Dominion Millennium

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

Redish color. Smell of fruit, hops and hints of spice. Tastes very sweet with grapes, grapefruit, caramel, apples, spice, nuts, wood and a nice bitterness. Not too bad of alcohol taste either. This beer definitley warms your body up. One of my favorites to date.

This barleywine is a very hoppy example of the style, exhibiting exremely spicy Mt Hood/Hallertauer flavor, much like what I found in Avery Czar. The malt is big as well, sweet, honeyed, showing a bit of fruitiniess, but framed with the hop spice. I'm tempted to say that the hop spice might be a bit much for me. Handsome cherry color.

Cloudy and orange in color. Srong malty aroma. Very flavorful barley wine. Cheers!

(Thanks to J. Mallett, got hold of a 1995 vintage) Hazy chestnut colour; originally thick yellowish head, immediately reduced to 0.5 cm. Nose is a superb combination of portwine, nuts, fruit (orange) and - very strange - something reminding me of raw egg. The sweet, rich, fruitcake and banana taste is as expected, but surrounded all the time by a respectable hopbite, very American. Again the beer has a surprise flavour in waiting for me : like the flavour/aroma of incense, mixed in Marssala wine. Also some tobacco in the finish. Rich, very filled and creamy mouthfeel. Alcohol obvious, warming. Great, rich beer. Leaves nothing to be desired.

Pours a translucent red with medium head that fades quickly. Aroma of caramel, a bit of coffee, and sometimes grapefruit. The flavor is caramel and port brought alive by noticable but pleasent alcohol and citrusy hops. The palate is of a watery syrup. The alcohol on the finish is a bit harsh but just a bit. The aftertaste is long and changing and eventually fades to that of cotton candy. Very nice beer.

Poured a reddish copper with a thin fizzy white head that didn't last. Orange peel and hops on the nose. Was almost like Grand Marinier. Orange, hops, vanilla, and a little bit of alcohol. Dry finish. A really nice barley wine. But lots of orange.

Re-rate: Bottle aged for one year. Cloudy light reddish brown body with minimal head. Beautiful sweet honey aroma also with malt, vanilla, and a touch of alcohol. Smooth and mellow. Fantastic initial burst of sweet malt, vanilla, light fruitiness, faint earthiness and alcohol that unfortunately fades to quickly. Aftertaste has mild alcohol bite and moderate bitterness. Both this beer and my palate have improved in the last year, so this rating is definitely being upgraded. Bottled Jan 2003. A rich red-brown color with minimal head. Sweet, light, malty, alcoholic aroma. Initially a hoppy and slightly fruity flavor. Defintely a strong alcohol taste. The hop bitterness tends to linger on lightly.

2004 Vintage Purchased at Whole Foods in Vienna, VA. Ruby/copper colored pour with a nice lingering off-white head. Strong, intense aroma. Sweet, malty, some caramel, spice, and some honey. What a flavor! Oh so smooth. A hint of alcohol, but not too much. Earthy, fruity flavor. Sweet caramel and a touch of spice. Not too sticky to the palate, but that was fine with me. Overally, I was very impressed with this Dominion brew! Definitely a must have!