Barrel Aged Barley Wine
7 Seas Brewing - Tacoma Taproom & Brewery

500 ml bottle into a snifter. 2021 edition, had 3/19/22.

Pours a fairly clear copper color, with a brief head and some foamy cling. Aromas of caramel, dates, figs, malt, rye whiskey, some cherry, a bit of a spicy aroma. Flavors are similar- rye whiskey, caramel, malt, dates, some figs, light cherry and leather, a spicy flavor. Lightly harsh, a very good medium body, appropriately carbonated.

Lots of spicy rye, solid barrels and base, well developed aromas and flavors. Really enjoyable.

 

2021 bottling, Aged for 12 months in Rye Whiskey and Whiskey barrels. Wish I had the 2020, I'd love to see some port barrels in the mix here.

I don't love waxed bottles, but this was easier to remove than most. And I have to say I did like the 7 seas logo stamped on the top.

This isn't breaking any new ground, but it is a very solid barrel aged American barleywine. The base beer is dripping with sticky caramel and pine and plays very nicely with the biting rye barrels. I also get occasional hints of vanilla. The finish has a strong bite, oak and leafy hops, that works but maybe I would have liked this even more in year or three. Definitely recommended.

2021 bottle poured into a hefe glass (stop, I know). Dark red color with a head that stick around the entire time I was enjoying this. Toffee, caramel, and subtle sweetness on the tongue followed by a lasting boozy bitterness. Wonderfully carbonated, yes please.

2021 bottle. Light brown mostly clear body with a thin brown cap. Aromas of big whiskey and rye with medium toned oak, earth, barley and brown sugar, on the hotter side. Taste is much the same, little hint of vanillins and finish has some earthy spice, not as complex as expected. Feel is thin, dry, warm with booze, but the oak, rye, and barley rustic textures carry this one well. Good debut

 

Appearance is not quite transparent reddish copper to rust color with a small beige head that dissipates quickly leaving minimal lacing that slides immediately back into the body. Aroma is toffee and raisins. Taste follows the nose with a mellow alcohol presence. There is a slight oak tannin astringency on the finish.
This is a very good Barleywine.

 

Pours opaque rust brown. A thin khaki forms and quickly disappears completely. The smell is of booze soaked caramel soft candy. The taste follows with sweet, syrupy caramel and vanilla with bourbon accents blending nicely. Some sweet fig and dates come through on the finish. Medium texture with medium carbonation. Not what I'd call complex but, a simple, caramel malt, vanilla masterpiece.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a medium to dark orange amber with a thin khaki head with good retention and light lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, raisins, dates, figs and plums, a classic English style barleywine profile. Flavor follows, with a little bit of biscuit malt to enhance the caramel, figs, dates and raisins, hints of toffee and plums. Medium bodied with light creaminess. A quite excellent English barleywine, full bodied and almost pitch perfect flavors. The balance of dried fruit and caramel malt is fine. This is very good and I will be buying another bottle to lay down for a few years. Glad this was bottled and made available. I see 7 Seas beer rarely, but have been well satisfied by everything I've had. I added this because their Wheelchair barley wine has a different description; this one is a 2/3 bourbon barrel aged barley wine and 1/3 matured strong stock ale blend, and is in a new "vintage" series. I have never had the Wheelchair, but would certainly try it after this bottle.