 bitbucket (1434), Kirkland, Washington, USA
Apr 23, 2008
Bomber. This beer seems to be pretty close to the middle of the pack for beers named "Train Wreck" so I’m looking at it with a bit of trepidation. Pours clear coppery amber with a thick and lacy off-white head. Soft citrus, peach, toffee and grass aroma. The taste is not quite as rewarding - and more in line with the name. The taste starts toffee sweet, but hops are all over the place, and quickly stomp all over anything that’s going on with the malt. Herbal, perfumy, maybe with a little plastic? This one just doesn’t work for me.
brentfeesh (869), Gadsden, Alabama, USA
Jun 29, 2008 22oz bottle. Pours hazy amber with a light off white wispy head. Sweet orange/nectarine aroma with caramel, candy, and red licorice. There is also a touch of something alcoholic. Lots of malt caramel in the flavor. This is a fairly sweet brew. Tons of orange character also. Impressively so, really. Just a bit of orange rind like flavors as well. Syrupy mouth feel with a semi-bitter finish. Good, but overloaded with orange and caramel to the point that it’s a bit much.
after4ever (1628), Brier, Washington, USA
May 26, 2008 22. Pours a deep dark mahogany with bright burgundy highlights. Thick, creamy tan head that really sticks around. Plenty of craggy lacing, too. Opens up with a big dark ganja-like aroma, as you would expect from a northern California beer called "Train Wreck." That mixes in with dark wet leaves, a wee bit of earth, and plenty of wood. The body kicks off thick and creamy; very nice. Plummy, vinous notes mingle with the wood, earth, and leaves. If this beer reminds me of anything, it’s Bigfoot--not ganja. The wood notes are very pronounced. Nice dark and sharp finish. This is a very good barleywine, maybe a great one, and will only improve with age as that sharp vinous stuff settles down and it all blends.
Enniskillen (1495), Port Angeles, Washington, USA
May 13, 2008 Ruby with a nice off white head which dissapates. Aroma is malt, alcohol, caramel, brown sugar, very light hoppiness. Taste is malt, alcohol, hops show up fairly strong along with some caramelized fruit. Doesn’t really come together like you would hope.
fishingnet (694), Brandon, Florida, USA
May 1, 2008 Bottle. Pours a clear amber with a small white head that leaves good lacing. Aroma of caramel, sweet malt, alcohol, toffee, and citrus. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium mouthfeel with a moderate amount of bitterness and slightly warm alcohol. Good.
wetherel (876), Carlsbad, California, USA
May 1, 2008 OK. Here’s an official ticker’s beer. I bought this 22ozer at Bevmo for $4.99, because I want another >10% rating, and because I love strong barleywines. I used to avoid buying beers with ratings below 3.7, but here I am. Pours with a medium head of medium bubbles, which fade very fast, leaving a very clear dark amber liquid. Some malty and higher alcohol heat in the aroma. Certainly needs some aging to mellow it out. Some early hop bitterness. A little sharp and young, but still nice. Pretty drinkable considering the ABV. Leans a little dry. 3.2-3.3.
|
