Anderson Valley Barrel Aged Horn of the Beer Barley Wine

Brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Boonville, California USA

On tap @ Toad in the Hole. Clear copper red with a small beige head, served in a tulip. Lots o’ bourbon up front with a good amount of sweet caramel and cherry notes--also a little ETOH. Flavor still has a lot of bourbon notes as well as a lot of chewy caramel and dark fruits. Despite the massive amount of bourbon in here, I’m not mad, which usually happens. There is some alcohol in the dry oaky vanilla finish, and bitterness peaked around a 2-3. It should be noted that there is a light fruity tang not present in the aroma, but doesn’t have me thinking infection. Full body with light prickly carbonation. Pretty good!

draft @ hard liver ’09 - this turned out to be one of my favs at the fest this year; clear, amber, slight white head; light bourbon, vanilla, sugar; light bodied with touch of syrup; the bourbon is perfectly light and not overwhelming in anyway; quite nice

Brouwers Hard Liver fest 2009. I was really looking forward to this beer after trying the non-barrel version at the Lucky Lab fest a few weeks ago. Sadly this wasn’t really much of an improvement, although I think it will improve a bit with age. Bourbon was softer, hops needed to mellow a little, malts the same, could use some time to settle. Still nice for a fresher barleywine, but the year old non-barrel version I had was much smoother.

bright vibrant red copper color, moderate lacing. sugar, woody aroma. bitter and sweet taste. somewhat watery mouthfeel but very clean.

Sampled at Toronado 2009 Barleywine Festival. Pours clear deep copper with gold edges and thin off white head. The aroma has mostly pine hops, some grassy notes and then moving toward wood and booze. It seems to be barrel aged but I’m unsure as to the type of formal barrel contents. The taste begins with sweet dark fruity esters then moving into booze and muted wood notes. Vanilla and molasses both help to take this to closure. Pretty nice but it is a bit rough around the edges. It will be darn good with a bit more age.