Newport Storm '02
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

SAmpling a cellar temp bottle poured into a snifter at the ripe age of 14 years. The cork pops out of the bottle and dark fruit notes rise from the mouth to meet my nose.
THe beer pours a rich chestnut hue with some soft fizzy beige head of <1 cm foaming up and leaving only one small wispy island in my glass.
Aroma is dark fruit with plums and raisins, some molasses and brown sugar. Heavy malt nose and a bit of peppery booze, but no hops make any appearance to my nose.
First sip reveals an average body with very spacious carbonation that rolls gently across my palate.
Flavor is big and malty with dark fruit and molasses again, similar as the nose. The hops are long gone on this one and I do get some peppery booze on the finish. It isnt hot or warming on the swallow, so the booze is kind of sneaky towards the end of the bottle.
I dont know how this beer was fresh, but I enjoy it now and Im glad to have tried it and wish I had a 2nd bottle.

 

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a medium brown color, with a very thin off-white head, that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains brown sugar, caramelized malts, some fruit, some alcohol and a little bit of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of caramel, bourbon, brown sugar and some fruit. Then a hearty malt character and strong alcohol sting come in. The hops presence is mild but decent for the age of the beer and brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and a little crisp, medium body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Flavorful, goes down easily, not too filling, very strong kick, nicely aged representation of style, this is a decent vintage beer to drink for a while.

Serving type - 22 oz bottle

Appearance - dark tan, brown no head minimal lacing

Smell - Malts, sugar, barley, fig, rasin

Taste - malts and sugar make all the flavor. No hop presence since it is so old. Honey from the malts really break through. Some dark fruit like rasin handsome fig make up some flavors.

Mouthfeel - sweet bold and malty. Tounge is covered with malts, palette picks up some hops. Alcohol is present.

Overall - strong and a total sipper. Wish it was fresh to enjoy the hops and the 100 ibu it has on the label . Not bad for so old

Thanks goes out to ybnorml for this brew.

750ml Blue Bottle
Corked

Poured into my Westy chalice a very nice murky brown color, nice carbonation, little fizzy tan head, with some oil slicks left behind. The nose is malty, with some very nice hop notes, slight figs, raisins, plums thrown in. The taste is exceptional, nicely sweet, malty, nice hop note, some dark fruits. Medium body, ABV hidden very well with this brew. Very Drinkable, another very tasty brew from CE. After 7 plus years on this brew (thinking it came out around Oct/Nov 02) it is holding up very very nicely. Glad to have a chance to try it. Thank You Wayne.

A corked 750 mL bottle thanks to jdiddy. Shared with akorsak, MugHugger, BitterBeerFace, Slatetank and guinnessfan.

A-Near still, slightly hazed, deep reddish brown with a thin tan veil.

S-Big malt, with a sweetness akin to brown sugar being dominate. A mild zing of cherries in support.

T-Hops have certainly faded after seven years being replaced with sweet caramel and brown sugar. Touch of spiciness and ends almost port like.

M-Medium-heavy bodied, slick and smooth. Cherry flavour and tartness lasts.

D-Man, for being almost seven years old this one has held up strong. Might be totally different from what it originally was but...who cares!

A corked 750 mL bottle courtesy of jdiddy. Shared with Deuane, MugHugger, BitterBeerFace, Slatetank, guinnessfan and others during a marathon beer-drinking session.

A: The ale is sparsely carbonated, sitting rather still in my glass. A dark amber color, cherry seems to be an apt description, maybe even sherry.

S: The nose is malty, musty with age. Brown sugar is dominant, driving a boozy nature. Dark fruits are also in abundance. A very nice nose.

T: The barleywine has aged perfectly. Gone are the sharp malts and biting hops, replaced by a sherry sweetness. Brown sugar is strong, sweet and dark, accentuating raisin and cinnamon flavors. The barleywine has taken on a noteworthy complexity that really shines.

M: The barleywine flavor profile is still evident, full and strong, but it has matured and improved. A great barleywine to sip on.

D: I am floored by the quality of the ale. After 6 plus years, this one has become liquid gold.

handbottle shared courtesy of Briank. Thanks man!
Pours rich dark red but clearish. Smell is straight tart dark red cherry juice all the way. Taste is much the same with vibrant, juicy sour cherry flavor. No funk or anything getting in the way of the delicious fresh cherry taste. Good stuff, and sweet an sour balancing to keep from being cloying. Thanks again!

A vigorous pour produces a fat-one-finger thick, frothy, tan colored head. The beer is a dark cherry stained color, but shows a clear, cranberry stained, copper color when held up to the light. Rich, oxidized malt aromatics are by far the most noticeable thing in the nose; sherry, fruity port, some musty cardboard, oxidized caramel and a rich nuttiness. After sitting for a bit some aromas of maraschino cherries, brandy and raisins become noticeable.

Lightly carbonated, which causes this to have a very creamy texture, especially when coupled with the thick, viscous body that this brew naturally has. Upfront sweet flavors of dates, raisins and prunes mix in the finish with a light spice character reminiscent of cardamom and liquorice. Has a slightly woody taste to it towards the finish almost like a tannic, spicy oak flavor (much of this seems attributable to the oxidation influence). Brandy flavors meld with oxidation driven sherry notes and some touches of port-wine. A slight note of menthol and herbs as well as a lightish, though noticeable and lingering bitterness in the finish are what is left of the hop character. The oxidation really accents an interesting spiciness in this beer, I almost think that some of this spiciness is some residual hop flavor (which makes some sense to me). Actually this spiciness is definitely hop derived as it becomes more apparent as the beer warms up. Really it is surprising how hoppy this beer really still is (you really need to let it warm & open up first though), spicy and lightly herbal with a significant (though not dominant) hop presence.

A bit too oxidized in the nose, but the oxidation adds to the complexity and isn't overly cardboard like in the flavor. This beer is still doing pretty well, though I would guess it is on the downward part of the slope. It should last for quite a few more years, but I am glad I drank my only bottle now. Definitely an enjoyable beer to spend an evening with; it is one of those beers that grows on me more and more as I work my way through the bottle.

appearance – Dark red- amber color, small head when poured but decended to a ring.

smell – dark fruits and malts here.

taste – Chocoloate, caramel, and alcohol taste here.

mouthfeel – Has a smooth present in the mouth.

Drinkability - I have these every holiday season for the past few years. I love these, now only if I can find a 00 and a 04 mmmm.

750ml cobalt blue bottle from Julio's, Westboro, MA. Corked. Purchased recently, with a few years aging at the brewery, I would guess.

Uncorked with a minimal "pfft". Poured roughly into a Rapscallion snifter, yielded an uneven and scant head with a few big bubbles, and that's about it, over a murky reddish brew. Head quickly fades to a few bubbles around the rim of the glass, and lacing is nonexistant. Aroma is deep dark fruits, with heavy malt sweetness, and alcohol easily apparent.

Taste is NOT what I expected. Upfront a bit leathery, light raisins in the middle, with a lightly hop bitter close, and lingering alcohol warming. Mouthfeel is way smooth for the style, although I'd like to see just a tad of carbonation over the tongue, but that's just me. Drinkability is scary nice for what this is, an almost 13% barleywine.

I'd say age has done this one well. A sipper worth checking out if you can find it.

Appearance – A corked (not caged), blue, 750 ml bottle from Luke's, chilled to cellar temp and poured into my snifter. Light red/amber, slightly cloudy with some carbonation rising through it. Small off-white head that falls to a thin covering with a thicker ring around the edge.

Smell – Spicy/perfumey alcohol, with some fruitiness. Not much hop presence

Taste – Despite the aroma of alcohol there is not much alcohol in the flavor, just a pleasant warming. Mild toasted caramel sweetness, not cloying though. Notes of chocolate and biscuit occasionally appear to round out the malt. No hop flavor, just a mild bitterness in the aftertaste. There is not much flavor complexity in this beer

Mouthfeel – Syrupy body with light carbonation, smooth.

Drinkability & Notes – This is my first bottle of this, but I must say that 3 years have tamed the 100 ibu's completely. What this beer lacks in complexity it makes up in great drinkability, probably the fastest I have ever gone through a 750 ml bottle of 12% beer.

Much thanks to hopdog for sharing this kickass bottle...
Appears a dark amber with a light soapy tan head and spotty lacing.
Smell is of vanilla and cream with hints of dark fruit, along with nice roasted nuts.
Taste is of vanilla, biscuit, dark fruit, and cream.
Mouthfeel is smooth, smooth, velvety smooth.
Drinkability...what ABV?

Very drinkable barleywine. Auburn red colour. Woody. Sweetness, camel, brown sugar, supercedes 100IBU but who would know, and alcohol hammers home later that same night. Mouthfeel: a meal on its own.My first and hopefully not last Storm, thanks to Casey (DYCSoccer17).

Pours a very cloudy, deep mahogany color with no head (it is 3 years old...to be expected)...you can definately tell this is not your average beer just from the looks. Aroma is very complex, notes of caramel, burnt toffee, vanilla, citrusy hops, and alcohol. You can definately taste the additional hopping of this one, as compared to the 01, but the hops are restrained and have mellowed in the years since it's relelase. Taste begins with a mildly sweet caramel and molasses flavor, followed by a mild onslaught of citrusy hops but in a refined, restrained manner. Then vinous, aged flavors take over with hints of oak, vanilla, and dark fruit, the finish is slightly dry and bitter with a nice alcohol bite to remind you this is a sipping brew. The mouthfeel is smooth but could use a little more carbonation, and the drinkability is pretty good because the bitterness of the hops seem to subdue the alcohol bite moreso than in the previous vintage.

Cellared in total darkness since it's release, then refrigerated for about three weeks prior to opening.
The cork comes free with a satisfying pop, no still beer here thankfully. The beer itself pours a lively, reddish caramel, topped with a thick cap of antiqued white head. The froth settles into a thick bubbled collar, with an island in the middle. Some lace actually sticks around, despite the beer's strength.
The aroma is thick with caramel maris otter malt. Very reminiscent of british strong ale. Over-ripe fruit. Fig, red grape and prune. Some vinous, aged notes. A strong, mellowed hop aroma lingers in the background, heavy on the herbal, floral english feel.
Taking a sip, the malt just moves in and makes itself at home. Heaping mounds of molten caramel. Some biscuity notes, glazed with prune juice. Heavy notes of fig, date, maraschino and black cherry. Huge bodied, with a sturdy carbonation that wades through the morass. The finish presents some fusel alcoholic sweetness, tempered by a still-present hop bitterness. A deeply herbal and grassy bite has invaded every nook and cranny, seamlessly integrating itself within the malt. The 100 IBUs have certainly tamed themselves. A hint of booze to remind you of it's strength. Complex vinous notes in the finish, this beer has aged very, very well.
One hell of a vintage ale, along the same lines as the finest barleywines and old ales from the british isles. Certainly inspired by classics like Thomas Hardy's and LW Lees Harvest. Excellent, excellent beer. I wish I had another. This one's held up masterfully over the past 3-4 years. Heavenly with my girlfriend's pot roast. I'll be sailing smooth the rest of the night.

Given to be by a friend. Thanks.

Garnet red color with a nice fluffy tan head. Nice sherried aroma of fruit and candi sugar. Fruity. Raisins, prunes, figs, and plums. Well balanced. Full bodied. Rich tasting. Smooth. Big flavor. Enjoyable. Great. Really nice beer.

Perfect clear, Ruby Red color with a nice rich thick tan head. Sherried candy and fruit aroma, with raisns, plums, cherries, figs, prune, all melded together. Flavor is big and smooth, with huge sherried malts and tons of dried fruit. This is one delicious brew that is probably extremely hard to find by now. Would be a prize for any cellar. YUM!

I've been keeping this '02 bottle in the cellar for a while... a gift from Venom...just waiting for a nice time to enjoy.... why not today, eh? Review # 800 pours a rich, lovely chestnut/garnet hue. It is clear throughout, with a bit of sporadic bubbling rising up within. Head was a fine layer of tight, miniscule bubbles layering the top; beige colored and mostly congregating around the rim. A decent bit of lace was clinging to the sides. Storm '02 had a potent aroma, strong, with solid whiffs of sweet malt, dark cherries, alcohol, raisin, figs....all very sherry-like. Nice! It was super smooth and creamy on the tongue, though not quite full-bodied, but close. Tasted quite sweet, without being cloying. Dark fruit flavors abound again, and it's tasting quite sherry-like, as in the nose. Dark cherries, caramel/toffee notes, brown sugar... like a dark, delicious fruit cake. Reminded me in ways of a strong Samichlaus or an older, mellower Old Horizontal... solid malt thoughout. There was minimal bitterness at the finish, with floral qualities, but the sweetness rules, clinging to the palate and lasting well down the hatch. A tasty bier, and warming as it goes down also. This one's a keeper, though I doubt I'll see another. Worth the wait, and worth savoring slowly on a lazy Friday night. Near the finish a plethora of yeasties caked in the bottom of the bottle were swirled in. Though they clouded the bier up and took a bit of the edge off the fruitiness, they did nothing else to detract from the Storm experience. Thnx again to V for a tasty RI offering.

Zum Wohl!!

overall: 4.4
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | drinkability: 4.5

800

Medium brown to amber colored, very hazy with no head or lace. The nose has lots of candy. I sense Gummy Bears. Call me odd, but this really brings up Gummy Bears in my mind. There is a little hop flower, but I don’t really detect any malt. Very sweet up front in flavor/ Hard candy (jolly ranchers rather than gummy bears) in the taste. A little bit of brandy taste. Surprisingly delicate taste and mouth feel. Very light and pleasing. For a Barley Wine, it has a great drinkability.