Dragonmead Copper Shield Bitter Harvest

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

Darkish bronze, light haze; fairly chewy, malty nose; chewy, earthy malt. Finish is strange - kind of powdery, reminiscent of Mexican chocolate, but then this is joined by more malt.

On tap at the Dragonmead Brew Pub. Poured a medium amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, earthy, citrus, and dome fruitiness. Tastes of caramel, toffee, citrus, and fruity. Softer and smooth body with the alcohol content well hidden. Lacing left on the glass.

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.

At the BBB63 comes to Tampa gathering, thanks to Ibrew2or3 ’s sister for the growler.

Coppery hue with small head and spotty lace. The aroma has notes of apricot and pear esters, grassy and herbal hops, biscuity malt, dirty and medicinal vapours. The taste is caramel sweet and fruity with a musty grain, veggie, and band-aid overtone. A little salty too. The mouth feel is soft and warming. URGGH, missing punch and has noticeable flaws.

Oddly named, but hey this is Dragonmead. Amber-brown mahogoney colour with white head and lace. Barley aroma. Very Bitter taste,I have had worse,there is some malting, and I find out that’s what they advertise-a bitter American barleywine. At the brewpub.

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.

Huge thanks to my sister for scoring two Dragonmead glowers for us.

This one pours a nice copper color with tan head. The aroma is a bit mild with fruity esters like plums, dates and cherries as well as grapefruit hops and a mild sense of hotness on the nose from the alcohol. The taste begins with sweet nectar maltiness mixing with grapefruit and orange citrus hop bitterness. The rich sweet sugary maltiness cut the hop bitterness creating a pleasing balance. Then mild dark fruity esters enter with notes of prunes, cherries, dates and plums. It gets peppery as the finish approaches. Could use a year or more of age.

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.