Ol' Shag Barleywine
Browning's Brewery

Bomber brought by RB's own Kevster, thanks for bringing this rare elixir along.

It pours a hazy red-amber with thin off white head. Nice looking barleywine. How about the nose. Well the aroma is on the light side with hints of dark fruit and sweet caramelized malts. The taste is very much hard fruit candy soaked in alcohol. Wow, lots of cherry and sweet raspberry candy flavors. Rounding out the candy fruitiness is sweet caramelized malts. Into the finish there is more candy fruitiness that would become overwhelming if I was drinking the whole 22oz bomber myself.

Copper color with to no head to speak of. The nose is virtually undetectable and I suppose is just malty and comes across a little dull. The attack is mild but the flavor is bold and full. Considering how robust the flavor is the finish is rather clean. There are some sweet tones in the finish of the beer that are hidden in the heavy malt body of the rest of the flavor. There are some hoppy notes in the aftertaste that are also well hidden in the flavor of the beer. There is a mild warming sensation in the mouth after swallowing, but mostly in the mouth and not so much the belly and throat. Pretty good as barleywines go.

Special Reserve 2006. 22oz bottle. Pours into my glass a deep, dark murky red/amber with a thin off white head on top. Lots of active carbonation. Aromas start out with dark fruits bathed in rich malts. Caramel, molasses and an interesting spicy quality probably from the shag back hickory syrup used in brewing this one. A touch of herbal hops in the background.

First sip brings a wall of sweet caramel malt enhanced by lots of dark candied fruit, molasses and spiciness. Black cherry comes through with a touch of vanilla on the way down as well. A bit nutty with a dry finish that brings some herbal hop bitterness as well. A pretty tasty malty sweet barleywine here.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a nice chewiness to it as well. Good carbonation that goes down smooth. Not as big as many barleywines but it makes itself known. A malt forward English barleywine that ends up being pretty tasty overall and I hardly notice any alcohol here. A bomber is doable, but it'd be best to split this one with a friend or loved one. I'm looking forward to trying the bourbon barrel imperial stout next.