Big Island
Island Brewing Company

 

 

 

Thanks to Retsinis for sharing this one at the Revenge Of Instant Replay bottleshare held at Instant Replay in Canoga Park, CA.

Label reads Big Island Barleywine at 10% ABV. Limited edition 2014.

Pours a clear orange with a foamy tan head that fades to nothing. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and grapefruit juice aromas. Taste is much the same with sweet citrus zest and grapefruit juice flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with nice citrus forward hop qualities all around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-tap at the brewery - this was listed as a cross between a Double-IPA and a Barleywine by the way. Served in a 12oz tulip.

Hazy sienna body with amber highlights. Whispy beige foam thins out quickly though a thin fully coating layer of lace paints the sides of the glass and a swirl creates a decent slowly receding collar.

Caramel and malt are very forward when you bring the glass to your nose. Barley aromatics are a bit rough and raw. Grassy, faintly spicy hops, with a hint of pine and roses - otherwise subdued.

Very sweet caramel malt, along with cocoa, and stale coffee grounds on the palate. There is a beer-batter element that almost brings to mind fish - very odd. Bitterness comes last which is grapefruit and thyme cooked down in sugar. The finish is slightly grainy with a whisper of diacetyl. 101 IBUs? Hard to believe as the grain-like sweetness overwhelms the hops.

Well carbonated, smooth, and crisp yet slowly warming.

I'm not sure quite how to classify or evaluate this beer - it is more of an Imperial Amber in some ways than an Imperial IPA or an American Barleywine. All in all, a muddled unexceptional version of any style...