Berkshire Holidale

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

22 oz. bomber, 2007 vintage, Pours a deep red, almost burgundy color with a 1/2" off white head. Good lacing that stayed until the end. Upon pouring, the aromas released are of dark fruits and fresh baked holiday bread. Mouthfeel is moderate to thick. There’s a chewyness to this brew. Flavors were of dates, figs, plums and raisins. There is a warming alcohol burn. Think chocolate covered cherries with liquor. Just the right amount of hops for balance. Dry and slightly bitter finish.

2006 vintage, 22 oz. bomber bottle, sampled in a snifter. Murky appearance, orangey amber in color. You get the small foamy beige head that one expects with a high ABV ale, dissipates quickly into a fine lacing. Fruity esters in the aroma, raisins, figs and tropical fruits. Malty smells of caramel and chocolate along with whiffs of molasses. Lush syrupy mouthfeel, silky slick on the tongue, the right amount of moderate carbonation. A balanced taste, nothing is overwhelmed by the other. Rich malty flavors, molasses, caramel, and chocolate. Candied tropical fruitiness keeps this on the sweet side. The hops provide a nice light spiciness. The alcohol is warming in the palate with some vanilla woody flavor. Finishes dry, toasted caramel comes out and a little herbal spiciness lingers a bit in the aftertaste. A pleasant sipper, not too malty or with a taste crushing hop bitterness, quite enjoyable on a quiet evening.

Date: 03/17/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Vintage: 2005

clear orange amber, whispy head, semi sweet carmel malt aroma, rich calmel malt flavor balanced by earthy hops, very mellow

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4
-------- /> Date: 06/30/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 2006

clear dark amber, frothy beige head, drops of lace, rich dark caramel malt aroma with lots of earthy hops, rich dark caramel malt flavor, rich fruity character, light balancing biterness considering the rich malt

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

22oz bottle acquired in trade. 2006 vintage. Poured a medium to deeper orangish / amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, raisins, plums, and an all around christmas smell (spruce and spices). Tastes of caramel, dark fruits, vanilla, and citrus. Alcohol content well hidden.

2006 Vintage. 22oz bottle. Strawberries, Caro syrup. Molasses and kerosene. very sweet. Woody, vanilla flavors

Appearance: Pours a clearish amber-brown body with a light beige-colored head. Smell: Divinely sweet-smelling, fruity aroma with notes of dried plums and cherries, tobacco leaves, cinnamon, and cookies sprinkled with sugar. Taste: Sweet caramel and candy-crammed, rum-soaked cake. So, yes, its pretty sweet. Hardly any hops in this beer beyond a little showing of citrus at the end. Finishes on the sweet side, but with some alcohol burn creeping in at the end. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Somewhat stick mouthfeel. A bit of alcohol heat showing. Drinkability: An ideal winter beer that’s rather tasty and enjoyable without solely relying on a truckload of ridiculous spices.

22 oz bomber 2006 version. Deep orange-brown colour. Almost no head to speak of. The aroma is quite sweet, toasted hazelnuts, marzipam, brown sugar, light rum and plum. Candied dates, and light syrup. Flavour is sweet and fairly straightforward, sweet apricot and plums with a touch of brown sugar. Moderate bitterness lending a touch of spice and leafy character. A lighter style of barleywine that might improve over the next year or so, but probably not much beyond that.

’06 Bottle courtesy of Thaichile, thanks Mark!! Pours a rusty color with a smallish beige colored head. Aroma is caramel malt, sweet fruits, raisins, dried cherries. Flavor is huge caramel malts, dried cherries, orange, raisins, grapefruit, brown sugar. Palate is full bodied, mild carbonation, finishes sweet and sticky. I rather enjoyed this. Thought the alcohol was well hidden, very sweet and fruity which is typical of a barleywine, but this was different some way. Great stuff, IMO much better than the 3.3.