Dormancy (Bourbon Barrel Aged)
Grow Brewing Company

Brewers notes: Our barleywine was boiled for 12 hours to create a viscous, dark base of molasses and burnt sugar flavors. We then fermented hot for some extra citrus zest and aged for 24 months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, resulting in heavy oak char and bourbon character in the ultimate test of patience.

Chilled, waxed 500ml bottle poured into a pretentious beer glass

Dark cola brown liquid capped with a three finger long lasting taupe foam

Aroma is bourbon, caramel, toffee, leather, tobacco

Taste is bourbon, raisins, molasses, dark fruits , caramel, toffee, figgy

Mouthfeel is fizzy and boozy

Good beer

This looks black until held to bright light, then becomes muddy brown. It is opaque, with a surprisingly light chestnut head. The head slowly settles from one half inch to a wispy fog. There is no lace left on the Nolan double walled snifter. A thin film produces no legs.

The aroma presents strong figs and dates. Boozy alcohol fumes lift sweet fruitiness and rich plum pudding. Warmth reveals toffee and a clear impression of oxidation.

The flavor generally follows the nose. Sweetness is very well controlled by mild bitterness. There is an emphasis on pumpernickel bread and plum pudding with figs. A strong secondary flavor is chocolate. There is a hint of sourness in the long finish that is primarily composed of alcohol and pumpernickel. Warmth brings out a very light sensation of bourbon.

This has a full body with strong warming alcohol that adds a nice bite. The carbonation is light and fizzy while the texture is ethereal silk.

This is an excellent sipping beer, suitable for reading, meaningful conversation, or a nightcap. Typically, I prefer less carbonated Barleywines, but this one works well.

Poured cellar temp to a nucleated willi becher. Color is much darker than I expected for a barleywine, almost looks like a Guinness stout. Head is thick, super tight celled, and lasts for minutes. Aroma is a bit subdued, but there are some hints of leather and wet wood. First sips are very heavy, dark molasses. Barrel tannin character really shines through. At first I thought it might be Willett barrels, but it’s Heaven Hill. On pondering, HH is it all day, and this beverage almost tastes more like a GI BCBS. That would be an intriguing side by side blind taste test. Mouthfeel is full and creamy, no doubt helped by the fantastic nucleated glass effect. Bourbon flavor comes through boozy, and the alcohol brings decent warming. It’s good.

In some real sense, I think this should be reclassified as a stout. When I think English barleywine, I think Lee’s, Harvey’s, Fremont B5K…clear amber, caramel, gooey, sweet heavy drinks. This is not that, but it is enjoyable.

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

This smells deeply barrel forward and oaky, with loads of caramel and molasses.

I’m really impressed that such a new brewery is releasing a two years aged barrel aged barleywine – that’s just wonderful. This is has such a deep, gnarly, and complex barrel character – oaky, vanilla, spice, and bourbon, cascading deliciously into the very caramelly and slightly fruity base barleywine. This is so well put together and well balanced.

This is medium bodied, not all that boozy, and pretty drinkable.

This was really fantastic – I am so excited to see this brewery continue to develop.