Dominion Millennium

Brewed by Coastal Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Annapolis, Maryland USA

hoppage: 1998. Thanks to DaSilky1 for sharing. Amber colored, Lots of alcohol present in the taste, but balanced a bit by the sweetness.

Bottle. Color was an opaque, golden auburn. Aroma of malt, caramel, and alcohol. Taste was much of the same; a somewhat chewy palate feel. Not complex enough; flavors did not blend all that well. Above average beer, but not too amazing.

2006 Vintage (bottling date 040906)

3/04/2008: Dominion Millennium Specialty Ale is golden orange (bright copper) in color and is mostly clear. The pour doesn’t produce any head and the carbonation level is low. The aged hoppiness is showcased in the aroma along with rich caramel malt and dark fruits (prune, date, vague berry). The aroma is pretty good, but the flavor is much less exciting. There is a fair level of maltiness and ripe fruits, but the hops and underlying hop flavors and bitterness seem to dominate. There is also a whisp of alcohol in the backend, but it is pretty well contained considering the content. The lingering flavor on the palate is apricot along with some date sweetness. The body of this beer is medium-full and it is slightly sticky on the lips, but goes down quite smoothly. Overall this is a fairly solid barleywine, but I was hoping for more malty sweetness (like an English-style barley wine).

12 Fluid Ounce bottle (Alcohol by volume 11.4%) from Dilly Deli in Mariemont, Ohio. Rating #273 for this beer...

Color is a bright ruby red, underneath a solid creamy head. Aroma is thick, pungent, oozing honeyish sweetness, and offering up a multitude of associations: molasses, rum, brandy, fruits, and candy. Taste is huge and fierce with hops, but never too much, it feels juuuust right. Malt comes to the the fore now, and the feeling is toasty and warm. A welcome and lasting finish. Somewhat mild, I felt, in some mysterious way, than other, bolder barleywines, but very true to form and very enjoyable. So why didn’t it feel like 11.4%?

Pow! This one slapped me in the face while I was still pouring it. Blast of hops followed by strong aroma of sweet malts. Beautiful in the glass, copppery amber with some ruby highlights, pretty white head. Good in the mouth, did not notice any overcarbonation. Initial flavor is almost all hops. As it warmed, malts rose to the front. In the end, it was pretty well balanced, although the alcohol was evident. I'm not a big fan of this style, but this was a well made beer. The only major drawback I found was a very bitter aftertaste that almost reminded me of a trip to the dentist.

12.04.05 12oz bottle at HW open house. Whoever brought this bottle is a real gem, I tell ya. Deep red amber pour is mostly still with a film of head. Aroma is immediately oxidation and old with cardboard, cellar, mattress, sherry, and wet leaves. Fair woodsy bitterness from hops competes with a sharp bite of alcohol. I’m certain this beer will get even better with time, but for now it’s an unbalanced mess of a bw. Finish is abrupt, though lingering pepper driness.

Deep amber body and viscous texture. Rich, fresh, candy malt, and dry-hop aroma. Dynamic flavor includes elements of juniper, wood, light smoke, grapefruit, caramel, and firm hop bitterness. Full, chewy body. This is an outstanding barley wine.

Badgerben’s Cellar Reduction night. Amber color with a sweet malty and hop nose. Caramel malt and citrus rise above the alcohol in the body. Almost cloying.