Lower De Boom Barleywine | 21st Amendment Brewery
Brewed by:
21st Amendment Brewery
California, United States
21st-amendment.com
Style: American Barleywine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Jason on 09-12-2004
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 173 | Ratings: 769
Reviews by DrinkSlurm:
More User Reviews:
4.41/5 rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Aged exactly two years and one day.
Looks murky.
Smells liked bready hopped caramel.
I usually don't care for american barleywines but two years seems to have treated this beer brilliantly. This is how I wish all those wasted bottles of bigfoot would have aged. The hops, although present in the nose, are just a tad there in the flavor. Sweet bread and a vestige of ripe fruit are complimented by the lingering hops.
Mouthfeel is spot on what I like in a barleywine.
Overall I wish I had more to see how it would be in three and four years.
★ 549 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Aged exactly two years and one day.
Looks murky.
Smells liked bready hopped caramel.
I usually don't care for american barleywines but two years seems to have treated this beer brilliantly. This is how I wish all those wasted bottles of bigfoot would have aged. The hops, although present in the nose, are just a tad there in the flavor. Sweet bread and a vestige of ripe fruit are complimented by the lingering hops.
Mouthfeel is spot on what I like in a barleywine.
Overall I wish I had more to see how it would be in three and four years.
★ 549 characters
3.8/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Sessions yesterday.Poured a deep amber with a thinner off white head atop.Alot of brown sugar and caramel malts in the nose,a decent shot of resiny hop lingers.Quite sweet and cake-like on the palate,alot of brown sugar and dark fruit,again there is a decent shot of resiny hops in a lingering finish.It's hybrid to me between an English and American barleywine with its big sweet malty flavors and hoppedup finish,not bad but not overly drinkable.
★ 458 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Sessions yesterday.Poured a deep amber with a thinner off white head atop.Alot of brown sugar and caramel malts in the nose,a decent shot of resiny hop lingers.Quite sweet and cake-like on the palate,alot of brown sugar and dark fruit,again there is a decent shot of resiny hops in a lingering finish.It's hybrid to me between an English and American barleywine with its big sweet malty flavors and hoppedup finish,not bad but not overly drinkable.
★ 458 characters
3.48/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.93/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2.91/5 rDev -22.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
8.4 oz. can poured into a NB snifter.
A - Pours a honey golden brown into the glass. No head to speak of appears. There's a very, very fine sheen of lace on most of the surface, with a small island of fine bubbles in the middle. Held to a full-spectrum light, the beer is a sunset orange-red and somewhat opaque.
S - Nicely toasted malts sit underneath an ABV-supported, somewhat astringent mix of grassy citrus floral notes, flinty metallic, light fruit juices (apple and pear), and sugary caramels and hard candy. As the beer warms in the glass, the sugars begin to better shape the nose. This may well be a beer that really needs to warm up to present properly.
T - While noticeably more focused on the toasted malts and caramels in the start of the quaff, big hops of equal parts citrus and resin push their way forward and take over. The finish is a dollop of honey, orange, and caramel in the center of the tongue surrounded by herbal bitters along the sides. The ABV is well-masked in the taste profile, but quickly shows up warming the tummy.
M - Creamy, with mouth-filling carbonation. Medium body. Components are nicely integrated. Finish is rather dry and short.
O - Quite hop-forward and somewhat unbalanced for a barleywine. The components of the nose don't really compliment each other, but instead present a hodge-podge that begs to be sorted out. I like to enjoy the nose of a big beer apart from its taste, but I really couldn't do that with this beer - too much conflict. This isn't a barley wine I could recommend unless someone is specifically looking for a pretty bitter IIPA / barleywine mash-up.
★ 1,623 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
8.4 oz. can poured into a NB snifter.
A - Pours a honey golden brown into the glass. No head to speak of appears. There's a very, very fine sheen of lace on most of the surface, with a small island of fine bubbles in the middle. Held to a full-spectrum light, the beer is a sunset orange-red and somewhat opaque.
S - Nicely toasted malts sit underneath an ABV-supported, somewhat astringent mix of grassy citrus floral notes, flinty metallic, light fruit juices (apple and pear), and sugary caramels and hard candy. As the beer warms in the glass, the sugars begin to better shape the nose. This may well be a beer that really needs to warm up to present properly.
T - While noticeably more focused on the toasted malts and caramels in the start of the quaff, big hops of equal parts citrus and resin push their way forward and take over. The finish is a dollop of honey, orange, and caramel in the center of the tongue surrounded by herbal bitters along the sides. The ABV is well-masked in the taste profile, but quickly shows up warming the tummy.
M - Creamy, with mouth-filling carbonation. Medium body. Components are nicely integrated. Finish is rather dry and short.
O - Quite hop-forward and somewhat unbalanced for a barleywine. The components of the nose don't really compliment each other, but instead present a hodge-podge that begs to be sorted out. I like to enjoy the nose of a big beer apart from its taste, but I really couldn't do that with this beer - too much conflict. This isn't a barley wine I could recommend unless someone is specifically looking for a pretty bitter IIPA / barleywine mash-up.
★ 1,623 characters
3.97/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned on 02-05-13 acording to the bottom of the mini can
Pours darker amber, hazed, moderate khaki head, goes to a tiny bubble film and super fine low sheeting and scattered lace.
Sweetly malty sniff, with vanilla coming through.
Tasty and easy drinking Bwine. Sweet malts with more vanilla and some honey coming to the party.
Smooth, smooth, smooth, dangerously easy to enjoy this one flowing over the taste buds.
Nice beer. Too bad the portions are so small...but actually not a bad value at about 33 ounces of barleywine for $11.99 for the fourpack.
Purchased at Peekskill Beer and soda, Peekskill, NY, a few days ago
★ 630 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned on 02-05-13 acording to the bottom of the mini can
Pours darker amber, hazed, moderate khaki head, goes to a tiny bubble film and super fine low sheeting and scattered lace.
Sweetly malty sniff, with vanilla coming through.
Tasty and easy drinking Bwine. Sweet malts with more vanilla and some honey coming to the party.
Smooth, smooth, smooth, dangerously easy to enjoy this one flowing over the taste buds.
Nice beer. Too bad the portions are so small...but actually not a bad value at about 33 ounces of barleywine for $11.99 for the fourpack.
Purchased at Peekskill Beer and soda, Peekskill, NY, a few days ago
★ 630 characters
3.96/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: 1/4 inch head, moderate carbonation, brown color, hazy
Smell: pineapple, deep caramel, and toffee
Taste: pine and earthy start, followed by toffee in the middle, brown sugar, pine, and more hops at the end
Mouthfeel: combo of sticky sweet and harsh bitterness--especially in the aftertaste, heavy in body, moderate carbonation
Overall: A solid and enjoyable American style barleywine. Nice combo of sticky sweet and harsh hops...very well balanced. Certainly one I would pick up again if I wanted this style.
★ 524 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: 1/4 inch head, moderate carbonation, brown color, hazy
Smell: pineapple, deep caramel, and toffee
Taste: pine and earthy start, followed by toffee in the middle, brown sugar, pine, and more hops at the end
Mouthfeel: combo of sticky sweet and harsh bitterness--especially in the aftertaste, heavy in body, moderate carbonation
Overall: A solid and enjoyable American style barleywine. Nice combo of sticky sweet and harsh hops...very well balanced. Certainly one I would pick up again if I wanted this style.
★ 524 characters
3.76/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Serving glass: Poured from can into Snifter.
Appearance: Dark reddish-orange with thin off-white head.
Smell: Some caramel and toffee, light citrus and a slight spiciness. A little boozy but the aroma is a little weak for such a big Barleywine.
Taste: Expected caramel and toffee malt backbone with a mix of hop flavors such as grapefruit, orange, pine and spices. Nothing really stands out and actually is slightly mild overall.
Feel: Full, oily body with low carbonation. Warming and dry finish.
Overall: A good Barleywine that doesn't stand out enough, despite the 11.5% abv.
★ 583 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Serving glass: Poured from can into Snifter.
Appearance: Dark reddish-orange with thin off-white head.
Smell: Some caramel and toffee, light citrus and a slight spiciness. A little boozy but the aroma is a little weak for such a big Barleywine.
Taste: Expected caramel and toffee malt backbone with a mix of hop flavors such as grapefruit, orange, pine and spices. Nothing really stands out and actually is slightly mild overall.
Feel: Full, oily body with low carbonation. Warming and dry finish.
Overall: A good Barleywine that doesn't stand out enough, despite the 11.5% abv.
★ 583 characters
4.25/5 rDev +12.7%
Had on tap at the Pig & Fiddle, Minneapolis
Nose: rich winey large pitted dark fruit esters, hop citrus.
Pours a deep brilliant rich garnet under a thin head. Has some legs, very thin lace.
Rich complex malts blend with large pitted fruits - mainly plum, possible cherry, and slowly give way to citrus rind hop bitterness that dries on the finish with a touch of hop astringency.
Sweetness up front is balanced by the alcohol and hops.
Chewy, oily, medium low carbonation.
A solid sit by the fireplace and watch the snow fall beer.
★ 532 characters
Had on tap at the Pig & Fiddle, Minneapolis
Nose: rich winey large pitted dark fruit esters, hop citrus.
Pours a deep brilliant rich garnet under a thin head. Has some legs, very thin lace.
Rich complex malts blend with large pitted fruits - mainly plum, possible cherry, and slowly give way to citrus rind hop bitterness that dries on the finish with a touch of hop astringency.
Sweetness up front is balanced by the alcohol and hops.
Chewy, oily, medium low carbonation.
A solid sit by the fireplace and watch the snow fall beer.
★ 532 characters
Lower De Boom Barleywine from 21st Amendment Brewery
3.77
out of 5
based on 769 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from can into hf tulip. Wow...coolest thing since sliced bread. Barleywine in a can...
Pours a deep amber burnt orange color with a bit of lacing. Sweet malty aromas with a nice dose of hops. Taste is caramel toffee malts...nicely sweet. Chewey and very easy to drink...a bit dry but overall a nice barleywine.
★ 317 characters