In the Shadow of a Colossus
Masthead Brewing Co.

Very dark brown opaque body with a light brown collar. Smells of big raisin, caramel, toast, and chocolate, with barley, bourbon, port, and oak as a second level. Taste seems like a great blend: balanced with the two barrels, really accenting the raisin and plum tones, toasted caramel from the malts and barley backbone are very strong, again great balance. Feel is warm yet so smooth and deep, malt and barley are always there, though the port does stick out a little here as it warms, which for some I am sure is a plus

Dusty brown color. No head. Sweet bourbon aroma. It’s super chocolate, bourbon flavor but with a sharp fruitiness (port?) that tries its best to keep the sweetness at bay. Still a little sweet for me. Chalky milkshake mouthfeel.

 

I really like this because there is an addictive chocolatey flavor and the port really adds something. It’s a tad sweet, but not too sweet like many barley wines. Good dark fruit too, some caramel, annd a bit of malt. And while it is high abv, and the alcohol noticeably warms and pokes through, the aforementioned flavors mask it well. First Munichwine that I have had, and it is better than all but one or two Barleywines I have ever had.