Bison Organic Barleywine

Bottled. An unclear dark amber beer with a thin orange head. The aroma is sweet grassy hoppy, but also with light notes of dust and alcohol. The flavor is very sweet with strong notes of over ripe fruits, medium notes of grapefruit and dust from the hops, and light notes of alcohol.

(Bottle 65 cl) Slightly hazy, dark amber golden with a yellowish head. Sweetish aroma of caramel and overripe fruit. Quite full-bodied with sweetish caramel malt and overripe fruit and then a somewhat raw and brutal hop bitterness in the finish - they really should work on getting some better quality hops. Not a grand Barley Wine but better than its average indicates. 250407

Date: 01/06/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Blind Tasting

cloudy amber, wispy white head with frothy edges, light fruity aroma with essence of apricot, nice and well balanced fruity malt flavor, light but lasting bitter finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: /10
Score: **/4

Sampled as part of a 19 beer blind barleywine tasting: Clear bronze copper with a nicely-lacing white head. Aroma of dry, earthy, slightly tart crystal malt and light grapefruit. Body starts fairly full with a mild earthy sweetness and a good hoppy bitterness toward a crisp bitter finish.

Bottle... Mostly clear, rose-hued, amber ale with a small, creamy, off-white head. Excellent retention. Perfumy aroma with additional notes of caramel malt and fruitcake. The flavor is sweet and sticky. The moderate bitterness isn’t enough to slice cleanly through the rich, candy-malt sweetness, but it does prevent cloying and make the beer palatable. Full-bodied with a syrupy mouthfeel and restrained carbonation. Lengthy, sweet, grassy finish. Thanks to boboski for providing this underrated gem!