BridgePort Old Knucklehead

Brewed by BridgePort Brewing (Gambrinus Company)
Style: Barley Wine
Portland, Oregon USA

On tap at BridgePort ale house on Hawthorne Blvd. in PDX, OR--Pours a deep amber-brown body. Small wispy cream head. Nose of sticky malts and fruity hops. Boozy, mildly cloying and quite sweet mid-way through. Quite strong and alcoholic. Not too bad.

Tap at their NW Brewpub and Bakery... Poured a thick brownish-ruby tone with a thin white head. Sweet barley/malt aroma. Thick palate with a nice residue after you swallow. Really sweet, brown sugar and apricot flavors, very hoppy but well balance and a caramelly aftertaste.

on tap-pours an off white head and copper/red color. Aroma is sweet/syrupy fermented fruit. Taste follows, medium malt, some alcohol. OK effervescence.

Date: March 05, 1998
Appearance: Dark amber, whispy head
Aroma: strong fruity malt aroma with slight floral hops
Flavor: sweet fruity malt flavor, light hopping, light bitterness, nice warming finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Score: **4

Date: February 23, 2002
Mode: Bottle
Source: Belmont Station, Portland
Vintage: 1999
Appearance: Dark amber, frothy tan head, lots of lace
Aroma: rich sweet fruity malt aroma
Flavor: rich malt flavor, low bitter finish, slight alcoholic essence

Date: September 27, 2004
Vintage: 1999
Appearance: muddy brown
Aroma: sweet malt aroma with hints of ripe fruit
Body: big body
Flavor: incredable rich malt flavor, lots of dark fruity character, low bitterness keeps it all balanced, has really matured and blended nicely

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Score: **4

The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

On tap at the brewpub during ABA Beer Tour 07. The last beer tried from the sampler tray. Pour a clear dark amber with a very thin off-white head that quickly turned into a fine film. No lacing on glass side. Aroma of thin sweet, dried fruits with some caramel malts and toffee. Taste is full bodied, malty, with fruity flavor of raisins and dark pitted fruits. Finish is slightly spicey with a lingering bitterness.

This was a surprisingly nice and mild barleywine. I don’t usually like barley wines and this was really nice. I had it on the sampler at bridgeport brewery. gotta get me some.

The year of the knucklehead I had was the year with Fred Eckhart on it. Bought this at Topper’s Market in Helana MT. Well made, complex and nothing out of this world. Page 82 of Michael Jackson’s Great Beer Guide and only 450 of 500 Classic Brews to go.

12oz - 2003 #011 - thanks Dukefan - Aroma of toasted caramel malt and toffee followed by dank dark fruits like plum, raisin and prune. Alcohol and hops are also present. Pours muddy brown with a small head and decent lacing. Flavor is strong raisin and caramel with an alcohol sting followed by hop bitterness. All the flavors meld together very nicely. Palate is sticky and tart. A tasty barley wine that has held up very well over the years.