Auburn Alehouse Old Prospector Barleywine

Brewed by Auburn Alehouse (CA)
Style: Barley Wine
Auburn, California USA

Draft. Mahogony beer with a light cream colored head. Sherry aroma with some brown sugar. Sherry, caramel flavor with light stone fruit and brown sugar. Medium bodied. Lingering malt, just enough hops, and light sherry.

Brown to black. Crystal. Some straw head. Sweet aroma, somewhat weird (shampoo?) Estery and fusel aroma. Strong estery flavor, sweet, almost cloying. Not thick enough for barleywine.

Pours dark brown with no head. Mild carbonation. Aroma is very yeasty with some molasses. Flavor sugary sweet and alcoholic, not a good carbonation. I also pick up some flavors of prunes and yeast. Body is very thick. Tastes almost as if it was underfermented. Not good.

This is dark brown, a bit hazy, with a medium but nice, dense tan head that lasts a long time and leaves a little decent lacing. The aroma is not very strong but is definitely a barleywine aroma, sweet, caramel malt and hints of alcohol, chocolate and fruit. The taste is on the sweet side as I’d expect, but not very sweet and has a light, pleasant bitterness near the finish. It has elements of caramel, raisins, and wine. At first, the alcohol seems a bit too evident, but then it settles down into a fairly pleasant, tasty drink with some good sharpness. It also goes well with food for the style, developing a light spiciness. However, it is a little bland for barleywine. I like it, it’s easy to drink and tasty, but it is a little lacking in the palate and aroma departments for barleywine.