Barley Johns Barrel-Aged Rosies Ale (Batch 2)

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

first off, big thanks to Robertsreality for the 12 oz. hand-bottle!!!
since no one else is rating this under the Rosie’s Ale 2007, I’m placing my rating here and maybe an admin. will make a note of the 2007 ratings being from batch 2, which comes in at 14%.
now to the beer. Wow, very nice! never having sampled anything from Barley John’s before, if this were a blind taste test, I would have guessed this was a big beer from Kuhnhenn’s. ( that’s a compliment BJ’s ). deep amber on the pour with just a short burst of a head and no lace. aroma is wonderful earthy fruits, wood and vanilla. flavor is very sweet, caramel , brown sugar, molasses with plenty of oak, vanilla and bourbon. I’m nearing my last few sips now and I’m sad to see this disappear. a rich and full mouth-feel with a slight stickiness on the lips. well done Barley John’s!

Bottle, huge thanks goes to footbalm for sending this beauty my way! Deep mahogany pour with no head. Awesome aroma...bready caramel malts, pungent bourbon elements, oak, and a tinge of cinnamon. Flavors of caramel malt, vanilla, booze soaked rasisns, molasses, and more bourbon...you really get some of the characteristics of the Knob Creek. Thick mouthfeel, great boozey character throughout with some heat on the way down. Damn good stuff, my only really complaint is I don’t have any more to drink!

(hand bottle from irishboy by way of footbalm.)light orange with no head.aroma is FULL of bourbon and alcohol.(in fact i think it burned some of my nose hairs)i also picked up brown sugar,caramel malt,and cotton candy in the aroma.flavor is a nice mix of bourbon oak,brown sugar,cherries,and dark fruits.mouthfeel was smooth and the palte was nice and complex.good stuff!

Handbottle from Footbalm; Nose of Oaky alcoho, plums and raisins, Hazy dark brown with very little head; Flavor of chocolate, sweet plums, and berry pie; Tastes great!

Ruby color with no head. Aroma is caramel, with alcohol, butter scotch. Taste is very sweet, caramel, bourbon, toffee.

Sampled at the O-Town throwdown. Deep dark clear copper with no head. The aroma has big sour notes from the barrel aging along with some just noticeable Barleywine dark fruitiness. The flavor has lots of sticky sweetness probably from the whiskey. Sort of tastes fortified. Behind that is dark fruit trying to make a splash in the flavor profile. The tasting experience ends sticky sweet and bourbon like.

WAIT! this is 21% ABV, Yikes. Best 20% + I’ve tasted.

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Wow this was my favorite of the evening at The throwdown, thank you Hopscotch.Pours a nice auburn color with an alcohol nose.Flavors sweet like a brandy with some dark fruits.The alcohol was present for the whole ride, but was not dominant. A somewhat sweet finish.

Courtesy hopscotch, my beer #6 @ the Throwdown. Poured a very dark copper color with zero head. The nose is dominated by alcohol and an intense sweetness. The aroma reminded me of butterscotch a little. Super thick on the palate. Tastes almost like a liqueur - it’s insanely sweet and after warming a bit a good dael of spice comes out. The alcohol is present in the taste, but the other traits come through. While the alcohol is formidable in the taste and aroma, I wouldn’t have guessed that this brew is as strong as it is. Thanks again for this rare brew, hopscotch.