cognac and figs.
Light, watery body, thin feel, normal carbonation.
Taste of caramel, figs, chocolate and molasses. It needs a stronger feel to be a really fine beer.