The Killer Awoke Before Dawn
Aurora Brewing Co.

Pours dark, hazy copper, and looks somewhat dirty. A thin, quarter inch of fine almond foam falls to a ring and a veil over about three to five minutes. No lacing was seen on the walls of the Stone Old Guardian Snifter.

The aroma opens with rich caramel followed by light orange liqueur and floral notes. The middle is earthy with black tea and peat. Musk and pine tar punctuate for the duration while warmth reveals old leather.

I found this one to be well balanced with modest bitterness given that it is an American Barleywine. Sweetness, while definitely secondary, helps to moderate the bitterness. Caramel is followed by intense tea, then birch beer, ultimately leading to toffee. It has a long mild finish and it's all about the toffee and brown sugar.

The full body works well with its syrupy smooth texture. The alcohol is far below expectations, while the carbonation is soft as expected.

This is a nice sipping beer that worked well on a bitterly cold and snowy winter afternoon.

Dark brown murky body, huge light brown head. Dark fruits, pine hops, barley, resin, orange in that order in nose. Taste is more hoppy, with orange, pine, and resin lead with barley next rounding out with caramel malts. Not sweet at all, but still very wet, thinner in the body. Those who like the west coast hop influence in the barleywine will like this a lot

 

500ml bottle at share. Brown pour, almost clear, scant bubbly head. Aroma is malty, sweet, woody, nutty. Taste brings some brown sugar and caramel notes, nutty, smooth. Really gentle and easy to drink.