Beermanns Bourbon Barrel Barleywine

Brewed by Beermanns Beerwerks Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Lincoln, California USA

Hand labeled #604 2006 bottle. Sweet and malty. No real hop character at all. Dark fruit and caramel. A beautiful classic English barleywine.

1 liter bottle at the RB Rochester Gathering, Sept. 09. Thanks, Shadey. Winey red tints in dark brown. Nose of figs, raisins, caramel, and a bit of smoke. Flavor of vanilla and dried fruit with strong alcohol and low hopping. Nice stuff.

I think I first had the Beermanns Barleywine in 2003 or 2004. I’m pretty sure because I still have a bottle of the ’05 in my cellar. I loved this beer when I first tried it. Warm and delicious with a great mouth feel. I tried the 2009 vintage on tap at the brewery last week and was really disappointed. My notes (for the ’09): Thin, brown color and not much head. Sweet nose. Taste is sweet but thin. I held my second sip in my mouth and got medium-high hop bitterness and alcohol. Just opened my 2005 (Bottle # 296) on 7/13/09. I think it has passed its prime. It was pretty effervescent when I opened the bottle, which had been resting upright for years in a 54 degree cellar. Upon opening the flip top, beer gushed all over the place. In a panic, I sipped the foam as it came out of top and it was delicious -- big bourbon flavor. In the glass, though, it’s totally different. Cloudy copper color in the glass with a thick tan head. Excellent lacing. Nose is sour. If I didn’t know better, I would swear that this had Brett yeast in it. Reminds me of the Deschutes Dissident more than the warm, savory barleywine I put into my cellar. I do start to get more bourbon flavor as the beer opens up in the glass. I regret that I let this beer age too long but am glad I got to have it several times while it was around.

Bottle at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens on 08/03/2008 on day three of RBSG 2008. Batch 1. Clear golden amber body with a small white head. Big bourbon aroma with some light yeastiness with some caramel hints. Bourbon, vanilla and faint yeast flavor, medium body with medium low carbonation.

Bottle shared by Aspidites, pours dark reddish mahogany with no head. The nose is sweet and bourbon, as is the flavor, along with some oxidation. A bit hot in the finish.

Bottle from Aspitidtes @ RBSG at stone, this was an 8 year old bottle poured amber with a tan ring. Nose is oxidized, as was the taste, but overall ok.

"2007 #119 BN MS Tvs AA" hand-written on 33.8 -ounce bottle. A tasty barleywine that is on par, or perhaps slightly above average. The aroma is outstanding, suggesting that you’re in for something very special, yet you get something just plain good. Sweet, not too sweet, and quite coconutty, which I’ve never tasted before in a barleywine. The bourban barrel is evident, but not overwhelming. In conclusion, it is a very good drink that is worth a try by all beer enthusiasts, and I myself would like to try other vintages or batches. Recommended overall.

Slightly hazy copper brownm some tan head. Big alcoholic and malty nose. Sharp, sweet and estery flavor. Somewhat thick, very cloying.