Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2022)

Cross posting this with the Hair of the Dog Brewery Tasting thread. I never made it to the brewery, but definitely chased and had some of the beers over the years. They stopped showing up in Connecticut years ago unfortunately.
Definitely a brewery that pushed limits and I feel like was ahead of the curve. Lotta big beers in barrels well before that was a thing that lots of folks were doing. Sad to see them close but glad the beers wont be made under some other label or brewery.
Feels appropriate to share a barleywine tonight and see where the rest of the weekend takes us!

Onto my review:

Sampling a 2019 vintage 12 oz bottle at cellar temperature. The beer is part of the package I had sent to me from HOTD in a package a few months ago. Seemed no better time to open this one and several of brews from the package.

Pouring into my snifter. The beer pours much lighter in color and depth than I anticipated. This is a bright clear amber color. A fizzy eggshell white head of slightly more than a surface covering foams up, and is nothing more than a thin edge layer and a wispy circle in the center of the glass. Many active streams of carbonation rise to the surface but do not replenish the foam. I do get some dense scattered lattice on each sip.

Aroma is some toffee and brown sugar mixing together. I do get a little maple syrup and some light boozy notes and sweet bourbon as well. No real hop character to speak of on the scent. Seems spot on for an English Barleywine.
First sip reveals a lightish body and some very fine tingly carbonation. Texture is thinner than anticipated and drinks very easy. Beer doesnt have any of the sticky texture that I anticipated based on the style.

Flavor is on the sweeter side and similar to the nose. I get some toffee and brown sugar again, but here there is also some lighter fruit notes. Honestly maybe melon or peach, did not expect those flavors. I get a little peppery booze and some warmth on the swallow. This is the only point where the booze shows up on this beer.

I enjoy this beer and the flavor and aroma are solid to great, I do think the body is a little thin for my liking in the style. But still glad to have tried this one.

4.16 in the BA DB

 

My second HOTD thread cross post in as many days. This one is a pretty unique experience. Its time for me to open my 2018 bottle of Don. This beer is still by design and is 15.2% ABV. Ive had it in my cellar since fall of 2021 and Im intrigued and excited to see what I have. My plan is to have a few ounces tonight and re-cap the bottle. Will have a few more ounces in the near future and keep doing so over time. But wanted to start this weekend in honor of HOTD and Alan Sprints.

Onto my review:

Sampling this beer at cellar temp and pouring into my mini snifter tasting glass. Gonna treat this as a cordial and re cap the bottle after a few ounces tonight.
The beer pours a bright clear amber color with no carbonation, foam, head etc. The swirls do leave some sticky legs on the glass like a fine wine may do.
Aroma is robust, some brown sugar and fruit with fig and peaches coming through and mixing with some dry wooden notes and a mix of booze with bourbon and rum taking the dominant position. No hops to be mentioned or detected here. I do get a bit of fusol booze as well and a bit of black pepper. I expect this beer to be warm when it hits my palate.
First sip reveals a medium body with no carbonation, as expected, and a bit of a slick texture. The beer tingles my palate, but from boozy warmth not bubbles!
Flavor is some toffee followed by peaches and sweet oranges mixing with some brown sugar and a bit of a leathery note. I also get bourbon and rum as the booze representation and there is some dark (high cacao%) chocolate in the background. And yes, there is warmth on the swallow and rolling down my gullet and when it hits my belly.
This is a sipping beer, and I think it is definitely more of a cordial approach for handling this beverage.
Very unique and I enjoy it, but not something I would recommend drinking in one glassful to finish the bottle. Ill see how this beverage changes over the next couple weeks, with a few ounces at a time.

4.22 in the BA DB