Arcadia Cereal Killer Barleywine

Brewed by Arcadia Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Battle Creek, Michigan USA

On draft at capones Pours a dark amber color with a off white head. Aroma of sweet malt, caramel, brown sugar, and toffee. Flavor was mild with caramel, spices fruit and alcohol with a nice balanced a very good barley wine.

From a 22 oz. bomber bottle, fall release, vintage date 2006 along right side of label, sampled at cellar temperature in a snifter. Poured a cloudy reddish amber with a small foamy pale tan that settled into a thin sudsy lacing. Aromas of fruity esters, grapes and berries, floral and citric, caramel toffee and grainy, clear alcohol. Good moderate carbonation and a crisp, dry, sipping smooth medium-light bodied mouthfeel. Pleasant tasting, but I have the feeling I should have let this age more and tried it, at the very least, in the December 2007, preferably in the spring of 2008, not bad tasting, but needs some aging, tastes of purple fruits, plums, grapes and dry raisins, a citric pineapple, caramelized sugary with a subtle cereal graininess, the alcohol is noticeable and has a clear, clean taste, like you get with chilled vodka, and a dry fruity, malty, alcohol laced finish. Well, at least I have two more bottles of this to age, for me, the best of the Arcadia Big Beer Series I’ve tried.

22-oz. bottle via trade with tjthresh. Pours mahagony with a small frothy light brown head, somewhat diminishing to a rocky film, spare lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (cookie, caramel), average hops (pine, flowers), average yeast (dough) with notes of dates, plums and apple. Full bodied, sticky texture, average carbonation and a creamy spicy finish. Moderate sweetness, light acidity and bitterness; roasted caramel and nutty malt flavor.

Bottle shared with Hogtown Harry and MDS, Harry’s Bottle. Dark ruby, thick orange tinted head. Mild but still nice aroma - some malt. Nice malty, nutty taste - neat candy sweetness - cake like. Easily drinkable, but no strength or complexity. Nice, I enjoyed drinking it.

Bottle. Reddish-brown, cognac coloring. No head but faint foam ring around the edge. Sugary, burnt, like a creme brulee. Similar in taste, though someewhat acidic from the carbonation. Quick finish.

Darker amber pour, smallish head with good lacing and retention. Aroma is caramel, wood, hint of hops... really not that exciting. Some fruits come into play for the flavor, medium to heavy body. Went really well with a pork rack, overall this beer was still bland. A decent BW, but I wasn’t sure if this was leaning towards English or American style. It came off as lost in the middle.

Ruby cloudy color, pungent aroma. velvety feel. smooth taste ends with notes of raisin and a good kick at the end.

Draft @ Capone’s. Darker red-brown color with small white head. Rich malty & sugary aroma. Taste was very malty & smooth, with just enough sweetness to make you wish it would last alot longer. Hops balance the brew out nicely for a younger Barleywine. Cool graphic on the tap/bottles as well.