Brewers Alley Black Frost Barley Wine

Brewed by Brewers Alley Restaurant & Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Frederick, Maryland USA

Aroma is robust with lots of dried fruits, rich malt and a bit of alcohol in the backround. Poured very dark brown with a good sized head, but could not hold it at all, probably due to high abv. Flavor was lots and lots of dried fruit, especially figs, with a bit of raisin, and lots of malt. Alcohol is not very noticeable. Biggest complaint was the body it was both thin (for a barley wine) yet kind of syrupy. overall nice big ale.

Enjoyed this good beer on tap at the brewpub. It had a syrupy black appearance, with a barely existent, foamy whitish head, that was gone quickly. The aroma had some dense fruit flavors, with a touch of cherry, raisins, and perhaps some earthy hops. The flavor was also of dense fruit, with a syrupy sweetness, perfect for sipping. Slightly bitter finish, with a presence of alcohol detectable. A thinner, slippery mouthfeel to this beer, with low carbonation, and a clingy texture. One of the better beers the brewpub makes, and an aggressive, but well-managed ABV.

No head from the tap, although I can't say if that's the bartender or the beer. Full of flavor and malt, a little short on hops. The alchol is barely noticeable; I found myself wanting to gulp what I knew was a sipping beer! Earthy with fruit tones. Not a standout, but a darn good beer.

(2002)- Dark ruby-black with almost no visible head. Very sweet malty aroma. It actually smells a lot like a homebrew barely wine. The armoa improves as the beer warms. he flavor is big sweet caramel. All hop bitterness has vanished and there is a slight alcohol burn. The body is a bit watery. This may be a result of the lack of carbonation. A decent but not great barley wine.

***Re-Rate*** Still an ass-kicking drinking experience... literally. After drinking three snifters, I woke up on December 14th, 2004, feeling like I'd been sucker punched. Lots of fruit (Cherries maybe), and oak in this deep, dark brew. The alcohol is well-hidden. This stuff was aged for one year and has tons of complexity for a barley wine. Full-bodied with a fizzy, oily mouthfeel. Lengthy, earthy, fairly dry finish. Great stuff!

(2000) Amber brown color -- deep color with red highlights. Not a lot of head. Sour cherry aroma with alcohol overtones. Sour cherry flavor with an aftertast of Luden's cough drops. Nice as it warms -- becomes inviting, less edgy, mre balanced.

2000 edition, aged two years. Dark brew, a bit reddish, no head. Lots of cherries and ripe fruits. Nice hops for bitterness, balances well. Slightly smoky, like a big scotch ale. Alcohol quite noticeable in the finish. Quite good.

(2003 edition, sampled 12/03) Dark brown with minimal beige head. Aroma is sweet, raisin, caramel. The taste is the same, though not quite as pleasant as the aroma suggests. No carbonation, watery and light chewiness. (8/3/7/2/14). (2000 edition,sampled 1/03) Clear dark ruby body, no head. This is an intense cherry beer, complete with both the sweet and the sour/tart qualities of cherry. Taste is also malty, alcohol, and with solid bitterness on the back half. Use of "sour mash" results in less sweetness than usual for a barleywine. Quite nice beer. (8/4/8/4/16)