Deschutes Mirror Mirror Barleywine

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Bend, Oregon USA

Bottle… Clear, electric orange ale with a small, fizzy, khaki head. Decent retention. The aroma is of caramel, date, grassy/peppery hops, ethanol and a touch of dried plum. Full-bodied with a thick, chewy mouthfeel and delicate carbonation. The flavor is sweet and caramely up front; followed by a gentle bitterness that lingers right on through the caramel/toffee, mostly sweet finish.

22 of the ’05, capped. Thanks, CShwaz! I had this on tap long ago but somehow missed rating it. Pours clear copper with a white ring of foam. Creamy medium body. I’m going to need to rate this one again and keep better notes.

Blood red pour produces a creamy eggshell head that left significant lacing. Aroma is faint but yummy. Cotton candy, brown sugar, molasses, and maple syrup. Also a little raisin and dark fruit present. Mild alcohol presence that will disappear with time. Thick, low carbonation, and heavy...which fits the style nicely. Another solid offering by Deschutes!!!

No relation in flavor to MP. Pours thick and clammy with a profuse stubborn head. Aromas of sour candy. Effers are almost non existent. This goes down like mucous. A lot of candy essence coming through on this one. Not sure why they state drink a year from now. I initially thought because of a hop infusion but not at all close. Very English and mucously sweet. Those malt concentrates will still be there next year. Not real sure about the hype. With all that said this is a quite nice beer with an extremely strong presence. Big head but low carbonation. Don’t complain about Angel’s Share. Wine meets beer.

wax topped bottle took me 10 minutes to freakin open. Beer poured into the glass a nice shiny burnt sienna, the head atop resting in halo position sporting a mixture of fine and medium sized bubbles. slightly caramelized powdered sugar nose with hints of alcoholic cantaloupe and watermelon rind. Cold/Wet palated yet sticky and severely bitter, its certainly not the relaxing beer I was hoping for. Flavors tend to be unorganized, with harsh hop residuals clouding any potential for congruity. There’s an ackward attempt of fruitiness, but ends with bitter melon rind..something I don’t think has too many positive attributes. The bitterness here almost makes this beer something I don’t see myself drinking until the beer is at least 3 years old...by then, who the hell knows what this thing is going to taste like. Right now, it’s way too damn green.

2009 Bottling. Pours with a clear amber body and a small off-white head. Aroma of oak, dark fruits, cinnamon and florals. Taste is hoppy, but not overtly so, with dark fruits, bread, biscuit, and yeast with a noticeable, but not unpleasant alcohol presence. Malt bill reminds me of Old Guardian, although the hop bill is completely different. Syrupy mouthfeel, and extremely drinkable for such a young barley wine. Great stuff.

Pours a nice ruby red with a small foam that reduces to a light lacing. Aroma is of sweet flower nectar, dark fruit, cane sugar. Not too bold or complex is the aroma, but pleasant. Ooh, the flavor is very smooth and elegant. Thicker viscosity. 11% barely even shows up, until a moment later in the chest, but not in the flavor. Flavor is very floral, not at all bitter, medium sweetness. I’m getting a lot of brandy in the middle and the end. Fruity, a little candy sugar and slightly earthy. Mouthfeel: Nice viscosity and carbonation. It is indeed pretty complex. Very enjoyable. Not one of my favorite BW’s, but still very high quality. No complaints about this one. Overall, very good.

it has a bright, brown pour. A thin layer of foam covers the top. It has a very mild aroma. The flavor is sweet and mild.