Americas Bourbon Barrel Barleywine

Brewed by Americas Brewpub
Style: Barley Wine
Aurora, Illinois USA

Tried this one out on tap while up judging the Drunk Monk Challenge but didn’t have time for good notes.

(Draught) Pours a hazy amber-brown body with a medium beige head. Aroma of bread, toffee, chocolate, vinous, and cherry. Flavor of caramel, oak, bourbon, hops (grassy), and dark fruit.

On tap at brewpub, December 26, 2008. Super dark garnet, damn near black until you hold it up to the light. Medium-sized tan head, nice lacing. Syrupy brown sugar and molasses aroma, a touch of alcohol in background. A little bit of green grape fruitiness in the aroma as well. Rich molasses and brown sugar flavor, touches of bourbon throughout with mildly biting pine hops in the middle and end of profile. Finish is crisp and slightly medicinal.

Dark amber colored ale. Decadent, dessert-like nose with terrific aromas of toffee, bourbon, caramel and wood. Flavor is very complex and well balanced between the malt and barrel attributes. I really like sweet, strong barrel aged barley wines and this is a standout example.

Several samples at a beer taste. Deep amber pour with a creamy head. Probably the bottom of the keg. Big hop/bourbon combo was pretty unique , sticky mouth feel and very good. Wish this was being bottled.

Draught at the pub. Dark brown with hints of red along the edges. Thin off-white head, no lacing. Intense barrel aged nose with fruit, and hops in the nose. Very unique and tasty. Sweet hoppy malty combo of a typical barleywine mingle amazingly with bourbon and oak barrel character. Has a lingering boozy taste. As opposed to clashing with the flank steak sandwich I ordered it actually complimented it and assumed a nice port like flavor. A bit warming, but not overbearing, medium bodied and creamy.

Draft at brewpub. Diacetyl-butter all the way in the nose. Dark red body with an off-white head that is almost white. Pretty. Beautiful lace. Not much diacetyl in the flavor; just limited to the aroma. Quite good; just a little off in the finish. A few tweaks and this brew could be stellar.

Aroma is a fantastic combo of dark fruits, figs and raisins with warming alcohol and malt with a big caramel kick. Flavor wise its similar with a slight overwhelming of the alcohol. Going down its got a little too much sting, but overall turns out to be a good solid brew.