Kosmyk Charlie's Y2K Catastrophe Ale | Central Waters Brewing Co.

3/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Unknown vintage; drank 2/6/15 @ Yuss Haus.

Murky plum appearance.

Eggnog head; decent lace.

Caramel, plum & raisin nose.

Medium thick, sticky mouthfeel.

Booze heat, raisin & dried plum flavors up front; a drying finish.

A hot, super dry mess. Not very good.

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4.24/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This was poured into a chalice. The appearance was a nice looking dark brown to black color with half finger-ed off white foamy head that dissipated within less than a minute. There was some nice light lacing sticking finely to the glass. The smell had a nice blend of sweet and roasty caramels, toffee, chocolates, light breadiness, and coffee beans combining wonderfully. The taste took those flavors and combined them extremely well. On the palate, this one sat about a medium to heavy on the body (of course when I had this, it was only two months old). Yup, sure was a sipper -no doubt about that. Overall, this was an extremely wonderful Barleywine well worth my time.

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4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slight hazed rusty color with a thin and fresh head with nice streaks of lacing. Smell/taste is toffee,caramel and molasses with mild dark fruits a citrus dose of hops with a brown sugar malt finish. mouth feel is sweet and sticky with malts and finishes with citrus/pine hops. Enjoyable and drinkable.

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4.31/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Received from @Josholson666 in NBS BIF #4
Undated bottle (although the top band says “Barleywine Ale 2012) at 42 degrees into a hand washed and dried JK snifter. Consumed and rated from 42 to 55 degrees.
Aroma – sweet and malty with a hint of raisins
Head small (Maximum 1.3 cm, aggressive pour), light brown with a yellow cast, almost an icteric flesh color, dense and creamy, diminishing to an irregular three to four mm ring and thin layer with a rocky island
Lacing – basically none except for some ring drag which quickly rejoins the ring
Body – medium brown and cloudy in the glass although it appeared clear in the pour stream. At 53 degrees the cloudiness is still present so we can probably rule out “chill haze”.
Flavor – Initially sweet, thick, and caramel malty. The aftertaste has some hop bitterness and leaves the impression that the beer was thinner than it actually was. Alcohol is not noticeable. After several minutes a low, slow gastric burn begins.
Palate full, creamy, very soft carbonation

Overall, this is an excellent beer in a style I am rapidly coming to appreciate.

Appearance 4, Aroma 4.25, Flavor 4.25, Palate 4.5, Overall 4.5.

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4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This beer pours a ruby brown with an average head. The aroma is boozy, with brown sugar, fudge, hay, maple syrup, and cumin present. The flavor is like sweet barley syrup, with maple, brown sugar, a slight sourness, mustyness, and cedar. The mouthfeel is full, but not syrupy. Overall this is an impeccably good example of an American Barleywine - rich, direct flavors, but with an enormous amount of depth. Definitely worth seeking out for Barleywine lovers.

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4.34/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Look: Pours a ruby red, twinges of brown, with a khaki head, that quickly dissipates. The beer is somewhat murky. Carbonation is prevalent.

Smell: toffee, caramel, and all sorts of sweet goodness.

Taste: taste follows the nose: toffee, caramel, slight hop bitterness. Tasty

Feel: medium body, slightly syrupy, and a bitterness kicks in on the finish.

Overall: this is a tasty barleywine, and worth the price. Seek this out.

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4.01/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Clear with a deep, ruby-red glow (SRM 22-24). Slight, fine lace is off white, but no real head develops in the Offero glass.

The aromas open with rich, sweet malt, followed by figs, raisins and plums. The middle includes fresh pumpernickel bread, while warmth brings out pine resin. Alcohol fumes are quite present.

Strong bitterness allows some room for sweetness. Hop flavors are absent, while grainy malt is prominently distinguishable. A light, toasted flavor gives way to hazelnuts, brown sugar and molasses. Warming alcohol lingers in a bitter finish.

This has a full, almost dense, body with a chewy, leathery texture and modest carbonation. Alcohol is prominent, though less present than 10% would suggest. Light astringency and slight residual sugar remains.

This seems to fit the style and would certainly be better suited for a crisp, cool day. One glass is plenty per sitting. I aged it for 2.5 years before enjoying it with a pungent Gorgonzola.

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3.76/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bomber. Pours deep cloudy amber, thin tan head. Super sweet caramel malt taste, lots of booziness. Grassy hops way at the end. Medium mouthfeel. Big boozy barleywine.

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4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2013 vintage, great nose, lots of dark dried fruits (dates, prunes raisins), sips really sweet, lots of caramel and dried fruit sweetness. Floaties abound (does it matter though?), damn this is good.

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4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2013 bottle vintage written on label
L - Deep mahogany and murky, almost turbid but in a good way
S - Raisins figs, dried apricots.
T - Aggressively bitter deep complex malt profile.
M - A touch prickly but great malt backbone leading a chewy mouthfeel.

Overall the bitterness is a bit too aggressive but an awesome beer regardless

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4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Vintage 2013. Poured cold into a tulip glass. Consumed Jan 2015.
Look = 4.25 Pours a clear mahogany color with a big reddish tint and 3 fingers of brown head. Great retention and lace. Obvious floating chucks detract from the look somewhat.
Aroma = 4.25 Sweet and boozy. Caramel, toffee, sugar and dark fruit notes. Some piney hops compliment it.
Taste = 4.0 Caramel, toffee, candy, dark fruit and booze notes. Very sweet balanced with a mild bitter finish.
Feel = 4.0 Full bodied and syrupy. Thick mouthfeel but low carbonation.
Drinkability = 4.25 Pretty drinkable for a big barely wine like this.
Overall = 4.125 Sweet and boozy but some balance in aroma and taste. Nice barleywine.

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3.76/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2012 vintage

L - Pours a hazy dark brown body with hints of brown and a khaki one finger head. The head dissipates to a ring around the glass and there is not much lacing to speak of.

S - All caramel, raisins and dark plums. Hardy malt backbone to bring it all together.

T - Caramel and toffee that is intertwined with a lot of bitterness. Not really sweet or a lot of dark fruits.

F - Light to medium bodied with medium carbonation. Has a dry finish and a little bit of alcohol on the body.

O - Aged well with still a bit of bite on it.

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4.21/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Served in a snifter glass from a 22oz. bomber.

Appearance: Hazy brown body with medium to light bubbles on the body. Head is an off-white rising to maybe quarter inch at best with a hard pour of course. It flattens out a bit after two or three sips. Still looks good with its mahogany cloudiness.

Smell: Hard wine scent with deep grapes.

Taste: Complex sweet. Almost toffee like taste with a heavy alcohol finish...honestly I think it's top notch.

Mouth: Sticky with a maple syrup finish. Slightly thick with a butterscotch notes...Yum.

Overall: Very good brew...honestly one of the better ones I have reviewed in recent months and highly recommend in grabbing if you see it...I know I will. Salud!
Overall:

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4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Dark brown with thin tan head. Aroma of raisins malt and booze. Taste is boozy malty dried prunes, raisins and molasses. Finish is hint of bitter and caramel.

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4.31/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

poured 12 oz bottle into chalice. Vintage 2012 which was bottled in 2011.

A - Muddy dark rust color with a 1.5 finger dirty white head. Suspended floaties are noticed by the careful observer. Great retention that slowly fades into a collar. Thick webs of lacing coat the glass. Did I mention that this is 3 years old?

S - Thick caramel and toffee make up the sweetness. Dark fruits with a nice earthy, piney aroma from the hops.

T -Even after 3 years in the bottle this still has a bitterness to it along with some alcohol. It is pleasant because of the caramel and toffee mixed with some dark fruit. Hints of citrus and pine make up a bitter finish.

M - Medium body with soft carbonation. A bit warming.

O - I've had this fresh, but it is much better after sitting two years. This is easily the best barleywine brewed in WI. I prefer it over BBBW. It ages masterfully and I wish I had more bottles.

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4.34/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On tap at Torst.

T: I would say the taste is a bit rough around the edge. Sweet toffee/caramel, roasty toasty malt, with dry hopped mixed right in. All the notes presented all at once, felt like they were all competing to be the star

F: Semi chewy, but finish so thin.

O: Since I've had a few vintage of CW's barleywine, I have been wanting to go to this one for a comparison. I feel like I get the lineage now.

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3.97/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to queens1130 for sharing this one at Retsinis' tasting.

Pours a clear dark orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Tiny dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, caramel, toffee, and brown sugar aromas. Taste is much the same with caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and citrus zest flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and sticky mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with tasty sticky sugar forward qualities all around.

Serving type: bottle.

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3.53/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Will last night.

Pours an amber-red, with a small quarter inch head, and a little bit of lacing.

Smells like wood, astringent booze, caramel and toffee.

I got a lot more booze out of this than everybody else, which is weird. It seemed astringently bitter, both from alcohol, and leafy hops. The caramel and toffee, slight dark fruits, in the malt backbone were nice, though. It just seemed a little messy and muddled at times.

This is medium bodied, with a slightly syrupy mouthfeel, and a lower level of carbonation. This is a pretty slow sipper and not all that drinkable.

I feel like my opinion runs against what most people think about this one- I just didn't enjoy it all that much.

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3.95/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

650ml bottle of the 2013 vintage. Poured into a snifter 10/15/2014. Have had this fresh and aged several times; but will be reviewing based on this version which is now 2 years since brewing.

A- Darker brown-caramel body, typical of a barleywine. Half finger white head that doesn't stick around for long. No lacing. [3.5]

S- Caramel and toffee, a bit of grapefruit and pine still lingering even after a year of aging. Nicely fruity but with a ton of malt presence. Solid. [4]

F- As in the nose, there is a strong caramel and toffee presence that is slightly offset by a citrus and pine hop bitterness that has clearly receded from fresh, but even fresh it did not overcome the sweetness of the base malts, which is quite dominant. [4]

M- Medium body, on the thinner side, lower in carbonation, soft and sweet but still with a piney, bitter hop bite to it. Slight alcohol burn, but not that much of it. [3.75]

O- Above average American barleywine with a nice sweetness and complexity which does well with 2 years of age on it for sure. [4]

Final score: 3.95

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4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From notes on 4/29/14

Tried a glass of the Y2K and a glass of the BBBW at the brewery. Both are great. I think I prefer the BBBW version more, but the regular Y2K is much easier to drink and you notice the sweetness more. Very sweet bread like aroma. Taste is very smooth, lots of sweetness, some caramel notes, some fruit. Overall, a great beer.

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4.5/5  rDev +10%

A: deep opaque amber-brown; foam a few fingers high on top; plenty of lace left behind

S: sweet chewy caramels and toffee with herbal and floral accents; something piney and something earthy

T: lotsa of chewy caramel malts and big pine hops; caramelized figs and dates and orchard fruits; sweet toffee and whole grain

M: big and lush, smooth and chewy, medium-full body, fuzzy soft carbonation

O: a great American barleywine with lots of big flavors and feel - ranks with the best out there - not to be passed up on.

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3/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pour is a hazy dark chestnut with a very tight tan head. Nose is heavy caramel malt and pungent crystal malt with a fair bit of cardboard like oxidation. Taste follows suit, heavy dry caramel, very sticky, a bit of crystal malt and a good bit of cardboard oxidation in back with a hint of green apple skin. Full bodied and chewy, prickly feel and well carbonated.

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3.89/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

from a pint and 6 oz. bottle “catastophe” pours an opaque clay colored beer with a nice margin off white head

strong smelling sweet overripe grapes. alcohol. some breadiness too for the smell.

wow, this beer is intense. caramel apples, and some toffee flavor .very sweet but the alcohol really cuts the sweetness well. kinda has that belgium beer taste

it really reminds me of a Belgian quad.

damn this beer hits hard. I cant find the percentage on the bottle but I've not even finished my fist 12 oz. glass and I can defiantly feel this.

sticky mouth feel with a dry after taste

I did enjoy this , as my first barley wine style ale I've consumed it sparked and interest in me to buy more barely wines.

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4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is hazy brownish amber in color. It poured a short beige colored head that died down, leaving wispy lacing covering the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of caramel malts and toffee are present in the nose. Hints of alcohol also become perceptible once the beer warms up.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is dominated by flavors of toffee and has notes of caramel malts along with slight hints of alcohol. Some vanilla also becomes apparent once the beer warms up.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and a little sticky on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer develops nice flavors as it warms up and the alcohol is relatively well masked from the taste.

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4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a cloudy reddish copper with golden edges and a finger of off-white head. The nose is rich and bready. This offering is full-bodied and most certainly malt forward in the grand tradition of English Barleywines. The finish is slightly dry and bitter.

At 10%, the alcohol essence is well in check. This is a superb example of the style.

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