Brewer's Reserve Great Northern Brandy Barrel-Aged Barleywine
Central Waters Brewing Co.

 

 

2020 (whatever day the 170th is) bottle poured gently to an IPA glass, chilled from the fridge. Very prominent brandy on the nose, interspersed with pure caramel wafts. First sips are hot brandy alcohol bite, with a dark caramel mid and back palate flavor. Lots of stone fruit linger on the aftertaste. Clear chestnut color with lots of carbonation on the pour. At first, the mouthfeel seems a little thin, but really morphs into something thicker as it warms. If this is an American barleywine, I’d love to see their take on an English barleywine. It’s so perfectly balanced. Yeah. I almost forgot. I’ve been trying so many IPAs for the wife lately that I almost forgot why I prefer stouts and barleywines. The alcohol hits pretty hard. Yes, it’s in the 80s, but I wasn’t sweating like this after the IPA I just had. This is good. This is very good. Dammit. My glass is empty and I only bought one! I bought 4 Anchorage Blessed’s recently, but I’ll have to beg budget forgiveness from the wife because more of these must be in my possession. Wow. You will only need one to be in a happy zone, my BA brethren and sistren.