Barley Johns Rosies Raspberry Aged Old Ale

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

Draft at the brewpub on Barley John’s 8th Anniversary. Drank this one side by side with the Barrel Aged Rosie’s (batch 2). Poured a hazy dark orange-brown color. Topped by an off white ring. Looked identical to the barrel aged Rosie’s. The aroma was boozy and malty. I smelled whiskey, molasses, plum, and toffee. There was also a whiff of berries. Very sweet on the tongue, almost cloying, and much sweeter than the barrel aged Rosie’s. Thick, malty, and boozy. Very liqueur-ish. The alcohol flavor was strong, but was mitigated somewhat by the sugary sweetness. I tasted molasses, sherry/port, fig, distinct milk chocolate, and almost imperceptible berry. Carbonation was on the lower end of the spectrum. Wow. Strong. Interesting, but it was a bit too sweet and boozy for me. That said, I liked it slightly better than the barrel aged Rosie’s.

5 oz. pour, on tap at the brewpub. Tasted during Barley John’s 8th Anniversary celebration on 3-16-08. Raspberry sweetness dominates the initial smell, and raspberry tartness dominates the aroma’s finish. Sweet, rich, and fruity smell features plum and candy sugar scents. The aroma is similar to that which I would expect to experience in a gourmet candy shop. Pours a deep and rich but not particularly dark brown with a light orange hue. Appears almost maroon in color. The liquid is milky and opaque with many small, slow-rising bubbles. Small amount of beige head. The taste is quite tart to the point of bitterness due to the raspberry. Alcohol noticeable. Black licorice / anise and caramel flavors. Tastes much like “regular” barrel-aged Rosie’s, but, oddly, the raspberries add a bitterness to the otherwise overwhelming sweetness. That makes this taste more like a typical barley wine and less like a sweet liqueur. The raspberry flavor is good but perhaps a bit much. Rich, bitter aftertaste. Full body. Thick, oily, and surprisingly lively in the palate. This made a great late winter warmer as I sat outside in the breeze on a sunny, mid-March, mid-30s, Minnesota afternoon. Small sips are a must for this beer. The imbiber should treat it more like a liqueur or dessert wine than a typical beer. Overall, this isn’t the world class treat that I found Barley Johns Barrel-Aged Rosie’s Ale (Batch 2) to be, but it is a fine and fascinating brew nonetheless.

At brewpub. Brown with very little head. Aroma of raspberry and caramel, alcohol is strong, stronger than I remember the regular rosies being. Very nice sweet/tart flavor.

Now this was a treat. Made a straight line for Barley Johns at Winterfest for this pour. Tart raspberries on the aroma of this hazy brown pour with some sugar in there as well. Lots of raspberry in the flavor plus some strong caramel flavor.

On draught during the Winterfest 2008 in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. Pours a hazy brownish amber brew with a fast dissolving beige head that dissipates toa fine film and ring. Aroma of tart raspberries, alcohol burn, with a hint of powdery caramel malt in the background. Taste is thick, high alcohol, strong tart raspberry flavor. Ooph Da! That is one strong Old Ale with a finish taste that will warm your average Minnesotan -10 degree winter freeze. This is sort of like an alternative raspberry cordial but it is still a beer.

Draft at Winterfest ’08. Sampled right after best of show winner, Town Hall Chocolate Raspberry Bourbon Stout. More sour in the nose than the TH. Raspberries evident; tannins. Murky, reddish brown with a thin, tan head. Very strong!! Too strong. The raspberries are overwhelmed by the alcohol. This is quite frankly more of a hard liquor/liqueur alternative than a beer. Some harshness. Would be better with about 5% less ABV. Good effort though and a pretty nice winter warmer.

Winterfest 2008
El Gaucho and I wanted to get these two specialty beers sampled early so we didn’t miss out later on. Hazy brown pour. Tart raspberry aroma. Strong flavor, almost too strong. This beer actually wanders more into the liquoure category. The tartness does compliment the sweetness of this beer pretty well. I just wasn’t super impressed. I can see how some would probably love this, however.