Castle Springs Ye Olde Chucklehead

Formerly brewed at Castle Springs Brewing Co. - Lucknow
Style: Barley Wine
Moultonborough, New Hampshire USA

Random bottle I picked up in a beer store in NH. Pours mahogany with a thin off white head. Smells vinuous, earthy, some tea notes. Tastes lightly tarte with lots of tea like qualities. Definitely on the decline, but enjoyable.

Thanks to brewandbbq for this rare and retired treat. Looks like this is at least 3 years old, and probably older. Pours a ruddy, dark, reddish-brown body with a small, foamy, beige colored head. Sudsy lacing leaves minimal, spotty traces behind on the glass. Aromatics include rich caramel, figs, dates and toffee. Some long since faded, earthy hops leave a spicy, peppery note on the nose. Flavors are a touch oxidized at this point, but still quite enjoyable. Caramel and toffee sweetness is intercepted by peppery hop bitterness, and it then fades back into the sweet, fruity realm on the finish. A good deal of vanilla shines through, as well. Very sherry-like, overall. The body is substantial and smooth, with relatively low carbonation. This feels like its a bit past its prime, but still quite enjoyable.

Thanks for this rare sample, Indra. Poured with a dark ruby body and a yellowish head. The aroma was rich with toffee, some old prunes and molasses. You can tell this has a few years on it. The taste was sweet molasses with lots of pears and toffee. The carbonation was very smooth. A nice barley wine, too bad this brewer is not around anymore.

Huge thanks to Eric/Indra for this contribution to the 2005 KC holiday party. This bottle is 4 years old. Dark reddish color with a hazy head. The aroma is brown sugar, honey, citrus, and dark fruits. Taste is honey, brown sugar, turbino sugar caramel, spicy hops and a sweet, lingering finish. Mouthfeel is average to above average. A nice example of an aged barleywine.

Provided by Indra (Thanks a million). All kinds of browns, yellows and oranges, with a thin head. Cherry, caramel, toffee, and background hop aroma. For my palate, all the flavors were so well blended that it was hard for me to pick out specific flavors. I guess that’s kind of the point of cellaring. Lush mouth feel. Completely coats the tongue and finished clean. Fabulous.

Wow, thanks to Indra for this rare treat! Rich fruity aroma, with some burnt malts and tobacco leaf. Just a tad oxidized, but the touch of sherry actually adds a welcome character and complexity. Fruity and bready, biscuity malts. Peppery alcohol burn. Amber color, but shows clear at the edges, looks like whiskey in the glass. Minimal head and carbonation. Nicely bitter finish.

Unfiltered pour is betrayed by heavy chunks. Chestnut brown covered by a yellow film. Fruited brown sugar and overall yeasty character strike as rather bready with plenty of crystal malts and burnt toffee flavours. Very sweet in mouth, candyish brown sugar leanings with severe hop backings, mostly fruity and leafy with emanating citrus character toward the finish that lingers on with the coating sugar. Low carbonation and medium body may be growing tired as I feel they could tighten the flavours together with a bit more expertise, thus uplifting the focus from the crystal malts heaviness a bit.

Vinous and fruity, sweet and sugary aroma with some sherry-like oxidation apparent. Opaque, muddy, brown body with a low but lasting tan head that recedes to partial cover. Roasty and charred charcoal flavour is very vinous and fruity with some notes of cocoa in the sugary sweetness. Medium body with low carbonation that feels quite dry despite the obvious sweetness. Bottle sampled at Barry’s housewarming tasting.