Alaskan Barley Wine Ale (Big Nugget)

Brewed by Alaskan Brewing Co
Style: Barley Wine
Juneau, Alaska USA

This is one Bad Ass BW. I like it!! It’s hoppy. It’s not too sweet. I will buy more and cellar it. Imagine what it will taste like in 10 years! If I can wait that long. After sipping on this awhile I was trying to decide if this beer deserves a 5 star rating. Everything about it makes you want more! I say yes.

22 oz bottle via Liquid Sol. 2007 vintage. Pours a dark brown w ruby accents and a large beige head. Nose is toffee and candyish with some floral hops. It tastes just like it smells but is hoppier than expected. An explosion of toastiness and citrus and earthiness leaves me wanting more of it all in it’s aftermath. This is a perfectly balanced barleywine...sweet, then hoppy, then sweet, then hoppy...mmm.mm....delightful and complex. Body is full, carbonation is just right. I wish i had another bottle or two to age! More..more..more..why did i only buy 1 botte? ANd now they are sold out of course...FRAAAAAAAAKKKK!! World class stuff++.

Big thanks to Old Mr. Crow for this one. Pours turbid deep brownish ruby with 1-finger khaki head and nice concentric lace rings. For a beer this big, the lace stayed around for a while. The nose was fruity, with strawberry, blueberry, cherry, heavy malt, hops, and some perfumy florals. The palate was rich, hefty, complex, and not hot at all, with flavors of big fruit and berries, heavy caramelly malt, hops, and some late chocolate notes. Not only is this one of the best barleywines I have yet quaffed, but it is one of the best beers as well. An early contender for Doc Lock Beer of the Year status.

02.19.05 Red-brown-amethyst pour with creamy foam. Hugely balanced, this is a barleywine that all others may aspire to be. Great PNW hop profile is offset by plenty of biscuity, sticky, earthy, figgy malts. A real highlight of the trip, I just wish they hadn’t run out so quickly.

Pours deep brown with suggestion of amber, tan head that is thick & luscious. Retains well. Aromatics are pleasant with fresh bread dough, clean malt, walnuts, vanilla icing, & melted caramel. Fig newton cookies also. Palate starts off with gentle, sweet malt, seeping through a creamy body/mouthfeel. Raisins and dark fruits are present, followed by lighter citrus tartness as it leads to the warm alcohol finish. Cherry cough drops come to mind, in a very good way. Alcohol is modest for this example of the style. One of the best barleywines I have sampled. Enjoyed summer 2008 from a bomber purchased in Wasilla, AK.

Amazing beer. Flavor was intense, and very shocked at how drinkable it is at this point. This is one I plan to hold onto for years to come but with it tasting as well as it did now I hope I dont run through them all early.

22oz bottle thanks to pantanap, big thanks Kan. Beautiful mahogany color. Awsome aroma as well. lots of dark malts and fruits, very rich. Real good bitterness up front to go with the luxurious maltiness . Just got better as it warmed, a truly outstanding Barleywine.

On tap at the 2003 Toronado Barleywine Festival: A very nice subtle smoke flavor. Solid malt backbone. Very subtle underlying hop flavor and bitterness. Quite light. Nice!!