Claremont
Olde Hickory Brewery

Many thx to CarolineCardinals for this bottle!

A - Dark brown pour with moderately dense, creamy toffee colored lacing.

S - Toasted toffee, toasted brown sugar, and molasses.

T - Toasted toffee malt base from start to finish with molasses, toasted brown sugar, figs, raisin, and dates, while finishing on the sweeter side.

M - Big medium body with a light syrupy, silky mouthfeel and leaves a light sugary residue on the lips with a slight warming in the back of the throat.

O - Rock solid!

12oz bottle poured into a snifter
2022 vintage

A- pours a murky brown color with a one finger foamy off-white head that reduces to a thin ring

S- initial aroma is brandy forward with dark grapes and bold raisin notes, as well as bold prunes. As it warms, oaky bourbon notes emerge, enhancing a caramel note from the base beer. Just a hint of tequila is noticeable, as well as leather, pipe tobacco and dark cherries

T- as with the nose, tons of brandy on the flavor, giving red grape, prunes, raisins and figs. Mid-palate gives caramel and toffee, followed by oaky bourbon. The finish brings out just a hint of tequila before lingering if raisins, figs and prunes

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns slightly creamy into a warming finish

This apparently flew under the radar when released. Unsure if this is their usual barleywine or a new recipe, but I would guess it's different based on the experience. Fairly sweet up front, with raisin, peach, brandy, and simple syrup. Not much hop character or bitterness, so clearly more English than American. I don't get much barrel oak or impressions from the tequila and bourbon, and overall it is very smooth with minimal boozy heat. Grape and light tannic astringency on the finish. Well balanced but not as complex as expected for the blend.

 

The brandy barrels are what I notice first, wonderful notes of boozy grapes and raisins along with a hint of leather. I get some brown liquor and black strap molasses joining in after a bit. The exhale is old tobacco and some tart agave. So cool that all three barrels are noticeable! I'd say that the brandy barrels are most prominent, just what I was hoping for. Overall this is great, so glad I got try this. Thanks Tom!

Poured at fridge temp. Pours a very murky dark brown with a solid inch of foamy head. The nose blows me away with its complexity. A whiff from a few inches away yields grapes, brandy, and lovely fresh toffee. Getting the nose close in changes things. The tequila pop here. Wow. I can't remember the last tequila barrel-aged barleywine that I had, but I'm pretty sure I've had one. Also getting a sweet honey note here.

The taste is excellent. Definitely brandy barrel forward initially, but the tequila really dominates on the aftertaste. In the middle I'm getting a nice layer of nuts, raisins, toffee, oak, plums, and a slightly bitter leather. There is definitely an earthy note and a hint of citrus peel. The nutty flavor really shines after a few sips. This is just a great integration of the three barrels. I would say that the bourbon has the lowest impact on the flavor here.

The mouthfeel is pretty thick and the aftertaste is a combination of toffee and tequila. Overall, a winner of a barleywine!

Picked up a 12 oz bottle from the Appalachian Vintner 2-21-23 for $10.99. Bottled 7-19-22; reviewed 5-5-23.

Beer poured murky brown with an okay off-white head.

Nose is very nice, notes of dates, figs, bourbon, and dark grapes.

Taste is very nice, a large malt base gives raisons, and brown sugar. Barrels play a supporting role giving a touch of bourbon, honey, and dark grapes. Finishes a touch sweet which tells me the brewing team is giving us a very tasty English Barleywine style.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and very smooth.

Overall, i really dig this beer! Love the different dimensions the three barrels bring!