Evolutionary State
Foreign Exchange Brewing Company

Almost four years ago, I had my first from FEBC (Kittywampus.) Like this second (Evolutionary State), both are impressive but both reflect a flaw of a young brewer who tries to invent too much too quickly. Kitty was more like an AIS than an AI Porter. Evolutionary also is more like an AIS than an EB. Porters and Barleywines are from an older brewing tradition and to respect that tradition, a North American micro should not push too far the envelope of an older tradition. (While the Brits may be more tolerant of innovation than the Bavarians, we learned much from not innovating too much too fast.)

That lecture made, I'm enjoying Evolutionary State. After the pour, I'm Looking at an EB. But, I'm not Smelling one with these aromatics; both the maple and vanilla fill my nostrils. While balanced in nose and on palate, I can't escape the additives and somehow think FEBC missed the point of the EB... which is to blend the barley carefully. Full in my mouth... which also has a memory for additives.

I've reviewed FEBC's website and it has matured in 4 years. And they are sticking to their business plan of using excess-capacity of other micros (still Church Street.) All smart. And actually, also is the over-innovation I seemingly criticize above. Innovation is good when moderated.

Pours a clear copper color, huge khaki head and some spotty lacing. Popping the can open and you get a huge whiff of vanilla and maple, it tastes exactly like it smells, unfortunately it's just too damn sweet. Sticky mouthfeel. Pretty hard to finish this.

 

Released January 2021; drank 9/13/21 @ the Yarchives.

Semi-opaque brown/orange appearance.

A violent pour yielded a HUGE khaki head; strong, frothy lace.

Maple, vanilla, caramel & cherry soda notes in the nose.

Thick, sticky mouthfeel.

Maple & caramel flavors up front; vanilla syrup & cherry soda notes on the finish.

VERY sweet, but in small doses it's not unpleasurable. Best shared with others.

 

I think the most impressive thing about this beer is the fact that there are nine advocates who rated it and eight of them left some kind of review (including me). My favorite beer store owner recommended it, mostly because he works with that brewery on the side, but I do like English Barleywine’s and most of their beers. Poured a very dark brown with a fluffy had that dissipated. Smell is strong maple, some molasses, malt and vanilla. Taste is sweet-maple, caramel, vanilla, slightly malt, boozy burn like a barrel aged beer. Medium to big body, boozy, mouth filling, bold. I found a Barleywine with maple and vanilla intriguing, and this delivered. But I think it could have been slightly better, as it had an artificial flavor feel.

16 ounce can into a snifter. Had 6/5/21.

Pours a semi opaque copper color, with no real head and some spotty lacing. Aromas of maple, vanilla, caramel, malt. The same flavors- vanilla, maple, caramel, malt. Has a light sweet note. Smooth, a good medium body, well carbonated.

This is straightforward and focused. And while there’s not the typical expanse of aromas and flavors you get in a barleywine, this is really well executed. The maple and vanilla are prominent, but not overdone and the base beer is pretty solid. Liked this a lot.

16oz can
L: brown colored ale with a foamy beige head that holds good retention
S: sweet maple, vanilla, caramelized grain
T: sweeeeet; maple syrup, caramel, toffee, vanilla, grain, brown bread crust, leafy/earthy hops in the background
F: full, creamy, & sticky body, alcohol sneaks up on you, cloyingly sweet finish with a hint of bitterness that I wish was more prominent
O: way too sweet for my liking. Good idea with the additions of maple and vanilla, but whoa, I need an insulin shot after this one

Nice balance of boozy and sweet with maple being the predominant flavor.

A: Pours a deep reddish brown color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a thin cap

S: Maple syrup. Lots of maple syrup. Some vanilla, toasted malt, and caramel under that

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with a wave of maple syrup, followed by the vanilla, caramel, and toasted malt. Booze is well hidden under the maple sweetness. Finishes with lingering maple and vanilla

M: Medium-full bodied with low-moderate carbonation. Sticky

O: A good base that is dominated by maple syrup. Also, not sure where the imperial stout influence is that’s mentioned on the can. That aside, this makes for a good sipper because of the sweetness and 12.5% that is almost non-existent taste-wise. Not sure I’d even class this under barleywine, more like a lumped strong ale? But the can says English-style barleywine, so that’s what it is!

Served from the can in a Phase Three snifter.

Hey, this here's a creationary state, y'hear? Anyhoo, this stuff pours a mostly clear garnet topped by a half-finger of light tan foam. The nose comprises maple syrup, vanilla bean, caramel, and a touch of chocolate-covered orange peel, possibly with a hint of earthy greens way off in the distance. The taste brings in more of the same, confirming that this barleywine is, indeed, more a mixture of barleywine and stout, and the preponderance is tilting toward the latter of the two components. Sure, the roast isn't there, rather a combination of the adjuncts and background sweetness, but there isn't much of a hop presence to speak of. The body is a stolid medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, an interesting beer, one that illustrates the versatility of the style, but one that also shows how much the base can be overshadowed by its specialized adjuncts and whatnot. Rather tasty nonetheless.

 

This one pours a reddish brown color. Opaque and somewhat syrupy in appearance. Thin two finger tan head dissipates quite quickly leaving no residual head or foam on top of the beer. No lacing. The aroma on this is incredibly heavy on the maple syrup with some light hints of the vanilla. I am honestly not getting any of the underlying barleywine on the nose.

Taste follows the nose with a prominent display of maple syrup, vanilla, with some underlying malty notes. As it warms there are some notes of dark fruits, the maltiness comes out a bit more, but its honestly still dominated by the maple syrup. The effect is that the beer comes across as incredibly sweet, to the the point of being cloying for me. I like the idea of maple with the barleywine, but the addition of maple syrup, or the flavoring, here is just too much. A more deft approach would have produced a more balanced profile here. The feel is thick, full bodied, syrupy. Bright but smooth carbonation. Semi-dry on the finish.

Overall, I want to like this ... the flavors would compliment a barleywine really well. But in the end its just too much. The maple dominates everything to the detriment of the other flavors. Is pastry barleywine a thing? Cause it is now with this beer ...

Pours deep black with a wonderful maple nose and some supporting vanilla. Tastes like Sunday brunch and leaves your mouth sticky just like after breakfast. A little more bitter on the finish and overall a really nice beer.