Bos Bourbon Barrel Barleywine

Formerly brewed at Bos Brewery and Bistro
Style: Barley Wine
Pontiac, Michigan USA

Tap at MI brewer’s guild fest winter-06- Sheesh, this is good. Orange on the pour with some cloud creating a good whisky-ish look. Thin ring of white foam gives some character to the appearance. Huge candy caramel apple aroma, with toffee, whisky and a boozey sugar-ness. Packs a punch. The bourbon is here, but it’s not offensive. The taste is interesting. Boozey caramel whisky flavours with sugared caramal apples and a strong oaky fruitness. There’s a smidgen of bitterness in the finish, but it’s not to flagrant, nor is it needed. A great beer, one of the best at the fest. I think it weighed in at 19% or so. Love to get it in bottle.

On tap: Great aroma of caramel, toffee, banana bread, light bourbon, and the slightest bit of hops. Orangish-red with a small off-white head. Loads of caramel and toffee up front with lots of residual sugar. Hops in the finish are muted, especially when compared to all the sweetness. Bourbon is not excessive and really blends well. One fo the better beers at the MBG Winter Beer Festival.

Served at the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Winter Festival. Stupid of me not to write down the ABV, but I think it was close to 20. I did write down "2003". My favorite beer of the day, one in which I sampled multiple times. A maltier barleywine, with faded hops due to the couple years of age, and a wonderful bourbonized appeal. The bourbon hits you on the nose with brown sugar, vanilla, dried cherry, and honey. The palate is rich and viscous, with the bourbon adding some nice charred dimensions. I grew tired of all the bourbon stuff, but this one was well done. Great work, Bos!