Old Godfather | Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
Brewed by:
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
California, United States
goodbeer.com
Style: American Barleywine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.50%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
Re-emerging from the shadows, Old Godfather is the first of the Infamous. Old Godfather pours a light amber with a beige lacing. Aromas of fresh pine and citrus dominate, giving way to deep flavors of nutty maltiness and burnt caramel. A spicy hop bite of citrus peel rounds out the rich mouthfeel. Bittersweet English malts and cut-throat West Coast hops make Godfather a barley wine that is not to be taken lightly. This re-release of Old Godfather is the first vintage of its kind. As a brazenly robust brew, Old Godfather will benefit from years of cellaring, developing new refinements in character over time.
Added by frank4sail on 02-18-2003
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 229 | Reviews: 153
3.96/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - deep translucent woody amber with a good bit of lacing.
S - sweet caramel malt and somewhat some hop resin.
T - smokey sweet! Roasted caramel malt flavor and hop bitter finish. More bitter than I've had recently with Barleywines and I like that.
M - medium to full. Very smooth. Limited carbonation. Sweetness sticks around on the roof of my mouth for a couple seconds and moves into the bitterness.
O - very drinkable American Barleywine. Balanced. Check it out!
475 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - deep translucent woody amber with a good bit of lacing.
S - sweet caramel malt and somewhat some hop resin.
T - smokey sweet! Roasted caramel malt flavor and hop bitter finish. More bitter than I've had recently with Barleywines and I like that.
M - medium to full. Very smooth. Limited carbonation. Sweetness sticks around on the roof of my mouth for a couple seconds and moves into the bitterness.
O - very drinkable American Barleywine. Balanced. Check it out!
475 characters
2.91/5 rDev -23.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Appearance: a deep brownish, orangish red. 2 fingers a tan head that leave a strong lacing behind. Strong haze but still able to see through it.
Smell: chocolate? Herbal hops, some dark fruits and other dark crystal character. Good bitter to sweet balance in the smell
Taste: opens up with herbal hops. Transitions to an astringent alcohol mixing with some dark crystal malts. Slight dark fruits and sweetness. Also some chocolate
Mouthfeel: bitter hop and astringent alcohol. Very hard to drink.
Overall: the malt bill in this beer leaves me scratching my head. Why chocolate? And the alcohol astringency is not made up for with any of the tastes
653 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Appearance: a deep brownish, orangish red. 2 fingers a tan head that leave a strong lacing behind. Strong haze but still able to see through it.
Smell: chocolate? Herbal hops, some dark fruits and other dark crystal character. Good bitter to sweet balance in the smell
Taste: opens up with herbal hops. Transitions to an astringent alcohol mixing with some dark crystal malts. Slight dark fruits and sweetness. Also some chocolate
Mouthfeel: bitter hop and astringent alcohol. Very hard to drink.
Overall: the malt bill in this beer leaves me scratching my head. Why chocolate? And the alcohol astringency is not made up for with any of the tastes
653 characters
3.41/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: dark red. Mostly transparent. Cream colored head that burns away quickly.
S: oaky, slight malty ness.
T: woody malt. Quick finish.
M: decent feel. Sits on the tongue nicely.
O: eh, not terrible. A good beer without knowing its a barleywine. But it is not a great example of it. I'd drink it standardly if it wasn't as expensive. But it isn't something to write home about.
383 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: dark red. Mostly transparent. Cream colored head that burns away quickly.
S: oaky, slight malty ness.
T: woody malt. Quick finish.
M: decent feel. Sits on the tongue nicely.
O: eh, not terrible. A good beer without knowing its a barleywine. But it is not a great example of it. I'd drink it standardly if it wasn't as expensive. But it isn't something to write home about.
383 characters
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: mahogany-amber and clear ale; will produce as big a head of tan fluff as you want; lines of lace left behind
S: deep resinous pine and malty caramel; dark and earthy, slightly herbal
T: hearty malt and bittered caramel sweetness up front, accompanied by hoppy notes of resin and pine; sweetness up front mellows as the malt grains come forward; hops assert themselves slowly and provide a nice bittering finish.
M: medium-to-full bodied, slick up front but chewy throughout; subtle coating effect like a bittersweet pine varnish on the tongue; didn't notice any alcohol or heat in this at all, despite my bottle's 9.5 abv.
O: nothing flashy, but a well-crafted "America-style" barleywine - runs on the sweeter side of the spectrum, but the subtle bittering, especially as it warms, will mute the sugars and deliver an enjoyable ale. Drank mine in a pint.
Give it a shot.
880 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: mahogany-amber and clear ale; will produce as big a head of tan fluff as you want; lines of lace left behind
S: deep resinous pine and malty caramel; dark and earthy, slightly herbal
T: hearty malt and bittered caramel sweetness up front, accompanied by hoppy notes of resin and pine; sweetness up front mellows as the malt grains come forward; hops assert themselves slowly and provide a nice bittering finish.
M: medium-to-full bodied, slick up front but chewy throughout; subtle coating effect like a bittersweet pine varnish on the tongue; didn't notice any alcohol or heat in this at all, despite my bottle's 9.5 abv.
O: nothing flashy, but a well-crafted "America-style" barleywine - runs on the sweeter side of the spectrum, but the subtle bittering, especially as it warms, will mute the sugars and deliver an enjoyable ale. Drank mine in a pint.
Give it a shot.
880 characters
3.75/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours a dark clear amber with a fair amount of light tan head. Just a touch of film retains on the surface, leaving mild lacing.
S: Floral honeyed sweetness with a deep malt background.
T: Deep, full, sweetness, with a boozy and slightly hoppy bite towards the finish.
M: Full body, medium carbonation.
Overall, a nice barleywine. Good balance, and deep complex flavors. Very enjoyable.
393 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours a dark clear amber with a fair amount of light tan head. Just a touch of film retains on the surface, leaving mild lacing.
S: Floral honeyed sweetness with a deep malt background.
T: Deep, full, sweetness, with a boozy and slightly hoppy bite towards the finish.
M: Full body, medium carbonation.
Overall, a nice barleywine. Good balance, and deep complex flavors. Very enjoyable.
393 characters
3.83/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Updated 4/2015:
This pours a dark malty caramel color. It’s a heavy beast of a beer, with more malt present than hops. I found it off-kilter and out of balance, and I’m not sure some age would improve things.
Speakeasy’s barleywine has returned!
This has an intense caramel-amber hue to it. Aroma smacks of toffee and caramel notes, with an underlying herbaceous hop presence. The flavor is malty, with toffee and a touch of bittering, but overall smooth. Hops are present here but not center stage like in other Speakeasy brews.
540 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Updated 4/2015:
This pours a dark malty caramel color. It’s a heavy beast of a beer, with more malt present than hops. I found it off-kilter and out of balance, and I’m not sure some age would improve things.
Speakeasy’s barleywine has returned!
This has an intense caramel-amber hue to it. Aroma smacks of toffee and caramel notes, with an underlying herbaceous hop presence. The flavor is malty, with toffee and a touch of bittering, but overall smooth. Hops are present here but not center stage like in other Speakeasy brews.
540 characters
Old Godfather from Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
Beer rating:
3.8 out of
5 with
229 ratings
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