Free State Old Backus Barleywine

Brewed by Free State Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Lawrence, Kansas USA

Hand bottled:   Deep caramel color, very thick, thing sudsy off-white head, spotty lacing.   Heavy biscuity malts on the nose, slight alcohol, minor hop aspects.   Rich malty flavors on the tongue, semi-sweet, biscuity, and very warming.   A touch of brown sugar, slight, and I mean slight dark pitted fruit.   Good malt backing, and I would say its malt oriented in that its not thin and overly bitter.   Very pleasant to drink, fairly smooth, with a very warming presense.   Moderate to full body and mouthfeel.   Finishes clean, a little greenish malt accents.   Light on the hop bitterness... or should I say balanced well.   Not like your typical PNW version that is overly bitter.   This was nice, decent hop bite with a good malt backing, semi-sweet, biscuity, slight caramel, with a nice warming aftertaste.   Not alcoholic given the ABV.   Not a complex Barley Wine, but very well crafted and a good representation of the style.   Thanks Chris for the opportunity to try this one!

Growler thanks to my girlfriend. Poured a dark mahogany brown with minimal head. Aroma full of grain and bread malts with a touch of wood lying underneath. Flavor was thick with malt notes which were particularly grainy with just a touch of caramel towards the end. Nice and thick on the tongue.

Had on tap at the brewpub while visiting the university. Aroma is all sweet with a big hint of booze. The flavor is English, all sweet, a dash of yeast & spice, but no hop bitterness or flavor really. I can’t help but wonder if this didn’t ferment down - too sweet. Almost syrupy/sugary with a dash of booze.

Sampled via hand bottled during Dark Lord Day ’09, 2007 vintage. Pours a semi-hazed cooper amber brew with an average sized off-white head that slowly dissipates to a fine film top. Aroma of sweet caramel malt, some vanilla a touch of vanilla, and a hint of raisin. Taste is medium bodied with a thin carbonation and flavors of semi-dry caramel malt, a touch of raisin and some flowery hops and vanilla. Finish is slightly dry with a mild bitterness and sweet malt aftertaste.

4/25/2009: Free State Old Backus Barleywine is a deep amber-colored beer. The sweet, cirtusy hop candy aroma has a hint of tobacco in it as well. This barleywine is malty, balanced, and really good! It is super drinkable without being overly heavy.

Sample from bottle at Dark Lord Day 2009. Rating #142 for this beer.

growler - thanks bvc for sharing and theisti for bringing; pours dark amber with quickly fading white head; huge bourbon and vanilla nose; thick, warm and fuzzy; musky, woody and full bodied; killer texture and glad we had a growler full to enjoy; sugary, raisins, dank fruit, hops; lots of bourbon, but in a good way; terrific overall

Bottle courtesy of Storm. Pours a dark amber color with a small off-white head. Has a spicy malty caramel aroma with hints of dark fruit and alcohol. Sweetish warming malty dark fruit and caramel flavor with some spicy hints and also some weak hints of licorice. Has a long warming spicy dark fruit finish.

growler thanks to my trading buddy out in kansas. 2005 vintage....pours a dark mahogany reddish-brown with a thin frothy film of just off-white head.... dark fruit and caramel sweet aroma. barely noticeable hop presence. somewhat oxidized.... flavors of sweet caramel and dark fruits with some hops left in the life of this brew that really comes through late. carbonation level was fairly low and has an average body yet still kept pretty smooth. wasn’t too keen on this brew at first but got better as it warmed up.