Olde School
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

*archived rating*

 

 

 

Review: 2371
Name: Olde School
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewing
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Barleywine
ABV: 15%
Canned: Unknown
Date: 22 April 2025
I bought this in Amarillo, TX, on my way to get my child because his mom made some terrible choices. I am serving the beer at 50 degrees in a tulip glass. The pour created an airy, half-fingered, light tan head with poor retention. The quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass. The color is dark rusty red with amber hues and semi-opaque charting at SRM 22. This beer's appearance is below average.
Nosing the glass, I smelled molasses, roasted malts, raisins, toffee, caramel, figs, dates, resin, treacle, light-roasted coffee, and earthiness. When I nosed the glass again, I noticed tobacco, malty sweetness, toasted bread crust, leather, floral, and grassy.
Sipping the beer, I taste toasted bread crust, toffee, fig, dates, raisins, caramel, treacle, flower bouquet, tobacco, leather, roasted malts, light-roasted coffee, malty sweetness, and earthiness.
The mouthfeel is smooth and warm, finishing with some astringency. The body is medium-plus and low in carbonation.
When I started this journey into beer, this was one of the few must-try beers. I knew very little about beer and breweries. I started rating beers about 19 years ago; this was one of the few "whales" I wanted. As I traversed through the beer, learning a lot yet not knowing enough, Olde School waned from my conscience. I picked this beer up several years ago, and it has aged beautifully; the hop profile is still prolific and adds a bit of bite and harmony to the sweetness brought on by the figs and date. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Tasty Barleywine!

Clear, chestnut color. Big, yellowish head. Caramel malt , figs, dark fruits, and a hint of alcohol in the aroma. Sweet, malty taste. Flavor of dark fruits and malt. Warming alcohol at the end.

Single 12 ounce bottle from West Lakeview Liquor in Chicago from 2018.
Pours a clear dark copper to amber colour with scant fine beige head - note at 15% decanted only 6 ounces so suspect second half may well have some debris.
Brown sugar, raisins, dates, a whack of caramel on the nose - some sherry like booziness.
Tastes of sweet caramel, raisin bread, dates, molasses - some booziness - sherry; a touch of vanilla.
Medium full mouthfeel - slightly subdued carbonation - smooth sipper - boozy without being hot.

 

 

2017 vintage, on tap at Orenco Taphouse on their last day of business (at least at this location). Enjoyed in a tulip. The Digital Pour board shows an ABV of 15% for this vintage.

The beer is a murky burnt orange color, capped with a thin head of buff colored foam. The head quickly shrank to a long-lasting collar that leaves patchy lacing.

The nose is full of figs, sweet malt, caramel, and burnt brown sugar. Oxidation is evident but not unpleasant.

Flavor follows the nose, with additional notes of orange peel, freshly ground black pepper, roasted strawberries, cherries, and cocoa. It has a subtle flavor that I can't describe but is characteristic of all Dogfish Head beers I've sampled through the years. Oxidation is prominent. Earthy bitterness is impressive.

Body is medium-heavy, smooth, and slightly with moderate carbonation and prickly alcohol heat.

It's been almost 15 years since the last time I tried this beer. I'm glad for the chance to have it again. This is definitely an old-school barley wine, reminiscent of Doggie Claws or maybe an English-style Bigfoot. Tasty!

Sampled at a tasters choice get together on 11/19/2023. A big thanks to whomever shared this.

 

2013 vintage bottle i think? smooth but somewhat boring.

Poured from bottle into tulip, no head little to no lacing. Reddish/amber in the glass, little light passes thru. Malt, figs, raisins and a big dose of caramel on the nose. Big syrupy caramel on the front, followed by dried fruit, figs, raisin. Drinks a little sweet, could use a tad bit more bitterness on the finish, but not going to complain here. Good residual of caramel, fig and raisin on the palate. Slight heat on the finish but not obnoxious.

750ml from 2003.

Pours clear, dark copper with only a few bubbles of head with an aggressive pour. Zero retention or lacing. Pure, plump malt juice in the nose with shades of fig and caramel. Medium bodied with a slick, syrupy mouthfeel. Dead flat. Juicy malt on the palate with mild warmth on the throat. Finishes with lingering malt, figs, and faint booze.

2012 bottle.

Pours a mostly clear dark burgundy color. Thin off-white head forms and then dissipates pretty quickly. Aroma has notes of brown sugar, cardboard, dark fruits, and some rich malty notes.

Taste has notes of brown sugar, rich malts, dark fruits, molasses, brown sugar, a touch of cardboard, and some earthy notes. The dark fruits and brown sugar are so rich and developed in this beer - it's amazing how well they have developed and harmonized over time. Feel is smooth, rich, medium bodied. Moderate carbonation.

Overall this is a gem of a beer. This bottle is 10 years old, and yet its aged gracefully and is absolutely delicious.

2017 vintage and it looks, smells, and tastes great! It still feels a bit hot to me. I am looking forward to this in another year or two.

 

 

My favorite, but where to buy it now?