Summer Life - Bourbon Barrel Aged
Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse

Poured into a snifter, Summer Life was a cloudy mahogany with only a thin head covering the surface. I got a lot of bourbon on the nose with dark fruit and graham cracker crust beneath it. The taste gave me sweet bourbon up front before sinking into the depths of prune, toffee, and oak. I did not get hops on the nose, but I did experience a bit of a bitter finish. This helped to balance the sweetness up front, and kept me wanting more. Although sweet, it never felt sticky or cloying. The body hovered right around medium with enough carbonation to lighten it up a touch. It was quite smooth for the abv. This was a quality barleywine in an easy to drink size. Very enjoyable.

Very good head production, although it's a touch fizzy and doesn't last long. Body is clear and dark brown, but with garnet highlights if held up to the light.

Whoa! Nose is pure BBA barleywine: bourbon, nuts, booze, pine bark, leather, green leaves, tannins, caramel, toffee, honeycomb. I'm a little intimidated, but I'm loving it.

A touch fizzy on the palate, as well, but otherwise a fairly smooth sipper. Chest heat from the high ABV, but very little impression of the strength on the palate. If you want to savor and chew on the experience, I recommend small sips based on the aforementioned fizzyness.

While I had a feeling this might have been American in style (based on the odd "Summer Barleywine" description), it's very much in the maltier English/British style (although time spent in a barrel can mellow a harsher and hoppier American barleywine). Smooth, rich, sweet, malty. Notes of pecan, bourbon, oak, caramel grain, brown sugar, leather, grape, date, prune, toffee.

I have no idea what a "summer style" barley wine is. Spunky label though, and two brewers I've really enjoyed in the past. All that's just to say that I'm confused, intrigued, and excited.

The liquid is a fine ruby tinged amber , little head that dissipates quickly. After a bit of activity the beer settles into a near still state
The nose is miild to the point of nonexistence for me. Maybe some mild hints of sweetness but really no aroma to me
Taste is sweet and smooth. Dark dried fruits, cherry and plum. Some sweet pipe tobacco and a touch of ash. Certainly a bright flavor, almost like a citrus type liqueur.
Feel is smooth, lightly sticky, and very full.

Overall, I still don't know what is "summer style" about this beer but it is a little brighter flavored than many barley wines. Whatever you call it, its a very pleasant barleywine.

Funky barleywine nose. Buttery, caramely taste with the requisite barleywine funk. Mouthfeel is spot on. Bourbon barrel treatment is smooth. Awesome english style bw, I'd drink these all the time if I could.

Sweet toffee-caramel malty and vanilla-bourbon barrel heat nose on this one! Taste follows with some sweet caramel and toffee malts and then a a balanced, bourbon barrel finish. Some raisin/dark fruity and brown sugar notes show up when it warms. This is just so well done...it is clean and feels really great on the palate. It's almost versatile...it can be a sipper, or you can crush it! This is outstanding!!!

Had this again tonight for the BA Online Barleywine Tasting event! 1/31/2021! Same feelings as the review above! Ha!