Berkshire Holidale

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

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

Pours reddish brown that starts with a heavy beige head that disappears as fast as it came. The body is clear with dark pockets, the nose is fantastic. Sweet fruit with a candy rum soaked back drop. Intense raisins and a vinos quality is very present. The taste is raisin, dark plum, black cherry, a very malty presence that really fight to be balanced out with the hops in the beer. The alcohal is faint in this brew, it starts sweet with the alcohal infused raisin flavor on the palate then moves to a berry fruitiness and finishes bitter. So many rides this beer takes you on and I can’t wait to take another trip.

Poured from a 22oz. bottle into a stemmed glass. The color is a somewhat cloudy reddish/maroon with three fingers of off white head with a bit of lacing left on the glass. The smell is a very sweet with some spicy hints of clove and some rye. The taste is mild with some nice rye flavor and a nice floral hoppiness. Some nice dark fruit flavor and is bit of a creaminess that is slight but present. The feel is light with a bit of age on it. The burn has calmed and is now a bit warming and ticklish. Has a medium body but is easy to handle.

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.

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.

’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.

Tasted at YeHA! 2006 in Montreal. 2005 vintage. App.: med. copper, clear, sl. greenish hues in the head. Aroma: fairly sweet malt, raisins and dried fruits, piney/grapefruity hops in the background. Pal.: med.-full body, med.-low carbonation. Flav.: grapey, dried fruits, sweet, much like the nose minus the hops. A little bitter and alcoholic to finish.

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.