Deschutes Mirror Mirror Barleywine

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

Bottle 2005 version sent by Wohlfman and served in my GI IPA glass: Displays a nice coppery sunset colour with also no head but some oily film upon the glassware. The nose detects notes of caramelized and bready malts, moderate vanilla and oaky vapours, rich spiced apple, grape, and tangerine zest, light pine and resiny hop, with a dash of phenolic activity.

The taste profile starts malty and fruity with grassy and PNW hop backing character. The finish is equal part wood and pepper and comes off dry yet somewhat sticky upon the finish. The mouth feel is medium to full bodied with a cleansing alcohol component and lushness without becoming cloy or on the other end of the spectrum harsh.

That said this Barley Wine seems a bit discombobulated and never seems to go for the kill. More than drinkable enough but there are better within the genre. Worth a try when looking for beers within the style that are more hopped than the British style but not a hop monster either...I really don’t know how else to describe it.

22 oz bottle, 2005 reserve (bought 6 months ago). Pours a reddish copper with a thin head that quickly diminishes.

The aroma is sweet caramel and toffee, dark fruits, and some vinous, slightly medicinal, alcohol.

The flavor is sweet caramel malts, a little fruitiness, and a medicinal alcohol bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium to full with soft velvety carbonation.

Overall, it has kind of a harsh flavor. I remember this being smoother when I had it fresh which is kind of odd. It’s not bad though and goes down surprisingly easily.

Pours a two finger cream head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Almost clear amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Malty nose. Starts sweet-brown sugar, but hops are balancing, high ABV is hidden, mellow smooth finish. Decent barleywine. $6.95 for a 22oz bottle from John’s Market Tigard, Or. Label has the ABV at 9.86%.

Pours a dark amber color, with a off white head that had some lacing power. Aromas of citrus, sweet malts, and some alcohol. Flavor isn’t as sweet as I was led to believe. You can taste the alcohol from the get go, what follows is a nice mellow brown sugar (I Guess) sweetness that finishes with a nice bitter hop.

Bottle obtained in a trade with kramer17801... thanks! Pours a medium amber color with no lead or lacing. Aroma is malty and syrupy with very slight caramel hints. Flavor is malt, caramel and alcohol. Kind of strong notes of the alcohol coming through, definitely oakey barrel hints as well. I think this beer is only going to be better in the next year or two and would like to try it again then (after it’s had a chance to mellow a little).

Pours with an amber body topped by a thick, lasting head with a good amount of lacing. It’s sweet and malty with nice caramel notes and a nice underlying hop note with piney, citrus notes. Full bodied, warming and well carbonated.

Aroma has two strong presences, the hops and the malt. besides the bitterness (which is more resiny than citrus) I taste toast, white sugar. it seems a little too square, not rounded. Not clashing but not quite fitting together.

Beer pours medium amber color with a dissipating off white head. Aroma has notes of molassess and a hint of hops. Flavor is mild aged hops with molasses Good.