Old '99 Barleywine
Barley Creek Brewing Company

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From:
Barley Creek Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
11%
Score:
76
Avg:
3.06 | pDev: 31.37%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
19
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 29, 2014
Added:
Aug 05, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Old '99 is a strong barley wine with a mild body and boastful flavor. Notes of Asian pear and raisin come forth, followed by a warming alcoholic presence that finishes with a hint of sweetness. Drink slow and pair with hearty meals, sharp pungent cheeses, and rich desserts.

Flavor: Strong barley wine with a mild body and boastful flavor
Malts: Munich, Pale, Crystal
Hops: Pilgrim, East Kent Goldings
Bitterness Units: 60
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Nutleybeer:
Photo of Nutleybeer
Reviewed by Nutleybeer from New Jersey

3.41/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I saw the prior reviews...my tasting was not that bad. Unsure if they got a bad batch or what.

It is served in a snifter glass...listed as 9.9% ACV, and while strong, not as strong tasting to me as many other barleywines. Also a little darker in color. The taste was a bit smooth. Decent enough, not my favorite at their brewpub, but clearly drinkable.
Oct 01, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Pav5069 from Pennsylvania

Oct 29, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by IPAchris from Pennsylvania

Jan 20, 2014
Photo of TimDuMont
Reviewed by TimDuMont from New Jersey

4.88/5  rDev +59.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
When my brother recommended this Barleywine to me I had no idea exactly what I was getting into. This was EXCEPTIONAL. When my friend Jay and I got to the brewery/restaurant, the first thing I asked for was a glass of Old '99 and the waitress told me they didn't have any. I was rather dismayed. But on the tour of the brewing facilities I asked the tour guide when the next batch might be done so that I could stop back again. He told me that they had about a 3rd of a keg left in the back that they were giving out just to tour groups. During our tasting we enjoyed many great beers (I can't wait until their brews are more widely distributed) but waited to have the Old '99 because it would overwhelm the other tastes.

Upon the end of the tasting I finally got my chance. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed by any means!

The color is a deep rich reddish-brown.

The nose is sweet and fruity.

Upon first taste you will notice dark fruit such as plum and maybe even a hint of pomegranate.

The finish is wonderful with slight hints of coffee and dark chocolate.

Overall, this is an amazing experience. If you can make it over to Barley Creek, this is a *must have*.
Feb 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Jan 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by JohneHoodlum from Pennsylvania

Dec 07, 2011
Photo of Ralphs66
Reviewed by Ralphs66 from New York

3.8/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
After trying an offerin from this brewery at the resort down the street, I decided to take the kids to dinner on site and try something. This was my choice. I don't drink a lot of Barleywine so my comparison universe is limited. It's a sweet beer. Smell and taste. Caramel abd vanilla are prominent as is some green apple. Color is nice; copper with a strong yellow haze. Not too bad. The abv is hidden nicely and after one snifter, I may just have another....
Apr 29, 2011
Photo of JimmyK77
Reviewed by JimmyK77 from Delaware

1.51/5  rDev -50.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Cask barleywine sounded like a cool idea! Not this one. First, I was sitting at the bar, so I got to watch the bartender pump the beer into a metal glass, then pour from the glass into my snifter (to remove the head) - demonstrating a lack of understanding of cask beer.

Nevertheless, it was presented in a snifter - dark brown with a light one finger head. It lacked the cascading bubbles due to the odd pour, it just looked like an already settled cask beer. I knocked the appearance score down for this as it had just been drawn.

What really made this experience over-the-top bad was very prominent green apple flavor/aroma, probably from poor yeast health producing acetylaldehyde. It was such a strong component that I really didn't notice or feel the need to distinguish other flavor/aroma components.

The mouthfeel was light without the body or alcohol feel I'd expect from a 11% beer.
Feb 14, 2011
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Reviewed on 07/03/2009. On cask at the brewpub. Pours brown with a thick tan head. Aroma of sweet malt--medicinally sweet-- and acetone. Flavor is very very sweet with some sourness and booziness too. Not terrible but it's good good either. Much too sweet.
Jul 14, 2009
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

3.57/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the Barley Creek Brew Pub. 2001 Vintage.

Poured a deep/dark brown color with a very small sized off white head. Aromas of toffee, dark fruits, lightl smoke and light chocolate. Tastes of chocolate, hard toffee candy, some dark fruits, and tart grapes. Sweet with a ightly tart and sour finish. Alcohol content well hidden.

They wouldn't sell me a Growler of this. They said what would anyone want or do with a Growler of beer this strong.

Notes from 6/28/07
Nov 23, 2008
Photo of jackorain
Reviewed by jackorain from Pennsylvania

1.86/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
Sampled this beer at the brewpub on November 8th, 2007. I am entering this review from nots during the tasting. rest assured I have a vivid memory of the experience.

A-Poured from the tap and nearly to te rim of a 10 oz snifter. 1/8 coating of light tan tight head covered a dark brown liquid that showed ruby highlights. The 1/8 head quickly disapated to nothing but a thin little collar. Minimal sheeting lace that fell quickly back into the glass after each sip.

S-Very earthy and fruity with an alcohol zing. There is definietly some DMS here, sulfur is very evident. Not a good smell.

T-Earthy and spicy hops, sweet fruit, southern comfort, raisans, hint of coffee and chocoalte. Wet cardboard. Not very good, quite a messactually

M-rather thin of body for a barleywine, barely medium, I'd say. Carbonatio is very light, it is nearly flat. I can handle this in a barleywine if there is good flavor to hold it up but...

D-I really don't think I need to go into too much deatil here after what I said above, But I barely madeit through the one, while they packed up a variety case for me. In fact, I began to rethink my purchase while I drank this.
Jun 18, 2008
Photo of WesWes
Reviewed by WesWes from New York

3.18/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The beer pours a dark brown color with a 1/2" offwhite head that fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a dry, malty scent that boasts of pale, crystal, and some roasted malts along with a mild hop aroma. The taste is average. It has a large burnt toffee flavor that alcohol ridden. It goes down slow and finishes quite dry with some off flavors. There appears to be a subtle smokiness as well. The mouthfeel is average as well. It is a medium bodied beer adequate carbonation. This is an average barleywine. It's just dry with too many off flavors and that alcohol burn. There are many better choices out there.
May 02, 2008
Photo of joeysmokedporter
Reviewed by joeysmokedporter from Maryland

3.3/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Served on draft in a brandy snifter.

A: pours a mahogany color with a purple(?) highlight to it. About 1 finger of head that quickly dissipates, not surprising to anyone who has ever had Thomas Hardy's Ale.

S: Grain, dark fruit, plum, fig; slight aroma of sweet bread

T: Starts with that sweet toasted bread flavor, moves into the mixed dark fruit, plum, fig, raisin, very slight bit of cherry flavor; finishes with a lingering dry bitterness.

M: Heavy feel is appropriate to the style but average or slightly lighter than other barley wines. Carbonation level was appropriate given the style, on the low side compared to other beer.

D: This is definitely a sipper. I thought about having dessert with this but still had a good part of the day ahead of me. I first had this a year ago and went back for more this past weekend on my annual trip to the poconos.
Mar 01, 2008
Photo of number1bum
Reviewed by number1bum from Pennsylvania

1.8/5  rDev -41.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
I had this on tap tonight with dinner at the restaurant. It was awful...

It was served in a brandy snifter and was a murky dark brown with absolutely no head.

Smell was the first indication that this was going to be bad. It had some fruit aromas in it - primarily prunes and maybe a bit of raisins - but beyond that it smelled pretty bad. It smelled sour and a lot like a port wine.

The taste and mouthfeel were just awful. Again, it was sour and tasted like a fizzy, carbonated and cold port wine. It was overcarbonated and only medium-bodied, which added up to make it just plain all wrong. It said on the menu it was aged 6 months...I'd like to know in what? A conditioning tank or a moldy port wine oak barrel? I'd guess the latter before the former.

This is hands down the worst barleywine I've ever had. I don't know how to put it other than that. Avoid at all costs.
Sep 10, 2007
Photo of Phatz
Reviewed by Phatz from Pennsylvania

3.82/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I had the opportunity to try Old '99 Barleywine on-tap at Barley Creek over Memorial day weekend, while my family was on vacation in the area. I cherished the opportunity to get out though the beer was slightly less phenomenal than I had hoped.

Appearance: Served a dark brown color in a snifter glass. Very nice lacing coats the glass.

Smell: Musky rich thick caramel malt in the nose with a hot alcohol presence.

Taste & mouthfeel: Juicy sweet wet barley malt, thick and muddle tasty mess of flavor with a hot alcohol character and the aftertaste leave me with lot of orange peel flavors coating my mouth and throat. There is a bitterness and at the same time a very sweet jolly rancher candy, over ripe bananas and a bit of pucker sour hot alcohol medium body feel.

Drinkability: This is a sipper beer and one best enjoyed in a 6 ounce snifter. And one is enough.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!
May 25, 2007
Photo of jakester
Reviewed by jakester from Pennsylvania

1.7/5  rDev -44.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
I had this on tap at Barley Creek. I'm reviewing it because they need to see this.

Arrived in the typical brandy snifter, a very cloudy dark amber/purple with a rapidly disappearing film of light tan bubbles. No lacing on the glass.

The aroma was dark raisins, prunes, and dates, with a slight vinegar in the back. Some dark malt smells also. Smelled ok, but then...

Tart barleywine? I mean almost overwhelmingly sour. How the hell does a barleywine get sour? At O.G. 1099, it has to be high alcohol, right? Is it designed to be sour? I should have sent it back, but I didn't.

Mouthfeel is at first sweet, then the old sourness storms through.

This is the worst barleywine I have ever had.
Aug 28, 2005
Photo of Nay
Reviewed by Nay from Pennsylvania

1.51/5  rDev -50.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
Got it on tap, served icy cold, which helped mask some of the wretchedness. Spuce/juniper dominates the aroma and flavor. If you like that kind of thing, you might like this beer, but I (and my companions) found it completely undrinkable.

If you can get past the spuce (and I really couldn't), it's a cloyingly sweet barleywine, mostly flat, unimpressive mouthfeel and appearance. It tasted oxidized to me, but really hardly a fault compared to the disgusting spuce flavor. Possibly the worst barleywine I've ever tasted, including moldy ones.
Feb 10, 2005
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

3.72/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Twenty-two ounce bottle with a sealing-wax coated cap. Pours a deep, woody brown color with a very think, disappearing head. The aroma is very fruity, with a serious ester and yeast character. Underneath the fruit, there’s a bit o alcohol, and a sugary maltiness. I prefer more of a clean malt and alcohol sensation in my barley wines, this one seems to have a chaotic jumble of sensations that don’t come cleanly together. Taste is mainly malt, with an alcohol warming. There’s a slightly tart sensation as well. Sugary, and heavy in body…it’s not extraordinary, but worth having nonetheless.
Dec 05, 2004
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +34%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Named for an original gravity of 1099, not the year! This 22 oz. bottle was from 2000. Brownish in color with fairly clear ruby highlights and a deep cream colored head. The head needs a little coaxing and doesn't last, but has very fine bubbles a leaves just a little bit of lace throughout the glass. The aroma has a gentle fruit note alongside a dark caramel malt and a touch of hop. The body is medium and the mouthfeel is a little light. The flavor is mainly malt, well balanced with an earthy hoppiness. There's enough hop bitterness to show it's presence, and to balance the beer from being overly sweet, but restrained. Very well done. Very much an English-style barleywine. Easily their most impressive beer. Very enjoyable.
Aug 05, 2002
Old '99 Barleywine from Barley Creek Brewing Company
Beer rating: 76 out of 100 with 19 ratings