At the Helm
Counter Weight Brewing Company

At the HelmAt the Helm
Beer Geek Stats
From:
Counter Weight Brewing Company
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
+6 ratings needed
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 6.78%
Ratings:
4 | reviews: 3
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 12, 2025
Added:
Jan 26, 2025
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Our take on a classic old school English style Barleywine. At the Helm rested patiently in bourbon barrels for one year before being blended. Sticky caramel, fresh baked sweet dessert date squares, figs, and complimenting warming vanilla like barrel character make this a pleasure to sip.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of muchloveforhops3
Reviewed by muchloveforhops3 from Montana

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
500ml bottle sent my way by @sulldaddy; first experience with Counter Weight
Poured into a Baerlic Belgian-style tulip

P deep mahogany w/ tiny khaki cap
N soft-med nose of plum and lightly bready notes
T loaded with hearty dark malts, dark sugars, and bourbon, with grape-like notes; light alcohol warmth; quite tasty and excellently balanced, with great drinkability for the style
Mf med to med-full bodied w/ med carb; super smooth; a bit chewy as it warms
O one really enjoyable barrel-aged barleywine; thanks again, Sully!

Review date: 05.03.25
Bottle date: not captured
Sep 12, 2025
 
Rated: 3.64 by swierczt from Connecticut

May 22, 2025
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

4.34/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Sampling a cellar temp 500 ml bottle poured into my snifter. Purchased at the brewery a few weeks ago. The beer pours a deep mahogany color with a dense beige head of about .5 cm foaming up. This foam remains as an edge layer throughout the sampling. Leaves some clingy dense lattice when I swirl the beer or take a sip.
Aroma is bold, malt driven and sort of fruity. I get toffee and bourbon notes with a little brown sugar and hints of plum. No hop character on the nose and the ABV is hidden with no fusol or black pepper notes.
First sip reveals a medium body with slightly sticky texture and some coating on my lips and palate. Very fine and fairly gentle carbonation. The beer feels like a barleywine.
Flavor is malty with lots of toffee, brown sugar and some bourbon notes in the background. I do get a little fruit, plums I believe as well. Definitely on the sweeter side but not cloying and the beer is not very boozy either. I get just a little black peppery bite on the finish, but no warmth. no hops anywhere on this beer either.
I believe this is a sipping beer even without being too boozy on feel. Glad to have tried this one and would definitely drink this beer again.
Mar 02, 2025
Photo of Stoutofmymind
Reviewed by Stoutofmymind from Ohio

4.24/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Lots of plum on the nose, along with currant and whispers of honey and alcohol. Tastes largely of figs and stone fruit (the latter of which lingers throughout) with a pleasantly subtle dryness near the end. Not a whole lot of barrel character comes through, but it's super smooth and I'd definitely pick this up again if given the opportunity.
Feb 22, 2025