Blind Tiger Old Bob Barleywine

The tap poured a slightly hazy dark brown beverage with a medium frothy light brown head that left little or no lacing on the glass. The aroma was quite complex beginning with a moderate malt base of molasses. Then light, sweet earthy tones came to bear with some brown sugar, cola and a note of ruby port. The body was lighter than I expected it would be with soft carbonation and an almost oily texture. The flavor was moderately sweet to start, with molasses and brown sugar coming through. As it matured, the sweetness continued and the red port came through. The finish was long and had a moderate alcohol warmth to it.

This is a deep crimson-brown and the big ABV is readily evident to the olfactory senses! This glass is filled with cooked caramel, over-cooked brown sugars and heavy maple flavors. Syrupy as you’d expect. Not a barleywine fan, and this didn’t help.

Sweet, malty aroma, lightly hoppy and toasty, some dark cherry, flower and brown sugar notes, perhaps some faint roastiness. Medium-dark brown color, relatively clear, with a fine, lasting head. Flavor traits are appropriately powerful and robust, plenty of sugary sweet caramel malts and fairly intense, citric hop flavors and bitterness, finishing with a blend of dark fruits, juicy hop resin and peppery alcohol, even a faint tinge of bubblegum very late. Possesses quite a massive body, with a thick yet effervescent and warming mouthfeel. A very interesting beer, one that certainly warrants further investigation.