Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine

Brewed by Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Milton, Delaware USA

Had a bottle that was a couple years old. Got it at a local bar and let it sit out for almost an hour. I could not believe how much the alchol was covered up in the barley wine. Very little carbonation and a little citrus taste at the end made this one of my favorite barley wines.

Bottle. Pours a slightly hazy amber with a small white head that leaves decent lacing. Aroma of sweet malt, caramel malt, figs, dates, and alcohol. Taste is the same with a well balanced bitterness and slight alcohol warmth. Med-full mouthfeel with light carbonation that finishes slightly sweet. A tasty BW.

The aroma was citrusy and with a light bit of acidity. The aroma was fruity with a sizeable caramel malt presence and some raisins. Alcohol wafted from the glass and tickled the nasal passages. The beer poured into the glass hazy amber with a very low off-white head which barely lasted at the edges of the surface. The flavor was fruity and malty with a strong presence of raisins and a light bit of acidity. The malt was balanced by hops which had long since departed the flavor. The fruity aspect of the flavor was strong and dominant. The finish was just dry with lasting slight citrus into the aftertaste and beyond. The body was medium full and the carbonation level was pretty low. Not a very interesting barleywine all things considered. Good, but devoid of character. The alcohol warming after consumption was moderate and restrained on this 15% ABV beast. 750 ml corked and bailed bottle. Pinholes in label at 12 and 03. ($8.69 when purchased)

Pours a deep orange color. Small bubbly head that dissapates instantly. Smells like malty wine. Tastes of honey and fruit. A very good barley wine because it is not over hopped.

Bottle. Pours a copper/orange color. Smells of malt and alcohol. Tastes more complex. Creamy mouthfeel with a strong flavor of yeast and bread. It is somewhat sweet. Not too much of a hop aroma or flavor. It isn’t really suited to my palate, but who knows, it might be to yours. Only one way to find out!

2004 vintage - 12 oz. bottle via kramer17801 - color of dark translucent honey , with a decent egg shell colored head - nose of malt , red fruit (mostly cherries), slight alcohol , port , molasses , brown sugar , pepper , and hint of cookie – taste of dark red fruit (mostly cherries) , malt , some oats , brown sugar, prunes , and portish - body is smooth, but with a backbone , and with medium carbonation – aftertaste of port , raw cane sugar , and alcohol – at 15% this is the strongest beer I have had so far

Pours a cloudy tan/copper color with a medium sized head and a nice lasting ring of foam. Aroma is promising when compared to what follows in the finish. I get a sense of dates, soured pears and apples, a little caramel and brown sugar, and a lot of alcohol. It’s nice and inviting and highly aromatic. Taste shows some nice sweetness, but it’s fairly simply and caramelly. Some nice raisins and rum in the there and a little earthy, buttery hop flavor. Unfortunately this is freakin HOT. I had this before, but gave it a couple months and nope, it’s still way too hot. I agree with the rater who said it tastes like you just had a vodka shot. The alcohol disrupts the flavor upfront, and burns the throat so you can’t really enjoy anything else the finish offers. I love DFH usually, I mean I rated the 120 and WWS 5’s, just because I enjoyed them so much. But this is totally dissapointing. Why is this twice as hot as the 120 minute? Guh......

Bottle from trade kramer17801. Thanks Jason! Pours a nice dark golden amber color with a small tan head. Aroma of dates, figs and peached. The alcohol is present but very subdued. Taste is sweet initially but nicely balanced out between the malt and hops. Flavor of fermented fruit, caramel and spics. Another great DFH brew.