Barrel Aged Barleywine
Emmett's Brewing Company

 

 

22oz. bottle poured into a snifter. huge thanks to BeerFMAndy for sharing this special bottle on the eve of my wedding day! Bottle #81 of 120.

(A)- Pours a fairly thick deep & dark brown burnt sienna color that produced a minimal tan head that has some legs on it.

(S)- A very rich profile. Lots of maple syrup/ caramel/ toffee/ butterscotch/ aromas with a potent but lovely dry booziness to it. Ever so lightly woody & vanilla- like.

(T)- A bit dry up front, but flows immediately into a delightful mellow caramel, raisin, nutty, woody profile combo that is absolutely delicious. Begins to show signs of soy sauce as it warms, but very subtle.

(M)- A great carbonation level and balance. So smooth for the style (aging helped). Has a dry nutty aspect that really meshes well with the sweet malts. The smell led me to believe this would be rather boozy, but the 10% ABV has really integrated well into this.

(D)- An absolute joy to drink and enjoy. So smooth and mellow. This has a delicate balance yet complex feel to it that is so nice. A welcomed surprise from a small local bar doing their own thing. Waiting any longer to open this though and it would have started to decline, so perfect timing Andy!

22 oz wax-covered bottle split in a tulip. 10% ABV, Bottle # 81 of 120, 2006 Limited Edition, "laid down in Feb."

Huge thanks to DavidEddie for hooking me up with this local bomber from a place I frequented many times. I had no idea they bottled anything (until recently) let alone made a barrel aged brew! Shared with Sweemzander on the eve of his wedding.

A - Hazy brown pond water on color, it pours with almost no head. Just a small ring of off-white bubbles and a thin arch of lace from tilting the glass for a smell.

S - Sweet maple syrup barrel booziness is still strong for it's age! Notes of caramel and chocolate with a robust toffee aroma imbedded. The aroma is the closest thing I've smelled to Utopias ever. Rich and malty, it smells totally awesome!

T - Strong amber and toasted caramel malts flood the tastebuds with a nice sweetness accented further by a mellow maple syrup flavor and rich woodiness. Good nuances to this beer! Strong alcohol flavor but not overpowering in the taste at all. A very small hint of soy sauce makes me glad I opened this sooner rather than later.

M - Smooth and soft with a creamy finish that makes it's way into a medium-bodied and low carbonated finish. A little alcohol heat pokes out in the finish on the tongue as well as in the stomach.

D - Thankfully it's best shared as opposed to opening it alone. It still goes down very well for the perceived alcohol though! Mellow and smooth, it's a great barleywine that's held up fantastically with age.