Clipper City Heavy Seas Below Decks

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

2005 bottle bought at Super Saver in Jersey. I had to throw that in b/c I bought it earlier today and the store rocks. This bottle was probably sitting around the stores selves for a few months and in my fridge for about 2 hours. Not cold but chilled when served. I poured it into a large cognac snifter. Pours is rather nice. Nice thick head, not what a BW usually gives off. Dark amber colored, no clarity throgh the body and just a bit of translucence. Thick head dissipates into a strong lacing. Now this is where the beer goes south. In general, if I didnt know what I was drinking I may not even think this is a BW. Nose has a very present hop character over taking a very mild malt, cookiedough aroma. Taste is rather light, no way would I think this is 11%. Its no even a strong hop flavor just moderate. Nothing really reminiscent of BW. Finishes with a bit of sweetness and a moderate hop bitterness. Weird stuff. I did pick up one more bottle from Super Saver to hold onto for a few years. While I doubt it will get better, I will check back then.

Bottle and served in my Ratebeer tulip: Pours a coppery hue topped by a small ring of foam and some oilyness. The aroma has notes of caramelized malting, sugar, candi apple, moderate grassy and even a bit piney hops, earthy yeast esters and a touch phenolic. Very much more towards the American style of Barley Wine. The taste follows suit with a lot of fruity character of plum, apple, and star fruit which are both sweet and acidic supported by a moderate level of a bready and caramel malt. The nice layer of bitters and alcohol easily clean the palate. The finish is lightly peppered and clove noticed in addition to a hint of metallic or astringent quality. Within the genre, it is easy to approach and actually refreshing due to the lack of body. There is some yeast in the bottle so it could age and cut some of the rougher edges but alas there is not enough depth to make it worth your while, methinks. Drink young and enjoy. THX Jeff for letting me take the bottle home.

pours deep copper. for a barley wine this is a little thin but an easy drink. it has fuit notes that take dominate but is fair to the style. I usually like my barley wines to be more robust and in your face.

12-oz.; thanks, BeachBum25! Pours medium brown with amber highlights, tannish moussy head with tiny bubbles. Not much happening in the way of carb in the visible body. Slightly phenolic, very sticky sweet-smelling fragrances; the caramel’s really up front here. Lots of overripe fruit in the attack--bananas and plums. Mid-palate’s got some caramel and toffee, and there’s a wisp of piney bitterness in the finish. Not an exceptional beer, but certainly enjoyable as far as it goes.

Gentle, sweet, fruity aroma - filled with honey and dates, as well as a healthy dose of malts. The flavor itself is very thin: slightly sweet, and malty. The alcohol is high, as a barleywine should be, but its not very well-hidden. Astringent, sour and filled with funky esters, including the dominant banana ester. This beer is just OK for me, not really something I will try again.

Medium amber pour, with minimal, fizzy head - aroma of fruity pastries and bread yeast - very thin for such a strong ale - burnt/carmelized sugar up front, followed by some wintery spices and a toasty/roasted quality - quite one-dimensional - semi-bitter, burnt-tasting finish - disappointing.

Botlle. Pours a dark reddish brown with almost ne head. Nose is roasted, dried fruit. Flavor upon first tasting is overwhelmingly burnt. As the beer warmed, that flavor mellowed and was replaced by light malty sweetness and bitterness with a smidge of spice. Thought this one had a fairly thin mouthfeel as well.

Bottle. Medium almandine body with a 1/4 inch foamy head. Nose-very sweet malts, fruits, and pumpkin. Taste-sawdust, seltzer, CO2, corn juice, light cherry, prickly carbonation, dirt. For 11% this thing sure is thin. How can it be so one dimensional and have 11%? I don’t even taste alcohol. Weird. Its not nasty, just...sad.