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Old Boardhead Barleywine Ale
Full Sail Brewing Company
- From:
- Full Sail Brewing Company
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
Ranked #165 - ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,377 - Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 11.66%
- Reviews:
- 291
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 21, 2023
- Added:
- May 14, 2002
- Wants:
- 37
- Gots:
- 20
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa
3.95/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
2003 vintage. Glowing coppery orange with a generous infusion of coral pink. Old Boardhead looks like the beer equivalent of the world's best sunset. Multiple fine particulates swirl, slow and stop, undisturbed by any visible carbonation. The whipped creamy cap, larger and more persistent than expected for a 9%'er, is pale orangish ecru in color and leaves small sheets of sudsy lace when it eventually descends.
I'm impressed by two things with regard to the nose. First, it's wonderfully, tartly citric fruity. Second, there's virtually no detectable alcohol; almost unheard of for such a big barleywine. Three years of rest probably has a lot to do it. Too bad then that it isn't more powerful and more complex. Here's hoping that it possesses both of those characteristics on the palate.
Although it's good beer, this barleywine doesn't taste much like a barleywine to me. Sweet and sour fruit (oranges, apricots and peaches) dominates the flavor profile. There's almost none of the usual cherry and berry fruitiness that most beer of this style delivers. The fruitiness is surprisingly tart and puckery, as if generous shavings of lemon and grapefruit zest were added as well. It's a different combination of flavors that is taking some getting used to.
The malt backbone could be more sturdy, but I'm guessing that some breakdown has occured since '03. Mental note: I've got to stop aging my barleywines. A fair amount of hop flavor remains (Willamette, Styrian Goldings, Centennial), although very little of their bitterness chose to stick around. As the nose suggested, alcohol is very nearly absent on the palate. That's not to say that I'm not feeling all 9%. Time to take sips rather than gulps.
The body/mouthfeel is showing the most wear and tear of all of Old Boardy's characteristics. It's approximately medium in heft for an IPA, but then this isn't an IPA. It firms up a tad with warming (although I started the bomber out at barely cool) and has developed a pleasant, mildly sticky finish. An extremely low level of carbonation helps to some extent, but there's just not enough viscosity for the style.
I wish that I had cracked Old Boardhead's crown several years ago because I have a feeling that it's a much better beer when fresh. To its credit though, it's still mighty drinkable as long as your tolerance for tart fruit and citrus zest is on the high side. If you're cellaring the '03, my advice is to drink it last year.
Sep 20, 2006I'm impressed by two things with regard to the nose. First, it's wonderfully, tartly citric fruity. Second, there's virtually no detectable alcohol; almost unheard of for such a big barleywine. Three years of rest probably has a lot to do it. Too bad then that it isn't more powerful and more complex. Here's hoping that it possesses both of those characteristics on the palate.
Although it's good beer, this barleywine doesn't taste much like a barleywine to me. Sweet and sour fruit (oranges, apricots and peaches) dominates the flavor profile. There's almost none of the usual cherry and berry fruitiness that most beer of this style delivers. The fruitiness is surprisingly tart and puckery, as if generous shavings of lemon and grapefruit zest were added as well. It's a different combination of flavors that is taking some getting used to.
The malt backbone could be more sturdy, but I'm guessing that some breakdown has occured since '03. Mental note: I've got to stop aging my barleywines. A fair amount of hop flavor remains (Willamette, Styrian Goldings, Centennial), although very little of their bitterness chose to stick around. As the nose suggested, alcohol is very nearly absent on the palate. That's not to say that I'm not feeling all 9%. Time to take sips rather than gulps.
The body/mouthfeel is showing the most wear and tear of all of Old Boardy's characteristics. It's approximately medium in heft for an IPA, but then this isn't an IPA. It firms up a tad with warming (although I started the bomber out at barely cool) and has developed a pleasant, mildly sticky finish. An extremely low level of carbonation helps to some extent, but there's just not enough viscosity for the style.
I wish that I had cracked Old Boardhead's crown several years ago because I have a feeling that it's a much better beer when fresh. To its credit though, it's still mighty drinkable as long as your tolerance for tart fruit and citrus zest is on the high side. If you're cellaring the '03, my advice is to drink it last year.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
3.65/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
2004 on tap at the brewery in 2004
Look - thick slightly orangish light brown with a slight head
Smell - caramel grainy and barrel
Taste - grainy slight caramel and wood
Feel- medium syrup with no real carb
Overall - not bad especially for being 18 years old
Mar 07, 2022Look - thick slightly orangish light brown with a slight head
Smell - caramel grainy and barrel
Taste - grainy slight caramel and wood
Feel- medium syrup with no real carb
Overall - not bad especially for being 18 years old
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.86/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.86/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bottle of 2011 Reserve served in a Belgian snifter. (from 2015 notes).
The hazy brown body is topped by a thin weak head that leaves minimal lacing.
Fruity appealing aroma with some biscuit and remarkably little evidence of alcohol. There’s little sign of the alcohol upon tasting either ... at first; but eventually the alcohol builds and the finish and aftertaste are actually rather boozy. While the boozy finish detracts from the flavor it is overall good enough, and complex enough, to deserve a 4. More hops than expected for this style.
Feel: light carbonation in a medium-light body with obvious alcohol warming.
Apr 06, 2019The hazy brown body is topped by a thin weak head that leaves minimal lacing.
Fruity appealing aroma with some biscuit and remarkably little evidence of alcohol. There’s little sign of the alcohol upon tasting either ... at first; but eventually the alcohol builds and the finish and aftertaste are actually rather boozy. While the boozy finish detracts from the flavor it is overall good enough, and complex enough, to deserve a 4. More hops than expected for this style.
Feel: light carbonation in a medium-light body with obvious alcohol warming.
Reviewed by Sound_Explorer from Washington
4.42/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.42/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2007 (!!!) Vintage that has an amazing aroma with a smooth run down the tongue. After taste is a little almost burnt sugar. Really lucky to get this taste from a friend. Yea I filled spaces for a review.
Dec 23, 2017Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4.01/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2012 vintage in 22 oz. bottle Darker amber with thin beige head. Wine like malty aroma with alcohol very much in the forefront. Some oak barrel, peat and caramel. Taste (once past the alcohol heat) is malt, caramel and some spiciness. Excellent winter quaff. Recently sampled 2007 vintage also, ages wonderfully.
Nov 03, 2016Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.31/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.31/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Them mahogany and auburn and crimson red notes all together to make this color up. Lots of caramel sweetness in the aroma, hops later.
This one straddles that line between English and American barleywine, I think it has more of the sweetness and lesser hop character that leans slightly English. Viscosity of a caramel/syrup/molasses vein. A little bit of toffee contributing to the English feels.
A little bit of dark fruit bitterness, not full on quad or RIS like, but you know. One the one hand this is an inexpensive bomber and big beer, but on the other hand, its still a bomber instead of the more convenient (and cheaper) 12 oz format.
Sep 20, 2016This one straddles that line between English and American barleywine, I think it has more of the sweetness and lesser hop character that leans slightly English. Viscosity of a caramel/syrup/molasses vein. A little bit of toffee contributing to the English feels.
A little bit of dark fruit bitterness, not full on quad or RIS like, but you know. One the one hand this is an inexpensive bomber and big beer, but on the other hand, its still a bomber instead of the more convenient (and cheaper) 12 oz format.
Reviewed by KensWorld from Florida
4.2/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.2/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2012 reserve bottle. Pours a non appealing mudy brown leaving almost no head. Still has nice carbonation with plenty of boubles. Smell is not to impressive either. Slight malty nose. I was never expecting the taste to be any better, but wow was I wrong. Tastes wonderful, extremely mellow and smooth leaving Carmel, toffy, vanilla and honey notes. Semi Sweet malty aftertaste. Seems to be getting even better as it warms. Overall I'm very impressed by this barleywine, it's one of the smoothest I've tried yet. 3 years has aged this beer to perfection. the 4.50
Nov 29, 2015Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota
4.69/5 rDev +21.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.69/5 rDev +21.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
A: Slight chill haze clears as it warms to a brilliant deep amber to chestnut under a rapidly dissipating ½” off white foam collar that grips the glass producing thin sheets of lace.
S: Sweet big vanilla caramel nose with traces of wine and alcohol
T: Not as sweet on the palate as on the nose – the finish is a cascade of fruit and candy, some citrusy hops in the finish that grow in the after taste
F: chewy, creamy, warming, lacy, medium low carbonation
O: A big, bold barley wine for evening sipping.
Apr 09, 2015S: Sweet big vanilla caramel nose with traces of wine and alcohol
T: Not as sweet on the palate as on the nose – the finish is a cascade of fruit and candy, some citrusy hops in the finish that grow in the after taste
F: chewy, creamy, warming, lacy, medium low carbonation
O: A big, bold barley wine for evening sipping.
Old Boardhead Barleywine Ale from Full Sail Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
387 ratings
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