Lafayette's Revenge
General Lafayette Inn & Brewery

 

This was deeper brown in shade than the ’01, but it was still cloudy with a lot of particles in suspension. The nose was lightly sweet and the head was again wispy. The mouthfeel was full, thick, and bittersweet, like molasses. The finish was an interesting combination of sour tartness married to an underlying sweetness.

Jiberish. That is all that came out of my mouth after sampling the barley wine from the aged menu. This beer stood up to the best with an extreme malt character with plenty of oak and smoke behind the after taste. Carmel at first, then coffee, dates, maybe raisins... Ever so slight hop tone... Nose reminded me of a fine port or scotch... I wish I had been there when this was on tap so I didn't have to stop... If it's still there when you go, do not miss this.

2001 vintage on cask in 2003

Poured an ambered brown color that was quite muddy. Had a light tan head that stuck. Beautiful little carbonation, smallest bubbles I’ve ever seen. The head was built up by a smooth rolling action like how a Guinness settles. Nose of cherry, grapes, hearty oak, and a fresh pine like Maine on a breezy day. For taste, the beginning, middle, and end phases blend and transition very smoothly, almost effortlessly. Nice light-roasted malt background while very soft hops played in the back and roof of my mouth. Taste opens into a a slightly salty flavor as well as tiny cheese taste. Develops more into grapefruit and sour apple. Finish was fairly long, and as the aftertaste lingers it gets more woody and toffee-ish, and then lies back on the sour and bitter in sides and back of the tongue.

Thanks to the cask, the two year wait, and being “brewed solely with imported English ingredients" (their website), a very solid old-world barleywine. Too bad its hard to get outside of Philly.