Red Admiral
Old Chimneys Brewery

L- Pours dark chestnut red, slightly hazy. Quite a yellow-tan thin head that part disperses after a minute; unsurprising at this ABV%. A residual ring of bubbles remains to the bottom - impressive.
S- That deep liquory-fruity aspect of barley-wine... with a trade-mark vaguely rustic edge to it.
T- Oh ok! It goes right into a spicy note - errr cinnamon+(nutmeg) or similar? Surely it's barrel aged too as it has quite a prominent liquor note. I can never ID the latter notes as I drink beer and not liquor! There's an aspect of deep roast plum/damson too, bright but with some richness. It's deep and complex for sure.
F- One for slow-sipping in front of a winter log-fire. Deep, rich, complex, for 11.4% it hides it well which is skilled brewing.
O- Wow, for a small brewery this is incredibly balanced and polished. Absolutely zero 'sticking out' to object to. One for slow-sipping or perhaps sharing.
330 bottle BB: 31/12/2025 Lot: A07 (2022). £11.50 from Trembling Madness York for home delv. elsewhere in the UK

Bottled and purchased from Beermoth in Manchester City centre
Pours a rich chestnut brown with red hued body and splatterings of off white head
Aroma is caramel caramel caramel
Flavour is red lace caramel mix

Purchased on site at the brewery. This version is to celebrate Alan's 40th year as a brewer. I was very happy to get some as there is not a lot of it. This bottle is number 303 of 380. Pours a slightly murky brown with dark red highlights and a small-to-medium head that leaves a nice ring and some lace. Nose has some nice whisky notes along with sweet brown bread and sticky toffee pudding. Taste is dried figs, molasses, and brown bread, and is rounded out by some of those whisky notes again. I'll be honest, this is a freaking delicious beer. Really nice nose and loads of flavor. An excellent barleywine that is really enhanced with the barrel notes. Nothing is competing, it just mixes in together for a great beer. Not cloying at all and just the right amount of warmth from the booze. My top beer of the year so far. One of those very few moments where I wonder what I could possibly change to improve a beer.

Bottle 138

 

Hazy red brownish color color with a bit of beige head. Aroma has sweet malty notes with dried fruits like dates and figs. Taste is also fruity, malty, sugary, also a bit hoppy with earthy notes and light bitterness, butterscotch and toffee on the aftertaste. Medium body with soft carbonation. It has complex flavors and it's also quite easy to drink for the high ABV.