Cambridge Arquebus

Brewed by Cambridge Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Cambridge, Massachusetts USA

GABF 2007. My first tasting note was "nice." My second: "unique." This isn’t your grandpappy’s barley wine. Smells meady with honey and alcohol very much apparent, with an accent of menthol. Initial impression is that the mouthfeel is lighter than expected for a BW, but the expected sweetness didn’t overwhelm the lighter texture. This is herbal right away with the meady honey in the background as the dominant form of sweetness. Slightly flowery in the end. Honey comes out in the finish too, which is juicy (not dry).

Well-hazed (cloudy) mid-amber holding a skin of off-white head. Deep fruity & alcoholic aroma with apricot, peach, cherry, white grape, tainted subtly by medicinal honey/menthol coughdrops. Flavor pulls through with incredible complexity, slightly daunted by an overdose of vinous alcohol. Sweet and fruity, plenty of apricot lingers in the finish. So good that I returned for seconds (which is a genuine compliment at a festival where time and tickets need to be budgeted wisely).

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Events-Detail.asp?Eve V, November 2007</font>

Draft at the brewpub. A cloudy, dark amber body is crowned with a small, compact layer of khaki colored foam. Wavy ribbons of dense, sticky lace coat the glass. Aromas are as complex and unique as any you’ll encounter. A caramel malt base is accompanied by a strong, tannic grape influence, with vanilla and pervasive, tart, funky oak element. Apricots and honeydew melon make surprise appearances, while sugary sweet, concentrated Chardonnay grapes are stronger than one could possibly expect. Flavors start out with a sweet caramel and citrus blossom honey base, with tart, fruity notes of pineapple, green apple, peaches, apricots, and even hints of tropical mango. A drizzle of melted toffee imparts further richness, while lightly bitter, floral hops lend just a touch of bittering balance. The toasty, funky oak barrel is an obvious influence throughout. Medium-full bodied, smooth, and sweet, but not cloying, the body is as satisfying as the rest of the brew. Part barleywine, part fruity Chardonnay, part icewine, and part funky wild ale, this one is impossible to categorize. A truly unique and enjoyable experience.

GABF 2007. A hazy golden beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet with notes of over ripe fruits - some peaches among others. The flavor is very sweet with notes of over ripe fruits - again peaches being strongest, also with notes of wood. The finish is dry woody and peachy.

[Draft @ the brewpub] Poured a lightly hazy, golden amber color with a small, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of vanilla, green grapes, caramel malts, apple, honey, and light alcohol. Taste of caramel, vanilla, light oak, tart chardonnay notes, and a lightly alcoholic finish.

(Draught, 2008 vintage) Pours a clear amber body with a small white head. Aroma of floral, tangerine, peach, clove, white grapes, honey, and subtle wood notes. Flavor of strawberry, toffee, cherry, and honey.

at the 2007 Boulder CO Strong Ale Fest. Lots of spicy, malty aromas. Alcohol blends well with the base beer. Barrel aging does not overpower beer. A great, very well balanced beer.

8th Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines. Pours clear orange with an average, rocky, off-white head, diminishing with fair lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (bread, hay, straw), average hops (flowers, citrus), average yeast (dough, earth) with notes of peach and pear. Medium bodied, creamy texture, soft carbonation, and a metallic finish. Average duration, light sweetness, moderate acidity and bitterness.