Barley Johns Barrel-Aged Rosies Ale (Batch 2)

Brewed by Barley Johns Brew Pub
Style: Barley Wine
New Brighton, Minnesota USA

Sweet raisins on the nose with some vanilla that had me convinced this was aged in a port cask and not bourbon. Dark brown body with no head. Smooth raisin taste with some alcohol protruding.

12 oz handbottle, via footbalm to Zathrus13 to me, bottled 1/07. Pours a very dark mahogany brown body under a small fleeting large bubbled head that ran to the edges to form a thin ring. Aroma is pretty big and bold. Enormously malty with overtones of bourbon, alcohol fumes, light port, soy, sandlewood, and tobacco. The flavor is rich sweet maltiness with tons of dark fruits, some toffee, caramel, port, lots of oak, brown sugar, and lingering tobacco. Mouthfeel is thick and full bodied, but given the sweetness it’s not especially sticky or cloying. Still great fine light carbonation. Slight tingling alcohol. I can’t believe how good this was. The most drinkable super heavyweight alcohol beer yet. Extremely small sips for this guy.

Bottled from a growler... O-Town Throwdown... Crystal clear, ruby ale with burnt orange highlights. No head. Complex, wonderful aroma with notes of vanilla, bourbon, brown sugar, wood, light raisins and alchohol. The alcohol shines through in this version, "but I am not afraid." A huge beer with tons of malty sweetness. A touch acidic with plenty of bourbon, vanilla and alcohol. Ultra full-bodied with a mouthfeel of thick cooking oil and mega-soft carbonation. Lengthy, sweet finish. Thanks to robertsreality for providing the goods!

Draft at the brewpub. Aroma: Sweet maltiness with notes of raisins, molasses, toffee, and heavily roasted nuts. Some port-like oxidation notes. Barrel aging ties in with the aroma, but doesn’t dominate it. Bourbon, vanilla, and a touch of oakiness. Appearance: Dark reddish brown in color with small red highlights. No head or lacing. Flavor: Huge sweet maltiness with a ton of toffee and dark fruits. Lots of toasted nuts, molasses, and chocolate. Again, the barrel aging is very well done and elevates the beer without overpowering. Notes of bourbon, vanilla, almond skins, and oak. Slight oxidation again comes through with a Port-like quality. Alcohol is strong, but lets everything come forward before adding a little heat. Palate: Medium-sweet finish. Almost no carbonation. Pleasant alcohol warmth in back of mouth. Overall: Great way to cap my evening at Barley Johns. A big beer that is full of character.

Good stuff this one is. Aroma is sugary, bourbon, caramel, slighly earthy. Nice flavor, alcohol is hidden extremely well. Very nice, and not too cloying!! Right Grim? Thanks for sharing... your beer and your rating, lol.

Aroma is sugary, bourbon, caramel, slighly earthy. Nice flavor, alcohol is hidden extremely well. Very nice.

Bottle from growler (I think) courtesy of Springslicker, who got it from footbalm (I think). Opens with a nice "fsszzt". Pours the color of cloudy iced tea, with no head. Nice aroma - whiskey/cognac and vanilla, of course, but also almonds, and a bit of oak, too. First sip is surprisingly sweet, but not cloyingly so - kind of almost like a fruit juice. Nice vanilla flavors mix with marzipan. Still pretty sweet, but not obnoxious. Woodsy, maple flavors emerge as it warms. Hides its alcohol reasonably well, considering its 21%, but still noticeable. Very tasty stuff.

Sherry Color with No Head. Very Heavy Bourbon Notes on the Nose...Coming From its Cask Aging. Coconut and Syrupy as Well. Crystalized Caramel..Sherry Notes..Light Burnt Notes on Ending with a Light Alcohol Burn Given it’s Hefty 14% Rating. Very Much a Liquor. Caramel, Burnt Brown Sugar..Bourbon Notes...Nice Depth and a Wonderful Example of What Beer Can Be.