Dominion Millennium Oak Aged

Brewed by Old Dominion Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Dover, Delaware USA

Bottle from Ron’s Schoolhouse, Exton. Pours deep ruby reddish with dark copper edges, great lacing, and a 1-finger off-white head. I’ve never seen such copious lacing for a beer this big. The aroma is great; a complex mix of huge cognac, oaky bourbon, cherry, peat, berries...just a huge, very complex aroma that I could sniff all day. The flavor is oaky bourbony and very fruity up front, with a bit of heat, a solid cherry/berry flavor, plus a lot of oaky bourbon and fine cognac notes, citrus, and peaty notes, all meshing together wonderfully. The palate is hefty, a bit hot, and bold, sending more heavy spirity notes to the nose and taste buds as it warms, all the while maintaining its excellent oaky bourbon and fruity character. This one is outstanding, and I loved every moment with it.

Bottle @ Akkurat, Stockholm. Pours a hazy amber color with an off-white head. Malty woody oak vanilla aroma. Sweet malty oak flavor with some hints of caramel and vanilla and also some hints of dark fruit. Sweet malty warming finish with hints of dark fruit and vanilla in the aftertaste.

Bottled 11/2006. Bottle from kmweaver. Hazy, light amber body with a medium sized beige head. Oaky vanilla nose is complimented with rich toffee and light pine and citrus hops. Flavor is moderately sweet, toffee, some dark fruits, vanilla and light citrus. Full body is soft and sticky with light carbonation. A bit more bitterness with better attenuation and this would be a winner.

Bottle from JB175; Thanks!!! Nose of caramel, berries, and vanilla; lightly hazed copper with a medium beige head; flavor of hop bitterness, sweet caramel, and some merlot wine flavor. Body a little on the thin side but a wonderful finish of sweet and bitter, with a little alcohol warmth. Great complexity for a barlewine. Wish I had traded for a couple more bottles.

Appearance: Pours a wood varnish-hued body with a small, khaki-colored head. Very exciting. Smell: Grand! A luscious, toothsome aroma full of malty caramel sweetness and plenty of smooth vanilla and bourbon notes. Taste: Ah, yes! Succulent sweet maltiness upfront with flavors of caramel and vanilla - much like a cream soda! Slight orange peel fruitiness. Lighter notes of bourbon and wood. Even lighter bitterness emerging in the finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Very creamy. Drinkability: It’s delish! For a fan of barleywines, there is little not to like about this beer.

20061111 Sampled at Cornboy’s 1st Annual Barley Wine Extravaganza
#14 Wow. Sweet, hot, thick. Is it the wood at work or just because it’s fresh? Coating. Late notes of dried apple. Very nice.

Thank you to shigadeyo for trading this to me. Bottled 11-17-06. Pours a darkish cloudy amber with a small off white head. Aroma is instant malty pineapple which I love. I did not pick up but maybe slight traces of bourbon in the flavor or aroma. Flavor is bitter pineapple, malts, light roast, and ever so light bourbon. Finish is mildly dry. Pretty good. Thanks again Craig.

Bottle. Somewhat hazy orange pour with a short yellowed off white head. Aroma of oak, coconut, mandarin oranges, orange zest and booze. Flavors hinted of citrus hops but mellowed pineapple for sure...dry oak, light sweet malt, light plum skin and coconut milk. Fairly light body for the style...quite dry and bitter throughout with sweet notes interlaced till it comes to a nutty-sour/dry finish. Is this one of those beers that spent too muh time in the barrel? Perhaps. Not exactly off-putting as I like the dryness that the wood brings out...but there seems to be too many Pina Colada elements...not too mention the soft, nearly flat carbonation. Has some good things going for it , but I’m still scratching my head to why this one is rated so high as while it is indeed interesting...it’s a bit of a mess, especially for the price. This makes me wonder what kind of bourbon was in them barrels, because I get no real elements of bourbon here...oak chips maybe...but not bourbon.