Berkshire Holidale

Brewed by Berkshire Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
South Deerfield, Massachusetts USA

2008 vintage. Light brown body. Tall rocky head. Hoppy nose. Strong hop taste out front. Fruity. Nuts. Slightly more alcoholic in the finish, but mostly well-hidden. Nice, dry finish.

22oz brown glass bomber. 2008 has a glossy label instead of the painted label. Appearance: Poured in a white wine glass for lack of better glassware. A thin white fluffy head, but no lacing. Red brown to mahogany. Clear. Nose: Brown caramel, sweet dried figs, wheat thins, fresh cream, rich dark pipe tobacco. Palate: Crisp with some immediate hop acids. Medium-bodied for a barleywine, especially and American one. Nutmeg, a little hazelnut, pine, orange and lime zest, dark brown sugar as well as freshly cut sugarcane stalk. Finish is moderately long, and somewhat astringent from the hop acids. Notes: A lot more hoppy than I remember previous years being. I always thought of this as a British-style BWA, but it’s clearly leaning towards an American-style one. Lacks a little body, I think. Could have used a little more sweetness to increase its aging potential. Better than I remembered.

2008 version enjoyed on the 1st of January 2009 around 12:30 AM. Popped this 22oz bottle and got smells or orange and a lot of sweetness. Once it was poured a light reddish brown color topped with a thin head showed. Bubbling carbonation raised up the side of the glass. the taste was a light hoppiness and a red-berry/strawberry. very dry finish. Best thing I have ever had from BBC.

Bottle, 2008. Pours to a deep ruby amber color with a minimal head. Very light on the bubbles. Aromas of some interesting tropical fruits are a little surprising -- banana and maybe some tangerine. Medium sized mouthfeel. Sweet and fruity on the palate. Slight flowery notes as well. The alcohol really does come out near the end of this one. Not bad, but nothing spectacular. Ill certainly try 2009, but in the mean time this isnt a favorite.

2008 edition bought in the Berkshires for optimal freshenss.The essence of the holiday season, and here it is. What a wonderful brew for the times. The hop presence is downright enjoyable as it bears resemblance to a quite friend always there for you. The sweentes brings visions of nectar and sugarplums from various degrees. Enjoy this one, its great.

22oz bottle. 2007 vintage. thanks to tweety for this one. pours clear dark amber with foamy off white head. slightly oxidized papery bready sweetness to the aroma with musty green hop notes. big dried fruit flavor wrapped around the caramelized malts. green and flowery hop notes. pretty dry finish. full body. nothing mind blowing but it’s dry enough and not boozy.

Bottle. Pours a dark amber body with a thin head. Aroma is fruity orange, sweet malt, caramel. Flavor is such with a presence of hoppiness. weak offering.

1999 vintage. Tasted at the April Northern California Beer Tasting. This barleywine pours a deep amber color from the bottle. Small sized white foamy head. The aroma was caramel malts and sweet. A medium bodied barleywine. The malts are caramel and sweet. The hops are earthy. There is a trace of Christmas spices left, but not much. More than a touch of oxidation here as well, which is kind of expected. Not a lot of carbonation left. Mouthfeel is round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.