Cedar
Humble Forager Brewery

12 ounce can, no dating I noticed on the can or label. Big thanks to Brutaltruth for this one! Served in a chalice, the beer pours a dark brown color with some ruby red tinges. There's about an inch tan head that stayed around for a while, and there's a small amount of lacing. I like the aroma, the brew smells like figs, vanilla, brown sugar, vanilla, oak, bourbon and some molasses. Taste is pretty much just like the aroma, but with the addition of some raisin, toffee and earthy flavors. Definitely a sweeter tasting barleywine but not quite overpoweringly sweet either. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's coating and syrupy with a moderate amount of carbonation. Alcohol is well hidden too, doesn't seem like it's 14% ABV. I liked this one a lot, recommend it more to people who like sweeter tasting brews!

Pours a rich dark brown, with a small brown head and virtually no carbonation. The smell and especially the taste for me is prunes - lots of prunes. That isn’t a terrible thing - I think prunes are ok - but it prevented me from enjoying this barleywine.

 

 

Dark black-brown in color. Forced tan head that faded quickly. Nose was very woodsy, oak barrels I presume. Taste was sweet, prunes maybe with a chocolate taste on backend. Slight bitterness on back.

 

Very interesting. Clear chestnut color. Small but effervescent annular head. Sweet English style with nice figgy vanilla elements, and a subtle but distinct barrel tannin. Quite crushable. As it warms, the barrels become more distinct and uniquely identifiable. Buffalo Trace comes across spicy and sweet, Heaven Hill earthy and dark, and Willett rye giving a little push on the back. It’s almost gone. Much too easy to swig big. 13.9% drinks like 7. Beware.

2025-06-08
12oz can served in a tulip. Can is not dated as far as I can see. Got it from @bbtkd in Stout/Barleywine BIF #2.

Pours very dark brown, not black and tarry but in lower lights it would be easy to confuse them. Smell is boozy, oaky, horehound and root beer, some vanilla and toffee, lots of nuts. Something in between cola and Dr. Pepper.

Taste is sweet, cola and nuts. Vanilla, burnt toffee, lots of molasses. Booze is quite noticeable, but not quite as powerful as I expected from the aroma. A little bit of coffee bitterness?

Mouthfeel is thick, still, chewy. Very nice beer.

Fobab 2024.

First of the mixed four-pack I have had the privilege of opening. A short can poured into the short glass:

L: Cola black, coal black. A touch of brown, noticeable even more around the rim. No real head to speak of, but that is probably my fault. Again.

S: Ambrosia. It's all over the place in a good way. I'm getting malts with something sweet. My first thought was honey, but it also has a brown sugar vibe. Cherry and other dark fruits are noticeable underneath that. It also has a bourbon barrel quality along with caramel and a sort of leathery quality. Probably some cocoa, vanilla, and other comparisons, such as toffee.

T: Man oh man. It's almost hard to pick out flavors because everything comes together so well. Definitely getting the fruitier notes - dark cherry for sure, but some other darker fruits can be considered here. I have not had figs outside of crappy cookies, but it sure does taste figgy. There is an obvious sweetness that lingers throughout - given the more desserty notes with the ingredients, that is not surprising. It sure does have the quality of a good English pudding, caramel, toffee, etc. That extra caramel note sure lingers way beyond the point of no return.

F: More on the side of mid-bodied but very smooth. Finishes a bit creamy and dry but still sweet, albeit not even close to overwhelming. Definite burn at the end, expected for the size.

This is nuts. Really good.

Aroma is big whiskey, hops, fruit/dark fruit and medium sweetness. The flavor is malts, dark fruit, mild caramel and a warming alcoholic whiskey/huge raisin/tobacco sweet finish.

Wow, I can't get enough of this and I wish they sold it in 4 packs.
Poured into a tulip. The indian brown ruby/copper held my gaze for a moment. A little darker, maybe turbid, than I'm used to I thought. But I haven't been in the game for awhile. Then its shade brought thoughts of Thomas Hardy's to mind and I smiled. Swirling my glass brought scents of toffee and stickyness while the legs clung to the glass and mocked me... oh boy I knew I was in for a treat.
First a sip, mmmm, then a larger mouthfull and gawd damn... this is why I drink barelywines and love them. Thicker sheets of toffee, fig and caramelized Sees candy dancing on dates bathed my tongue saying I wasn't worthy, but I am dammit. I originally meant to share this beer but I didnt. I have to buy more (and may eventually share it.)

Poured at fridge temp. Pours dark brown. Nose is burnet sugar, toffee, vanilla, oak, bourbon, and maybe a hint of maple.

The taste is really interesting. Almost a pine note from the start. Floral, vanilla, oak, leather, burnt toffee, slightly medicinal, herbal, fig, cherry, and a hint of mint.

Body is medium with an oaky herbal aftertaste.

Humble Forager/Barrel Theory collab Cedar 33mo BBA English Barleywine, 14% ABV. Pours thick and black with a slight ring of bubbles. Aroma is bourbon, dark fruit, brown sugar, and roast malt. Taste is quite sweet dark fruit, caramel, and chocolate. Excellent mouthfeel, overall world-class.