#300: Mikkeller » Forêt de Tronçais (Barleywine)

Mikkeller »  Forêt de Tronçais (Barleywine) | ABV: 19.3%
301...302...303...300..? You caught it. We are jumping around with our post numbers just for a moment, as I wanted a truly epic beer for review post #300, and boy is this it.

This Forêt series of six Mikkeller beers is based around a high gravity wort, fermented with champagne yeast, and aged in three different varieties of French oak barrels. Each barrel variation has a light and medium toasted variation. Fair warning, this on the far end of what can be called beer. Instead it's booze heaven.

A pungent, complex nose amply introduces Forêt de Tronçais, pluming with toffee, dates, crème brûlée, rum, cane sugar, and maple syrup.

Onto the palate, it's quite sweet and expectantly malt forward. Deep, rich flavors of fig jam, rum, sweet breads, and an inference of a very distinct pastry that I just cannot put my finger on. Further through, notes of overripe grapes & grape skin arise with threads of faint clove and cinnamon, both without the spice mouthcoat though.

Overall, a huge sipper of a brew that's highly recommended for those with an adventurous palate. Here's hoping to compare the other five varieties.

#287: Bandwagon Beer 5th Anniversary: Winter Brown, Chai Chili, Barleywine, Sourmash Pale

Sunday after Big Day In was our local Bandwagon Brewpub's 5th anniversary. I kicked off the afternoon with my partner and a close friend up from Baltimore, carefully selecting my favorite BWB, their Barreled Blond Ale (sour, red wine-barrel aged), then into the new anniversary beers.

(via BWB Facebook page)

Winter Brown Lager | ABV: 7.7%
I figured I'd start in somewhat easy, since it would be a long afternoon in the basement. Brewed with traditional British pale malt & chocolate rye, this winter pours up a hazy, light brown. There's herbal flavors threaded with rye spice and hints of cocoa powder. Lightly carbonated and refreshing with a mildly dry finish. Roasted & tasty for a solid start.

Chai-Chili Porter | ABV: 5.9%
I was going to wait on this one, given it's adventurous nature, but someone overheard our discussion of it, and a taste came my way. It's a deep red-brown with a chili & vegetable green pepper nose with a touch of brown sugar. Down the hatch, it's quite tasty with an unabashed amount of heat. Big cinnamon & chili notes kick your palate with a massive, mile long finish. The Chai provides a skeleton for this tornado of a beer to remain steady.

Bandwagon Barleywine | ABV: 9.2
BBB#1 was a Bandwagon Barleywine (different batch & brewer if I recall), so it was fun to see this pop up on the anniversary list. Surprisingly drinkable for a barleywine which has been aging for a year. It's a deep, opaque brown with a ton of fluffy, mocha head. Candi, soft hops, and fruitcake grace the nose followed up by beautiful flavor. It's heaven for a second, then dries with dried red fruits and a touch of heat. Light & not too sticky. A solid, enjoyable BWBBW.

Sourmash Pale Ale | ABV: 6.4%
I'd been eyeing this one the whole day. Head BWB brewer Stephen Bareford's sours are what have brought me back to regularly visiting the local substreet brewpub and Sourmash is right up there with the others.

A transparent straw body and soft, tropical aromas start the tasting. While wafting, I'm told this one has been aging 6 months since I first tried it. Tropical hop notes slam with soft sour lime and lemon. It's mildly astringent and exactly what I've been looking forward to. It aged beautifully and was a wonderful edition to the anniversary line-up.

I also snagged a glass of their Russian Imperial Stout, which was incredibly solid as well. Great job & happy anniversary to the whole BWB crew!

#261: 21st Amendment Brewery » Lower De Boom (Barleywine)

21st Amendment Brewery » Lower De Boom (Barleywine)
ABV: 11.5% | IBUs: 92 | Rating: 8.6

Continuing on our 21st Amendment double-header, we have Lower De Boom -- an American-Style barleywine packed with citrusy Pacific Northwest hops. I'm a bit more of an English-style BW fan myself, but I trust these gold-mining San Franciscans. It's worth noting the relatively plain golden can (which goes with the story) that you might just mistake for an energy drink on the singles shelf. The box however, stays true to 21st's artistic nature, with a classy color print on raw cardboard.

Lower De Boom itself breathes life with a murky brown body with just a ring of head. A pungent nose of pineapple follows bursting with hoppy citrus and caramel.

Down the hatch, it's full of big,  burly, sticky flavor. Notes of pinnapple, dank hops, hibiscus rush out of the gate, giving this barleywine an herbal, dry finish. Further in, it's more abrasive nature takes hold, with hot booze notes and just a tad medicinal in the finish.

Overall, a dense, hot brew not intended for the lighthearted drinker. A serious beer with that may be a bit over the top for it's own good, but worth a try.

#217: Anderson Valley Brewing Co. » Gatlin Damnosus (Sour Barrel-Aged Barleywine)

An unforgiving brew of devilish tartness and bourbon decadence...

(I should wake up more before determining that pictures are in focus)

The Brewery: Anderson Valley Brewing Company (Boonville, CA)
The Brew: Gatlin Damnosus (Sour, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine)
Availability: Draft Only (Limited)
ABV: 8.8%%
Rating: 9.4/10
Location: Owl House (Rochester)

Over the weekend, I played in Hiroshima Vacation at Bug Jar as part of our final run shows. Rochester usually means Tap & Mallet or Owl House, and since this time brunch was in order after a lovely night over, the latter was up.

We arrived with a half hour before they could serve, so I was happy to have some extra time to peruse their always impressive draft line. However, this time around, an 8.8% sour, Bourbon-barrel aged barleywine was a no-brainer, even for first thing in the morning.

This beer was every bit as insane as I was hoping. Served up in an 8 oz. glass, Gatlin Damnosus is a hazy, grayish dark brown with a thick, creamy off-white head. Notes of sour grapes, sweet booze, and oak emanate from the glass.

Unabashed, irreverent flavors burst across my palate inducing a spine-tingling double-take. This is complexity and atradition at it's best. Exotic blends of sour cherry, ripe pear, toffee, butterscotch - all rich and decadent with woody, earthy undertones and a mild dryness. Further through there's apple skin, vanilla, and an ever-more pronounced rich bourbon flavors. It's honestly like 4 beers in one ally vying for attention.

Overall, for the adventurous enthusiast only.  An mildly astringent, booze fueled experience that I'd love to see in bottle form.

#211: Florida Trip Pt. 2 » OBP Galaxy, Terrapin / BFM Barley Ryne, Terrapin Monk's Revenge, Great Divide Sour Puss, CCB Humidor, Terrapin Hopsecutioner

After a primarily awkward magic/comedy show and sub-par dinner, my friend Ryan and I decided it was prime time to bolt our of the tourist-trap regions of Orlando, and find ourselves in the midst of fine brews down at Gnarly Barley.

OBP » Galaxy IPA | ABV: 6.5% | 8/10
First up, is a Galaxy hop IPA from Orlando's Orange Blossom Pilsner. Intensely bright flavors of orange and grapefruit start things off with plenty of pith and rind. Light bodied and aridly dry. Good start!

Terrapin /  BFM » Jérôme & Spike's Collab. Ale: 2011 Barley Ryne | ABV: 10% | 9/10
Next is a collaboration between Georgia's Terrapin and the lauded Swiss brewmasters at BFM. This version of their Jérôme & Spike Collaboration Ale is an Barely Wine aged on American oak and bourbon.

As expected for an oaked Barelywine, it's an opaque, murky brown. Strong notes of oak and dark raisin flavors quickly set the palate on a delicious journey. Smooth, mid-level of carbonation keeps it lively and drinkable. It's backed by mild whiskey notes, dates and other dark fruits and finishing up with a slight tang and distinct orange sweetness. A wonderful, worthwhile collaboration.

Terrapin » Monk's Revenge (Imperial BIPA, Wine Barrel Aged) | ABV: 9.8% | 9.3/10
Another inviting glass of murky brown brew, Monk's Revenge isn't as dank as the BFM collab, but is an incredible blend of styles, marrying a Belgian Tripel and an American Double IPA, into this Imperial Belgian-style IPA - this version is even aged in wine barrels.

Wonderful deep oak and bright mineral, wine-like notes start things off followed by a smooth tartness and big, boozy esters. Flavors of raisin, raspberry, cherry are abound. An incredible beer packed with dynamic sour notes and even some inferred whiskey flavors. Wow!

Great Divide » Sour Puss (Flanders) | ABV: 7% | 8.5/10
Sour Puss is a Belgian-style Flanders Red ale from Colorado's Great Divide and looks to be a one-off.

It's a nice, juicy departure from the intense experience of the first three beers in the flight. Pleasant notes of sour cherry and raspberry that are wet with a mild tartness, finishing up with a mildly astringent finish. A solid American Flanders offering.

Cigar City » Smoked English Style Imperial Stout (Humidor Series) | ABV: 11% | 9/10
After the initial flight, there were still too many must-try beers to call it a night just yet. While I had a chance to pick up a variety of Cigar City cans and a couple bottles, this was the only CCB that I was able to snag on draft while in Orlando.

CCB's Smoked Imperial Stout goes down bone dry packed with dark bitterness. This intense and super tasty. Big flavors of smoke with a mild spiciness and event a split second of big, sweet maltiness in the middle. Superbly crafted, but not sure I could put back a whole pint of this. A sipper for sure.

Terrapin » Hopsecutioner (IPA w/ Randall) | ABV: 7% | 9.1/10
If getting my lips around Terrapin's six-hop Hopsecutioner wasn't enough, Gnarly Barley packs Columbus hops into one of Dogfish Head's Randall units.

It serves up a pale yellow with lots of white, fluffy head. The taste? Unlike anything else, dank and sweet, without being particularly bitter with earthy, woody depth to it and finishes up tastfully dry. To be totally honest, this brew tastes and reeks like weed. Gnarly you made weed-beer and I tip my hat to you. Hop Mecca right here.

#166: Victory Brewing Co. » Old Horizontal (American Barleywine)

Old Horizontal returns...

The Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. (Downington, PA)
The Brew: Old Horizontal (American Barleywine)
Availability: Bottles & Draft
ABV: 11.0%
Rating: 9.3/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Story? After a couple years off, Victory's Old Horizontal has returned to much acclaim. This was one of my gateway barleywines towards the end of my overzealousness with IPAs. Last year, I was lucky enough to get a half-growler of their 2009 batch from our friends at Fingerlakes Beverage Center, which was literally one of the best beers I'd ever enjoyed up to that point. Let's see how this fresh new batch measures up.

The Beer? Old Horizontal pours out with a plentiful, lively manila head over a deep, reddish-amber body. Surprisingly lively for an 11%. Firm hop aromas follow up.

Burly, powerful, and hardy, this sipper is packed full of boozy goodness, but goes down silky smooth. Creamy flavors of dark fruit, caramel, and toffee are immediately apparent, with subtler notes of bitter hops, chocolate, and a touch of spice heat arrive on the follow through. A bit chewy further through. Tougher than the elegance I remember from the aged version, but still very delectable.

Overall, a solid, mediu-body barleywine with extra points for how well this one ages.

#163: Uinta Brewing Company » Anniversary Barley Wine Ale

One of my favorite styles from the always delicious, Uinta...

The Brewery: Uinta Brewing Co. (Salt Lake City, UT)
The Brew:  Anniversary Barley Wine Ale
Availability:  Bottles, draft
ABV: 10.4% // IBUs: 72
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Story? Originally released in small batches each year to commemorate their anniversary, Uinta's Anniversary Barley Wine Ale is now a year-round offering. I picked these up for post Big Day In celebration last weekend and found myself with a couple left.

The Beer? Anniversary kicks off with a far more plentiful head than your typical barleywine. The body is a deep, dark brown and nearly opaque. A few deep whiffs reveal big malt and citrus characteristics.

The flavors is quite sweet, with an earthy finish and a slight tartness woven in. Big flavors of fig, raisin, and caramel dominate while subtler notes of espresso and nuts seal the deal. This brew has definite heft to it - full bodied, dark and respectfully bitter. A great, strong hop backbone balances the sweet malt goodness that never overpowers.

Overall, a firm, strong, year-round barley wine. I'm going to age on of these for a while and see how things develop.

#153: Lagunitas Brewing Co » Brown Shugga' (Strong Ale)

Brown Shugga' returns...

The Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma, CA)
The Brew: Brown Shugga' (Strong Ale)
Availability: 6-packs (seasonal)
ABV: 9.99%%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Story? Brown Shugga' started life as a failed batch of Olde GnarlyWine Ale. The innovators at Lagunitas chose to experiment and salvage the batch by adding unabashed amounts of brown sugar. The result was one of their most popular beers to date and a staple of the high ABV winter American seasonals. Brown Sugar left us in 2011 due to construction-induced capacity issues (when they issued "Sucks" as a substitute), but returned last year to critical and fan acclaim.

The Beer? I could smell this beer from where I took the picture. This sweet release pours out with a voluminous, staying head of lace atop glowing, amber-copper liquid. The nose is quite sweet with notes of caramel and hoppy orange notes.

Down the hatch, Brown Shugga' is smooth like silk. It's hoppy, but not dry or bitter. Sweet brown sugar meets hop citrus and heat. I think this is the most well-balanced beer Lagunitas offers. There's notes of sweet lemon, candy sugar, toasted malts, and caramel. Sweet, dank, easy drinking bliss.

The 9.99% is well hidden for the majority of the way through the glass, but by the end, strong esters and booze are apparent, though by far not nearly it's full potency. Calling this irresponsibly drinkable is apt.

Overall, this is a must-try for any craft beer drinker and an easy stable of winter beer drinking. It's unlike anything else out there, somewhere between a Barelywine and an Imperial IPA, but very much on it's own journey.

#148: Stone Brewing » Old Guardian Barley Wine (2012)

Stone's Old Guardian from last year emerges from the cellar...

The Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)
The Brew:  Old Guardian Barley Wine (2012)
Availability:  Draft, 22 oz bottles (Classic, seasonal)
ABV: 11.6% | IBUs: 80
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Story? After getting a chance to see the Doctor Who' 50th Anniversary Spectacular in the theater on Monday and finally having a warm house to come home to, my partner and I were in a bit of a celebratory mood.

While I'm not as much of a fan of winter commutes as I used to be, I do look forward to one of my favorite seasonal styles - Barleywines. I grabbed this one from the cellar, let it cool a bit further and cracked into this delicious year-in-waiting brew.

The Beer? Old Guardian pours out a hazy, murky amber color with just a bit more than a ring of lacy head. Already, there's plenty of boozy raisin notes backed by big malts, an inviting earthiness, and hints of coco. This should be a great ride.

Flavor-wise, there is a straight-up honey finish, which is quite enjoyable. Smooth and chewy mouthfeel and despite the aging, has still retained pleasant hop character.

I prefer my barleywines on the English-style, less bitter side of things, which is why I aimed to age this one, that started out at an IBU of 80. And I'm glad I did.

In addition to the distinct honey notes on the finish, Old Guardian is a complex journey through golden and purple raisins, agave candy, and sugared grapefruit. Undeterred by the 11.6% ABV, the ester and booze notes are well hidden and isn't as much of a sipper as I'd imagined.

All in all, a sweet, smooth, and creamy experience all around. A creamy, malt-wallop with mild, balanced bitterness. Looking forward to the 2013 Smoked version that remains cellared.

#074: Rock Art Brewery » Vermont Maple Wheat, Saison, Bohemian Pilsner, barrel-aged Vermonster

On the way back from Hill Farmstead we just happened to pass...

(let's go bottom to top)

The Brewery: Rock Art Brewing (Morrisville, VT)

The Story? After a quick bite to eat on the two-hour drive back to Burlington from Hill Farmstead, I was starting to feel the long drive from the day before. Just then, my partner and I noticed Rock Art Brewing coming up down the road. I'd tried their Ridge Runner mild barleywine the night prior at the burlesque show the day before and was intrigued to learn more. Undeterred by their somewhat lacking artwork and motivated by my desire to stretch my legs anyways, we entered.

Even before our first taste, we were met with our first Ithaca encounter of the trip - the couple to the left was also from Ithaca, recognizing my partner's sticker from Felicia's Atomic Lounge and the group to our right included an Ithaca College grad. We all compared notes of where we'd been and where we were headed for all things beer in Vermont. Moments later, another couple joined us who, just a few months prior, attended Ommegang's "Belgium Comes to Cooperstown" event. We also discussed Farmhouse Tap & Grill, which would later fill our Sunday night with beer bliss.

Vermont Maple Wheat  | 5.40% ABV | 6.5/10
Nice maple nose. Amber color with touch of head. Clean mouthfeel and very bright flavors. Mild sweet and earthy notes with a firm wheat beer backbone. Good starter. Nothing that's going to revolutionize maple or wheat though.

(Saison at home)

Saison | 5.0% ABV (?) | 9.3/10
Whoa! Now we're talking. Bready nose with a hint of must. Tangy, bright taste with a touch of tartness delivered with prickly carbonation. Notable yeast and mild funk flavors as well. Further through the tasting, a notable sourness rises with notes of lemon and lime. Great use of Dupont yeast, which had some people asking if it was brewed with Brett. Hazy, golden color with plentiful head. A solid, impressive, complex Saison. Just how I like it.

This one was draft only, so we picked up a growler of it. Five days later we cracked into the jug and it was beer heaven all over again. Damn near perfect to be honest. Even though it was filled almost a week prior, a gentle pour was needed to keep the wonderfully lively carbonation and head in check.

The flavor still yields a big mouthfull of sour notes, including peach flavors I missed the first time around. There's a very old-world feel to this beer with a bit of barnyard and must on the nose, just enough funk, earth, and tartness for great complexity but still existing as a highly drinkable, every day beer - which is how often I would drink this. To my knowledge, this is a new brew, so here's fingers crossed this makes their bottled line.

Bohemian Pilsner (Czech style Pilsner) | 7/10
Mild hop and nutty flavors with a fairly transparent nose. Classic clean pilsner flavor with a hint of hop bitterness. Solid craft take on a classic.

Vermonster (Barrel-aged Barleywine) 10.0% AVB | 50 IBU | 8.9/10
Rock Art offers three Barleywine variations, this being the heftiest. Uncompromising and astringently boozy out of the gate, as expected, having aged in Makers Mark barrels with deep rich body color and as smidgen of head. Easily definitely notes of plum skin and raisin in the nose and mouth. Surprisingly, Vermonster mellows nicely further through. Solid take on one of my favorite styles.

Overall, the visit definitely put Rock Art higher on my radar. We picked up a bottle of their Pumpkin Stout with Spruce, will prove interesting I'm sure. Their Saison really surprised me. Glad we stopped.

#001: Bandwagon Brewery: Old Stud Leroy (Barleywine)

A beer which was supposed to an IPA, but a measuring mistake turned it into a Barleywine seems to be a good spot to start a beer blog.

The Brewery: Bandwagon Brewery (Ithaca, NY)
The Brew: Old Stud Leroy (Barleywine)
Availability: Draft Only
ABV: 12.2 // IBU: 85
Rating: 9/10
Location: Bandwagon Brewpub, Ithaca, NY

The story? A Bandwagon brewer accidentally measured out his ingredients for an IPA in kilos instead of pounds (whoops!). Two years in hiding, we're blessed with this.

The beer? A beastly barleywine drenched in booze and malt. Robust taste, smooth on the way in and slight tang on the finish. Great sweet / dry / wet balance. The Centennial and Cascade hops become more apparent halfway through the glass and your tongue begins to dry. Solid brew for a moderate or experienced barleywine fan.

Nickname: Delicious Mistake.