Barley Johns Barrel-Aged Rosies Ale (Batch 1)

Formerly brewed at Barley Johns Brew Pub
Style: Barley Wine
New Brighton, Minnesota USA

Enchanting sugar laden raisin and vinous grape aroma. Brownish/burgundy color. Rich, full coating body. Sweet, well extracted sugary fruit flavors on the palate, vinous on the mid, which leads into a light but nicely balanced bourbon barrel contribution, with mocha, caramel and vanilla flavors. Nicely hidden alcohol. Awesomely tasty.

(11.2 oz bottle filled from growler: Obtained in trade with footbalm, thanks Eric!) I’ve been looking forward to trying this beer for a long time, and I guess I’m expecting something strongly alcoholic, massively sweet, thick and syrupy. First pour reveals a deep ruddy brown color, with no head whatsoever, but some subsurface bubbles cling stubbornly to the glass. The nose is sweet and fruity, vinous, oak notes, and with a bit of sourness for some balance. It tastes sweet and fruity up front, with moderate bitterness, light spice and woody characteristics coming out in the finish. While the beer is still chilled, the 21% alcohol is well hidden, all things considered, but as it warms up, the alcohol develops more and more of a presence, though stopping short of becoming overwhelming. The lightly carbonated palate is sweet and moderately syrupy, but not cloying. Given what this beer is, I think it’s relatively restrained, complex and delicate. Again, though, this is relative to other high potency beers. Nicely done. I look forward to trying this beer again if I ever make it up to Minnesota.

Home bottled by footbalm, thanks to darkelf for sharing this traded goodie! Poured deep clear mahogany brown with an almost non-existent head. Aroma of dark ripe fruit, dominant alcohol, figs and flowers. Spicy flavor, cinnamon, bog myrtle, clove, sweet molasses malts and lots of alcohol - very warming. Smooth, rich body and little carbonation. I must say that this was quite drinkable for a 21% brew - definitely had a kick but other flavors and qualities stood out as well.

A red beer with a disappearing orange head. The aroma is sweet with strong notes of alcohol and cowberries, combined with lesser notes of metal (might come from the alcohol) and whiskey. The mouthfeel is very thick, like portwine. The flavor is extremely alcoholic combined with notes of wood and prunes, with that same burning sensation, that a 40% ABV whiskey leaves You with. This beer is alcoholic - I wonder how the 28% ABV standard Rosies Ale are.

Hand bottled from growler by Footbalm and send to Denmark - thanks a lot!
Dark amberorange colored, almost no head. Bourbon like aroma. Sharp and alcoholic with tones of prune, fruit, spices, apricot and cookie. Lots of alcohol in the flavor as well. Raisin, orange and citrus notes. Very sharp and picling on the tongue. Too evident alcohol tone, its almost like liquor.

Stron alcohol aroma. Flavour is dominated by prunes, port, Extremely warming finish. This could easily be an Oloroso Sherry. A nice dessert beer.

Hand bottled by Footbalm from a growler. Bottle sealed with wax: Burgundy coloured. Clear. No head. Bourbon, loads of alcohol, sweetnes, prunes in the aroma. Flavour is heavily dominated by alcohol. Dades is present. Reminds me a little of sherry. Burns almost as much as a good scotch in the end. Alcohol is way too dominant for me. Thanks footbalm for this hard to get beer.

Bottled. Dark amber coloured. Aroma of figs, dades, prunes, raisins, coconut and bourbon. Alcoholic flavour. Extremely sweet. Cloying. Too much bourbon flavour.