Barley Johns Anniversary Ale

Brewed by Barley Johns Brew Pub
Style: American Strong Ale
New Brighton, Minnesota USA

Pours dark brown/red with little head. Light bready and malty aroma and taste. OK but nothing to special. Carbonation was a bit much for me.

Oak wood brown. Aromas of caramel and chocolate frosting. Plastic sugars and rye bread flavor. Notes of maple syrup and molasses. No discernible alcohol. Smooth, sweet palate. No complaints.

On tap at the brewpub. Light smokey tooth aroma, with some meaty grain and wafting brown sugars. Reddish ochre pour, with creamy tan head. Sweet barnyard ester flavors, rich with hazlenut toast, fried breads and glowing wheat cream cereal, hot. A lot more flavor than I expected from and Irish. Has a good deal of vibrant fruits from plum juice to reduced blood orange, mingling with the heavy hand of malt. Hops float over the background. Nicely attenuated and creates a drinkable sensation over oakiness. Smacks clean. Nicely done.

Enjoyed at the brewpub earlier today, where they are calling it an ’Irish Strong.’ I’ll give ’em that - it is more like an English barleywine than an Irish Red. Dark brown, almost black, but when held up to the light it carries a purplish/burgundy hue to it that reminds me of black currants. Served with about a quarter inch of tan foam. Decent lacing. Sweet aroma, very strond malt with chocolate and a hint of alcohol. Very full flavor - toffee malt, chocolate, dried plum, and currant. A floral hop bitterness is perceived in the finish. this lingers in the aftertaste with some earthy maple. Full bodied, gently carbonated, smooth and thick. So very rich - this is a sipper.

On tap at the brewpub in New Brighton. Very dark black pour, thick mocha colored head, thick lacing. Very earthy aroma, slightly fruity - hard to place exactly what it is. Falvor profile includes prunes, molasses, raisins and a hint of Christmas spices. Very thick mouthfeel. Excellent.

sweet with a malt dominance. enjoyable and one of the better ones i had in this session.

Doesn’t look like an Irish Ale, doesn’t smell, doesn’t taste, but that’s what they call it... Very dark, muddy brown, slim cocoa-colored head. Aroma is toasty, rich malty, never sweet, rather dry, actually..deep and dark. Taste: Luscious, dark fruits, tangy, mahogany feel, little hops, thick malt, but never a predominant sweetness, not cloying, not sweet...an interesting creation, and very tasty. Some caramel and carob...the more I taste, the more I like it...very tasty. Cheers to more years of Barley John’s!

Extremely Dark Brown/Borderlined Black Coloring with No Head. A bit Intimidating at First Glance. Roasts...And Nice Malt Hits. Complexity of Barley/Hops and Malt..Alongside the Strength of the Alcohol Within Its Chambers... Like Many of Barley John’s Brews...Unique.