Deschutes Mirror Mirror Barleywine

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

2009 On-Tap at the Portland Brew Pub into a Snifter glass. Pours a brilliant burgandy that glows in the snifter with a fine wheite head that laces the glass beautifully. Aroma has dried fruit (figs, apricots, raisins), some earthy hops and a touch of booze and oak. The flavor has tart dried fruit, brown sugar and hints of oak with a earthy bitterness that lasts. Its medium-bodied and very sticky. Coats your mouth with every sip and extremely enjoyable. Very balanced for being such a young Barleywine.

Pours out a dark red with some foam. Taste is sweet,fruity, toasty malt. Some hops with a lots of woody notes. Flavors of caramel, toffee, vanilla and bourbon. The alcohol is mostly hidden. Smooth but still bold. Will rerate the other one on the 4-20-10 best after date.

2009 22 oz. bottle from Plaza Liquors - Pours a slightly hazy deep amber color with a one finger thick light tan head. Light lacing. Aroma is doughy toasted malt and esters. Flavor is full of esters and toasted malt. I could barely detect the oak initially, but as the beer warmed, the oak and vanilla really shined . Alcohol is fairly well hidden. Full body. A very nice BW.

Nice, inviting aroma, lightly floral or maybe fresh fruit but not at all sour. Taste does follow, but WHOAH that’s a strong, strong alcohol. Not at all subtle or hidden; hard to notice much else. Bottle says best after 4/2010, so maybe it mellows with age? For the moment, though, it’s pretty assaulting. I know barleywines are strong, but this one’s a bit much for me.

Poured a clear Amber Nice 1" cap of head Nice floral notes, some plum aromas Front is lots of toffee and caramel with a hint of red wine, then a little plum and apricot, finishes with some nice bitter hops and feint bourbon notes good amount of carbonation.

650 ml. bottle. 2009. Best By Date is too far away to wait. (4/20/10) Pours a thin tan head, of good duration, with slight lacing, over a clear, reddish brown (SRM 15) body.....nose of rich sweet malts, toffee, yeast, mild bread.....tastes heavily of sweet malts, with toffee and caramel dominating, finishing with a pleasant bitter bite, alcohol tones present throughout....mouth feel is thick and heavy, carbonation low. The big forces are well balanced here. It tastes young, no surprise, I’ll get a couple to age.

22oz bottle. Poured a medium clear amber orange with a 1 finger thick beige head. Floral hops were the first thing to hit the nose. Followed by some sweet caramel and toffee. Flavor finished up with assertive hop bitterness, caramel molasses and toffee. Would love to try the original ’05 batch.

A really great American barleywine. I love the best after date on it but couldnt wait that long to drink it. Color was a nice brown color. Aroma of alcohol and malt with some grassy hops. Flavor was big and full of malt, warm alcohol and balanced by a generous heaping of hops. A great beer.