Dragonmead Copper Shield Bitter Harvest

Brewed by Dragonmead Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Warren, Michigan USA

Draft... Clear copper ale with a small, creamy, khaki head. Decent retention. The aroma is totally nondescript to me, even when warmed… needs more dry hopping, I guess. The flavor leans just slightly on the bitter side of balance - so there ARE hops involved - just not in the nose. Chewy toffee malts with big mineral, metallic bitterness. Very little residual sugar apparent. Full-bodied with moderate carbonation. Lengthy, bitter, dry finish.

A weaker version of the Exalibur barley wine. Aroma is malty with some sweetness. Flavor is bitter with little balance. Aftertaste is long and pleasently bitter.

Tap. The brewery labels this a barleywine, the site calls it an English strong, I think of it as a IIPA. 7.7% ABV, very well hopped, copper colored with a nice, long-lasting white head. Good lacing. Hops seem to be the predominant player in this game. Some estery, fruity aroma’s. Medium bodied. Lacking as a barleywine, unlike the ESA’s that I have tried.

Tap: dark orange with little head. Almost no characteristics of a barley wine. Very little aroma with some kind of fruit in the taste. Agree with Pailhead in peach. Disappointed overall.

On tap: Malty caramel and fruity aroma. Light banana bread too. Hazy transparent orange with an okay off-white head. Some caramel up front in the flavor. Slight banana bread in the middle. Some orange and lots of peach in the finish with some hops. Hops are covered up a little too much with the peach. Not a big peach fan so not a real big fan of this barley wine.

On tap winter 2003. Pours a very nice rich red-copper with some lighter toffee colors. Small beige-caramel head that disappears after a few minutes. Incredible amount of lacing. Aroma of slight citrus, strongly bitter, some drier malted barley, a tad muted. Begins with a medium sweet malt flavor and a big moderately coarse texture. This softens a bit and there is some fluffiness, rich buttery brown bread on the finish, but along with this is an ample dose of bitter hops that begins from first sip and slowly comes forth. On the very end of the beer and becoming more apparent as it warmed was a slightly sour, almost metallic taste, just ever so slightly present. Not sure exactly what it was, and it was subtle enough to not cause any big problems. Medium-full body, low carbonation. I agree, alcohol not detectable. As it warms, body lightens and the flavor that showcased hops wedded to malt seems to come undone somewhat.

Aroma is rich with hops, alcohol, butter, and scotch. Served in a wine glass, the color is a rich, deep red there is no head. First sip: the hops are a tad overdone for style, but they work very well in this brew. A lingering sweetness from the malt. Alcohol (9.6% this batch) is not detectable. A warming and wonderful winter beer.

Above average with a nice taste & a good body. Good ale but lacking in authority.