Wooden Hell
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery

 

 

2019 version Pours a deep ruby brown color with a light tan head that lingers and leaves some finger lacing.

The smell is dark fruits, caramel, oak, and a hint of bourbon.

The taste is loaded with dark fruits, especially raisin and lots of oak with a hint of bourbon. The flavor is very bright and slightly tart. No real hint of booziness. I'm not sure if this beer is supposed to be this tart. It's not bad, but the taste is a bit unusual and not matching other reviews.

The mouthfeel is thinner than expected but not thin. Low/medium carbonation with a silky feel.

Overall this is bright and fruity but a slow sipper. Edit: The more I drink the more I'm concerned this has not held up over time. The tartness is too prominent and it doesn't match with the other reviews.

 

 

 

 

 

This one pours a murky dark brown color, with a small head, and not much lacing.

This smells pretty boozy and woody, with some bittersweet caramel, smoe, toffee, and dark fruits.

This tastes better than it smells for sure. There's definitely a lot of barrel here. There's spicy oak and caramel/leathery/boozy bourbon. There's toasted dark breadiness, caramel, and toffee for sure, with a touch of dark fruitiness.

This is medium bodied, with a slightly lingering bitterness. It's definitely a slow sipper.

This is certainly an old school barleywine, and it's definitely burly and not for the faint of heart. I like it.

 

Smells like scotch on an open pine fire. Smells stronger than it tastes. Super sweet and lush with only a little after burn. Very very very good. Would have again.

I'm going to be low dev here but here goes:
22oz 2018 bottle poured into a skull glass shows a dirty orangish-brown body and supports nary a cap. I won't knock it for no lacing due to the oddly shaped vessel as well as the barrel and style.

Aromas wafting from the glass include dried fruits, stone fruits, vanilla, molasses, oak, and spices and the flavors match, but sweeter that I prefer.

Mouthfeel is full and almost creamy.

Overall a pleasant barrel aged barleywine, if too sweet.