Boulder Beer Killer Penguin Barleywine

Brewed by Boulder Beer Company
Style: Barley Wine
Boulder, Colorado USA

Date: 02/10/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Extreme Beer
Vintage: 2006

clear dark amber, wispy head, rich dark caramel aroma with earthy hops, rich sweet caramel flavor, lots of earthy bitterness and a long bitter finish, needs age to mellow the rough edges
-------- /> Date: 10/01/2007
Mode: bottle
Source: roadtrip
Vintage: 2006
Score: 3.1 to 3.4

sweet and fruity aroma with some fusel alcohols that fade a bit but never totally disappears, body gets creamy as it warms, rich and fruity flavor, much lighter bitterness allows the fruit to come through stronger but still offers balance, only a hint of the fusel alcohols at first and then fades away, the bitterness slowly grows as it warms, age has helped but more would be better,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **+/4
-------- /> Date: 02/10/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 2007

clear dark blood red, frothy beige head, dry caramel malt aroma with lots of earthy hops, sweet caramel malt flavor, touch of candy sweetness, light fruity character that will improve with age, lots of earthyness for balance, truely a beer to age,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **+/4

The 22 ounce vintage 2006 bottle poured a clear, deep reddish-orange colored beverage with an ample frothy light tan head that was fully lasting and left great lacing on the glass. The aroma was complex and strong as one would expect with ample notes of malt and grapefruit-like hops. The body was full with lively carbonation and a smooth, slightly dry texture. The flavor started out just a bit on the sweet side but quickly took on a typical light tart character. The finish was lasting and had a nice alcohol warmth in the chest.

2006 Bottle Vintage, sampled August 2007
I’ll admit to the fact that I have been sort of avoiding this beer for quite some time; I haven’t heard too many great things about it, but there is only one way to really know.

Topped by a frothy, initially three finger thick, tan colored head in my 25cl tulip glass. The beer is a lightly hazed, reddish amber colored brew. Up front the aroma is a concentrated mix of hop and malt character. Almost immediately though it starts to pick up a note reminiscent of rancid cheddar cheese, fungal focused mushrooms, and dirty old socks; somehow these lost, out of place aromatic notes bring a smile to my face as they make me think how much I would like to be smelling a funky Lambic beer right now. Alas this is no lambic, and the funk just gets in the way of the concentrated malt and hop character that should be the sole focus of this beer. The malt and hop aromatics are noticeable, in fact they are bigger than the funk (which is just so out of place that it is quite noticeable); notes of caramel, toasted grain, sweet citrus and a herbal, almost menthol-like hop character. Interestingly enough the super funky aromatics seem to dissipate, for the most part, after a short bit of time leaving nothing but a tainted memory for the nose to live through.

The flavor is lightly sweet for a beer of this stature; the malt sweetness is well balanced by a herbal hop character and bitterness. Candied grapefruit peel, a zesty carbonation, notes of pine and a touch of minty basil help to balance and even at times show up the malt character of this beer. The malt character focuses on crystal malt like notes of caramel, toasted grain, sweet raisins, brown sugar coated biscuits, and even some hints of roasted malt character in the finish (perhaps reminiscent of almost black toast, or even lightly roasted, spent coffee grounds. The beer has a solid bitterness, though it is certainly not on the high end for an American-styled Barleywine.

The aroma of this beer started out down-right wrong, but seemed to correct itself after being allowed to breath for a bit. Luckily by the time I got to the taste, the really weird funky notes had almost all but disappeared, if they were ever noticeable. In the end this beer is quite a bit more enjoyable that I had feared; part of this may have been my initial low expectations and the fact that the aroma started out so poorly; the beer recovered though and has become quite a tasty tipple. The lesson, definitely let this beer sit for a while after you pour it to give it a chance to breath and open up.

Pours ruby with a tan head that is kinda fizzy but laces well. Nose is creamy malt and molasses. Initial bitter notes in the flavor are quickly overwhelmed by sweet maltiness, plums, and the finishing alcohol bite. Medium body, oily or creamy mouthfeel. Pretty good stuff.

This is the best Barley Wine I have ever had. A great start with a heavy almost purple/dark red body and heavy tinted head. Finishes with a great after taste and not too dry. The extra malts give it a heavy flavorful taste that is to die for. A great Beer.

Pours a nice dark amber color with a small thinning head.aroma is sweet.Flavors of cereal,syrup and fruit.The alcohol crept up on you but not overdone.Has a slight bitter finish

Bottle sampled. Pours copper with a small off-white head. Aroma of caramel malts, fruit, and alcohol. The flavor is sweet caramel, alcohol is present, slight dark fruits, and mildly bitter. Body is thin, just ok.

Nose-cherry, stale hops, unsweet malt. Body-iced tea with a thin ring of bubbles. Taste-cereal, dried cherries, medium-high CO2, low straw, very English, alcohol comes out in the end.