Old Marley Barleywine
Thomas Hooker Brewing Company

Old Marley BarleywineOld Marley Barleywine
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From:
Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10%
Score:
89
Avg:
4 | pDev: 13.25%
Reviews:
176
Ratings:
209
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 04, 2018
Added:
Mar 01, 2003
Wants:
  52
Gots:
  12
This traditional American Ale blends copious amounts of five different malts and various English and American hops to yield a rich and flavorful brew.

We age our Barleywine in oak bourbon- casks to add vanilla and smoky notes, then blend these flavors into a full-blown sensory experience to enjoy on a cold winter's eve.
Old Marley Barleywine is extremely complex and full-bodied in flavor. The drinker will be rewarded by first letting a small amount warm in a brandy snifter , then sipping it, similar to a fine sherry.

74 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jaasen64:
Photo of jaasen64
Reviewed by jaasen64 from Massachusetts

3.84/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
'06 vintage bottle. Purchased recently from Nikki's Liquors' vintage room in Providence for $11. 500 ml swing-top blue bottle.

A- Swing-top comes off fairly easily with a nice pop. Pours a very opaque pitch black, fairly flat with minimal carbonation bubbles floating on top but otherwise no head.

S- Caramel, molasses, toffee, licorice, booze that fades, malts, light oxidation that hides in the background. Has definitely faded with age but still maintaining a nice aroma that isn't ruined by oxidation.

T- Slick thin molasses, toffee, licorice, hints of dark cherries and char, finishes with a hint of chocolate, char, very light booze, caramel, and toffee. Like the aroma taste seems like it may have faded a bit but is maintaining a nice complexity and not too much oxidation despite the age.

M- Definitely thinner then I was anticipating, pretty much no carbonation to speak of, surprisingly slick with almost no alcohol burn whatsoever. While the mouthfeel doesn't kill this beer, it's hard to give it a better rating due to the slightly thin body and absolute lack of carbonation.

O- Taste and aroma wise this beer held up pretty decently for 6 years except I can tell it definitely faded a bit. Mouthfeel wise though this is as flat as you can get, almost like drinking water. The good thing though is the alcohol is almost completely hidden which makes it quite drinkable. Overall I'm definitely glad I tried this, but I'm not sure if I'd pay $11 again. Would have been really interesting to try this beer fresh and with 3 instead of 6 years on it.
Oct 03, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of CTHomer
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Born on 5/31/13

Tag on my bottle has a different description than what is listed below: "We aged this brew for six months in oak barrels sourced from select Connecticut wineries..."

A: at first glance, it's an opaque, dark brown; held up to the light, it's crystal clear with ruby highlights; less than a one finger medium brown head that receded to a thick collar; very little lacing;

S: candied fruit, molasses, fruit cake, a little spice; port-like;

T: candied fruit, molasses, and fruit cake through the middle; some spice with black coffee and moderate bitterness on the finish; as it warmed, the harsh black coffee character faded somewhat;

M: medium to full bodied; light to moderate carbonation; lightly dry finish; thinner than expected for the style; hides the ABV well;

O: really nice flavor, although the finish was a little harsh;
Aug 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by GarthDanielson from Virginia

Sep 20, 2017
Photo of Jwale73
Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island

2.22/5  rDev -44.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
No clue on the age, but it is a vintage bottle - most likely circa 2005. Pours a deep brown color with red highlights when backlit. Clarity is fairly translucent. Nose expresses soy sauce solvent and dark fruit. Taste reveals soy sauce, chemicals and wet cardboard. Mouthfeel is light in body with a still carbonation and a slightly oily texture. Overall, not good and way past its prime. I would like to revisit a more contemporary bottle to see what it should taste like. If I do, I'll replace my review.
Jan 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by xtonytx from Connecticut

Jan 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.84 by liquorpig from Massachusetts

Sep 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.02 by WanderingFool from Massachusetts

Mar 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by paresis from Massachusetts

Feb 22, 2016
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I cant believe Ive never reviewed this till now. I have several vintages in the cellar and this review will cause me to start cracking them open. THis is a 2013 12 oz wax sealed bottle born on 5-30-2013 is stamped on the neck.
I am sampling at cellar temp and poured into a snifter. The beer pours a deep mahogany with a creamy beige head of 1 cm foaming up that fades to a sturdy edge layer in my glass. The aroma is big and boozy with molassess, brown sugar, dark fruit, some raisins and plums and a bit of dark bakers chocolate. BIg complex nose with no hops to be found. Appealing and appropriate for a big boozy barleywine.
First sip reveals a smooth textured and fairly thick body with very fine and gentle rolling carbonation. the physical traits meet the style objectives.
Flavor is big and boozy with dark fruit of raisin, red grape, molassess and some warm booze on teh finish. I dont really get any hops anywhere and the finish reminds me this is a big beer. I will try to do a vintage bottle soon and add it on to this review posting.
I am enjoying this beer and glad I have another bottle, will be cool to see how the older bottles hold up.
Oct 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.78 by GregBarleycorn13 from New York

Mar 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by grahuba from Connecticut

Feb 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.59 by SenatorSpaceman from Connecticut

Jan 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by JHasson8 from Connecticut

Dec 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by TrayJae from Connecticut

Dec 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Stum-pub from Connecticut

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.2 by firesrage from Connecticut

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Prop28WasBetter from Connecticut

Nov 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Aug 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by psdriscoll from Connecticut

Jul 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by AGust82 from Connecticut

Apr 29, 2014
Old Marley Barleywine from Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 209 ratings