Swordfish
Exhibit 'A' Brewing Company

SwordfishSwordfish
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From:
Exhibit 'A' Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
11%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.3 | pDev: 7.44%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
10
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 17, 2018
Added:
Sep 07, 2017
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
Formerly called Demo Tape Nine: Swordfish

Barleywine aged in Breuckelen corn and rye whiskey barrels

2017 Release: 32oz growlers
2018 Release: 500mL bottles (300 bottle count) of the original 2017 BA barleywine that was then aged for 350 days in stainless
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Phineasco
Reviewed by Phineasco from Massachusetts

4.46/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
The beer pours a Clear amber with a thin white head that recedes quickly. It has low carbonation. The beer smells of vanilla, honey, caramel, toffee, and butterscotch, with subtle whiskey. It tastes of vanilla, honey, caramel, toffee, and butterscotch. The beer has a medium body, and very smooth. This is the smoothest barleywine I’ve ever had. I wish there was more bourbon, but worth drinking for sure.
May 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4.26 by GregSemenza from Connecticut

Mar 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by Iski100 from Massachusetts

Feb 11, 2018
Photo of JMFBOSTON
Reviewed by JMFBOSTON from Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
From a mini growler from brewery that was allowed to sit for four days before opening

Look dull apple cider opaque color thin cap

Wonderful and very strong whiskey and toffee smell vanilla is there

Whiskey whiskey and more whiskey with nicely done smooth toffee carmal apple. This was enjoyed for well over an hour and did not pick up the darker plum or fig notes at first but everything blended together very well warming really opened everything up and it was a real treat

Excellent . I had a second glass a few days after the whiskey nose and taste had muted the fruits more prevelant very smooth toffee deeper color different than first pour maybe due to opening growler days before? Highly recommended glad exhibit A did this hope for more

Purchased two growlers and will very much enjoy again. Server mentioned it should be available through the holidays.
Oct 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by xtonytx from Connecticut

Oct 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by jayhunter357 from Massachusetts

Sep 25, 2017
Photo of ThrewRedButter
Reviewed by ThrewRedButter from Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
L - Rusty orange. Looks like iced tea. Almost no head, but what was there was almond-colored.

S - Vanilla, caramel, toffee, plums, raisins, vanilla, char, tobacco, oak, whiskey

T - So refined. Huge vanilla. Toffee, caramel, bitter dark chocolate, rye, whiskey, oak, char, tobacco, plums, figs, vanilla, and pine.

F - Full body. Alcohol is refined. A delightful sipper.

O - Amazing. I let my growler sit for a week and the complexity blew my mind. A world class American Barleywine.
Sep 24, 2017
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.56/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Tap at the brewery

Big creamy rich head, lacing, murky iced tea tan color

Nose loads of bourbon, big toasted oak barrel, vanilla, spicy oak almost cedar wood thing, sweet caramel candy malt, nutty toffee, fruity candied dates, fig, little spicy hop, so much bourbon

Taste sweet candy malt, toffee and caramel, little nutty, big fruit again caramel apple and fig, majool dates, little bitter spicy hop, plenty of bourbon again, less than the nose but plenty, barrel juice and fresh toasted oak barrel, little vanilla note. Finished fairly dry, little sticky sweet, candy malt lingering, loads more caramel and some bourbon lingering

Mouth is med to a bit heavier bod, decent carb, very little booze

Overall incredible! I want to drink this all winter, I hope they make it again!
Sep 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4.01 by Zonian1 from Ohio

Sep 13, 2017
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

4.54/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Enjoyed at the first year anniversary party. Congratulation Matt!

A - Poured a nice hazy orange light caramel hue with a thin head that fades to leave thin wisps.

S - Aromas of massive amounts of rye whiskey along with fruity elements. Sweet caramel, vanilla, oak, no real alcohol on the nose just loads of sweet rye whiskey. There's some light earthy hops, Chinook maybe?

T - Taste is similar to the nose, massive rye whiskey flavour, huge vanilla notes, toffee and caramel, little bit of English yeast. Light bitterness, not overly hot. Nice fruity sweetness, good faint bitterness along with solid oak.

M - Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, smooth, creamy, alcohol hidden nicely.

O - Overall this was a rather solid ba English barleywine. The rye whiskey was on the hot side but there was loads of vanilla and barrel notes. Quite nice.

Serving Type: on tap
Sep 09, 2017
Swordfish from Exhibit 'A' Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 10 ratings