Clipper City Heavy Seas Below Decks

Brewed by Clipper City Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Baltimore, Maryland USA

12oz bottle. Pours a deep, orangey copper with a thick - though shortlived - light tan head. Some lace (though very little) remains on the side of glass as it is consumed. The aroma is thick and sticky with vinous malts, caramel, and some alcohol. There are notes of spice and fruit that cut the aroma so that it isn’t grossly sweet. The flavor starts bittersweet with notes of caramel, fruit, and spice. It is very malty with lots of caramel and notes of toffee, treacle, and molasses. There is a slight hint of licorice in there, too. By the middle of the tongue, the tinge of alcohol grows - and the spice and fruit grow, too. The finish is spicy with a balancing bitterness and a firm alcohol presence. The bitter hops in the back are distinctly earthy and spicy. The mouthfeel is thick and full, but not syrupy. The high alcohol accentuates the tingle on the tongue delivered by the carbon dioxide. The carbonation level is right on for style - low though still far from flat. It carbonated enough to slightly lighten the beer’s texture and make it lively on the walls of the mouth. Overall, a very decent English barley wine - and a strong one, too.

Nice looking pour with a crystal clear amber color and thin off white head. Healthy aroma of caramel, dark fruit candy and hints of alcohol. The flavor is just like the aroma with plum, date and cherry flavored hard candy. Beyond that are mild caramelized malts and caramel candy flavors. Near the end there seems to be a faint toffee note. This could probably use a bit more age.

Decent barley wine. Some nice flavours, all fruity though the fruits don’t taste very ripe yet. It tastes like a beer that will improve with age. A bit heavy on the alcohol for the non-sweet flavours

(2006 Vintage) Slight aroma of dark fruit, pours a cloudy dark red (almost brown), with about a quarter inch of tan head. Sweeter in taste then my general preference. Plums, and other dark fruits are very evident. Alcohol not noticeable. I’ll be picking some of this years release up and comparing.

bottle. 2006 (bottle stated 10% abv). puny off-white head (quickly dissapated fully) into cloudy brown body. aromas were a bit overpowering with dark fruits, caramel, light hops, some brown sugar. flavor is bitter-sweet throughout. minimal lacing present. aromas and flavor improved as my senses acclomated.

**RE-RATE** The most drinkable barley wine yet. Aroma was pretty weak. No Vicks in this one...just dark malt. Pour was the same...murky brown with no head. Taste was very subdued for a barley wine. People keep telling me to enjoy these to try an English style BW and that’s what the label says. Regardless this bottle was a lot better than the last. Mostly caramel and dark malt with a bit of dark fruit. Very drinkable. ******* Original rating: A-5 AP-3 F-6 P-3 OI-12 Total 2.9 This was a weak barley wine. I don’t really care for this style, but since this TASTED weaker, that was actually better to me. Aroma was so-so. Vicks Vapo-Rub mostly. Pour was a murky brown with a little one finger off white head. Maybe the first head I’ve seen on a barley wine. Taste was astringent and sweet at the same time. Not as thick and syrupy as this style is known for which is a plus in my book. Hides the alcohol well. Not too hot and burning in the aftertaste.

The color was light orange/red. It was kindof light for a barley wine. The head was light beige, thin, and fizzy. The aroma was a little weak. It was alcohol, aged, and sweet malt. The flavor was coppery, hoppy, and some alcohol. It was lacking. The palate was thin for a barley wine. The finish was a little abrupt.

2006. Pours a murky reddish brown with a two finger creamy light tan head. The aroma is sweet, some caramel, some alcohol. The flavor is definitely english oriented, caramel, alcohol, citrusy hops, and a slight metallic taste. Overall a pretty nice taste, definitely not a 3.1. The palate is a little thick and warming. Goes down warm and leaves a slight sweet taste in the mouth.