Barleybomba
Cruz Blanca Brewpub

 

 

a mighty sturdy and mighty unique barleywine here, not enough playing around with barleywine anymore, and i love the combination of crazy barrels on this. its a blend of barleywine aged in bourbon, rum, and brandy barrels, not sure about what ratios, but i think all of these elements can be appreciated in this big sticky maple colored brew, especially once you let it warm up a bit. i think the bourbon and the rum are the most obvious vanilla and cane sugar obviously already sort of built into the heavy grain base, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, all of that cooked sugar character is here, but there is enough toasted depth to it to not be unbalanced. there is also a cool fruit field in here, with things like dates and golden raisins and even cooked banana in the mix, really pretty complex. i do get a vinous boozy element from the brandy, almost like a port wine layer, with some really hot alcohol. maple notes for sure pop up at different times during the long flavor journey, a charred note from the bourbon barrel too comes in, even a butterscotch aspect. overall really flavorful, plenty woody and mature, and more dynamic than most of these nowadays, but for me way too sugary to drink much of, and while a fun one to share, a tall order for one person. nice blend of barrels here though, they all contribute something special. these guys are doing some awesome beers seemingly without any hype, if you have a chance go check them out!

Bottle at brewery

Pours murky mahogany with good lacing
Big rum barrel punch up front. Slightly fussil and a touch hot. Improves as it warms.

Solid ba barleywine,

 

I tried this at the brewery. It poured a nearly opaque dark with thin ecru head that did not leave much lace. The scent had strong fig and dark fruit. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to sip. There was a ripe plume and dark cherry flare. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with smooth carbonation. Overall it is a good barley wine.

Had on tap. Found the rum barrel and bourbon barrel to be the most pronounced. Brandy was there, but as a supporting cast. Regardless a beer that made you stop and sip, and really appreciate everything going on while maintaining a brighter feel. Raisins, barley, caramel, figs and tons of booze on the taste. All of that and a little smoke on the nose. Nice complex beer

500 ml bottle into a snifter. Had 3/23/18.

Pours a semi- opaque dark amber, with a half inch head and some soapy lacing. Aromas of all three types of barrels- bourbon, rum, and brandy. Also malt, figs, plums, raisins, dates, brown sugar, apples, some grapes and oak, light wine. You can also taste all three barrels, along with grapes, malt, raisins, figs, some caramel, apples, some plums, a little oak, light wine. Smooth, a good medium body, appropriately carbonated.

Really interesting. It can’t be easy to make each of the barrels identifiable. I’ll rank their influence as rum, brandy, bourbon. Very good aroma and flavor and while it’s a lighter barleywine, the barrels don’t overwhelm. A different and solid effort., really enjoyable.