Holiday Open House
American Solera

Bottle at share. Dark amber, small ring of bubbly head. Fruity aroma, grapes. Taste brings more of the fruitiness, a bit of tart, malt, dry, leathery. Alcohol cones in late with some heat.

 

 

Thanks to RedhawkPoke for this one from NBS BIF #6. 2016 vintage. 16oz bottle poured into 12oz tulip.Poured a cloudy. murky dark chestnut brown with just a thin cap of light tan head that had no retention or lacing.

Big, strong malts dominate the scent, as they should, with a bit of an alcohol scent, and some slight hops. Pretty similar taste profile, but magnified. Bigger malts, brighter hops, and a definite alcohol taste.

Full, smooth body, with a somewhat surprisingly semi-dry finish. Drinkability was very good, I'd crack another if I had it. Overall, a very good take on the style. A must grab if you see it.

Edit: Now that I'm at the end of the bottle, the bourbon barrel is coming on strong. In a good way. Gonna bump the Overall score another .25.

 

 

16oz bottle into snifter.

A: Pours a dark raisin brown with a thick khaki head that faded into a thin bubbly collar. Surprising, (surprisingly suspicious) amount of carbonation.
S: Super sweet and sugary nose, almost cloying smelling like a dessert wine, with notes of raisin, sherry, and whiskey. Smells strongly of oxidization as well.
T: Raisin, dark fruit, sherry and oxidization up front, with leather, booze, and a strong earthy bitterness in the rear. There is a subtle tartness followed by hints of chocolate, whiskey, and toffee in the aftertaste. A sticky sweetness lingers long after the swallow.
M: Thick full body, sticky and cloying mouthfeel, distractingly frothy carbonation that has a lightly infected quality. While boozy, the alcohol is hidden surprisingly well. There's just a bit of heat in the finish as the beer reaches room temp.
O: Potent and rich flavors that are definitely sweet, sticky, and boozy overall. There may be a slight infection as some of the fruit flavors and carbonation do not taste like they would be intended alongside the other flavors, but overall this a deliciously rich and complex sipper.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a very nice bourbon barrel-aged barleywine - marked by vanilla, oak, and bourbon. It has a nice head for a relatively big beer. It has a medium-heavy body. It is not bitter or infected as another reviewer seemed to hint. This is clearly an English-style barleywine with nice barrel character.

2016 bottle into snifter

 

A: medium reddish brown. Cloudy light khaki head

S: Bourbon Candide dark fruits figs sweet dates oak booze tons of amazing barrel and whiskey know it's almost a little bit of subtle smoky vanilla

T: booze. So bitter and almost sour. Oak. Something isn't right here.

F: watery. Bitter spicy brash finish

O: idk what's up with this. I feel like something got messed up cuz it should be more than this. Not quite infected but there's an issue here

Served at 50 degrees into a GD barrel glass.

Gusher when opened. Yes really, surprised me also.

Pours a small white thin head that dissipates quickly. Murky brow color like you'd expect.

Smells like a candied bourbon, yum.

Bourbon up front then a sweetness of the barley wine starts that is cut short by over carbonation stinging your tongue. Wtf? Is this infected?

Overcarbonated and oily mouthfeel.

I keep going from thinking this is fantastic one sip to it is showing early signs of infection the next. A half bottle in and I still don't know what to think. I wouldn't shy away but I wouldn't cellar either.