Loggers Path
New Trail Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

Slightly less than a finger's worth of medium khaki colored froth with solid retention... Color is a slightly translucent ruby read... Some sluggish carbonation can be seen rising throughout... Fruit notes on the nose to start with hints of cherry and raspberries... Also whiffs of caramel and toffee along with a subtle booziness... Some faint hops linger beneath the surface as well... Huge flavor profile that follows very close to the nose with the fruity sweetness dominated... The booziness and hoppiness are much fainter than expected... Full bodied... Smooth and sleek, almost luxurious... Light carbonation... Goes very easily sip after sip... A wonder collaboration between two of Pennsylvania's best breweries... A job well done...

 

Continuing down the path of heavy hitters from New Trail, it's time to examine a barleywine. All of one and some of a second twelve ounce can have contributed their contents into filling a clear glass Imperial pint mug. It's a brown color with reddish hues and a light biege head that is modest and enduring. The aroma is strong, malty, sweet and fruity, maybe reminiscent of prunes. The taste is very sweet and even a little like prune juice. Sometimes it's amazing what fermenting malted barley can produce. The mouthfeel is very smooth for a 10.1% ABV beverage. It's well carbonated and that sustains. Almost no glass lacing appears. The alcohol is noticed, but it doesn't impact the taste or mouthfeel much. This is a sipper, with its alcoholic content and viscosity. Behind the sweetness are some earthy tones, so there is some complexity to appreciate here. This seems to be very well crafted, but the style has to be for your tastes, or it's unlikely you'll enjoy it.

 

Undated can into pint glass. Pours a dark amber (SRM in the lower 20s) with a modest light tan head. Initial impression is smooth, sweet dark fruits, cherries, and an unexpected burst of citrus. Mouthfeel is sticky and thick. Finish is deliciously sweet and fruity. I usually steer clear of collabs, but this one turned out well!

Poured into tulip: color is amber, fairly transparent, light tan head presents 1/2 inch thick, dissipating to thin top with a ring, limited lacing.

Aroma is sweet, cherries, slight sourness, aged fruit, light caramel, light herbal and earthy hops, but limited for the strength/style.

Taste is sweet, cherries with slight sour spin, maybe an interplay of the hops and malting, aged fruit, light raisin, caramel, herbal and earthy hops, but not that emphatic.

Mouthfeel is low carbonation, moderate strong sweetness, low/moderate bitterness.

Overall - a solid spin on a barelywine but it seemed lightly hopped at least in terms of kettle/bittering hops, though the abv seems hidden well, maybe from the sweetness.

12 oz can

Pours dark brown with ruby colored highlights. Thick cream colored head, good head retention. Aroma of rich caramel and dried fruits - fig, raisin, apricot. Taste is similar, but actually finishes with a citrus hoppy flavor. Fuller bodied, smooth feel.

 

 

 

 

I wonder what they mean by "modern"?

I found plenty of cherries and other stone fruit as advertised. This was sweet overall, just some gentle tartness from the fruit. I can't say I could readily discern the heavy handed hop additions. There might be a bit of a tingle at the end.

Good overall for sure, but when I think barleywine and Troegs, I think Flying Mouflan. That is a HIGH bar.