Drakes Barley Wine Brandy Barrel

Formerly brewed at Drakes Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
San Leandro, California USA

From a wee little bottle served in a Hennepin glass, thanks to Mitch. Murky brown hue so deep it could possible devour souls. Absolutely no head, which is just right in my book. Aroma is simply HUGE. Layers of caramel, treacle, toffee assault my nose with sweetness. Light roast coffee, pecans and the oaky brandy presence offer a small balance. Candied raisins, dried cherries and brown sugar continue the sweet theme. Extraordinarily sweet flavor with an amazingly low acidity throughout. The flavor has very strong waves of caramel followed by candied fruits and a satisfying tannic coffee tang at the finish. Massively full and oily body with very soft carbonation and only a hint of alcohol. Slight building sourness and completely intriguing.

6 Oz. Bottle. Intoxicating rich aroma flows forth with integrity and suave currents of candied apples, plums, pears, stewed figs drizzled with pomegranate syrup, lucious rose blossom, shavings of Valhrona and heavy viscous port sugars, dripping with caramlized brown sugars, praline, scotch whiskey, charred oak tannins and fragrant floral orange rinds. Seductive, silky, milky, sweet and wafting. Can an aroma get much better? The pour is a maelstrom of the deepest murky browns, as in the pitch of a mulling apple cider. On the surface, curls of finely hewn white oak sea foams wrap around each other and lace the glass. Flavor is intense, no other way to put it. At first the mouth-filling rich creaminess of puddings, pies, creme brulees topped with heated raspberry sauces and aching wheat. This is a four movement beer, which is unprecedented in my experience. Second, I latch on to a sweeping tartness of wild fruits, passionfruit seeds, papaya husk, cranberry skins and the flesh of a thousand tawny grapefruits. It singes the mouth with biting acidity, awakening one for the following pleasures. Thirdly, an almost too harsh alcohol, keeping the beer from achieving perfection in the category. But the alcohol plays well, with impressive stoic character, ferrying rafts of scrupmtous and fulfilling tannins, woody notes and balancing dryness. Here, the more delecate of the fruits prance in fields of ergot and honeysuckle. Life is fragrant and sweet as the dripping morning dew filled with the longing pine musk and fresh moroccan figs, black as night, with curried aged lemons and coriander on the plate, concealing the overtly grainy presentation. A shot of mid-level cognac is poured and fresh green peppercorns are dredged into a tenderloin. Finally, a rushing crescendo of harmonizing flavors and facets. Here and there dance the jitterbugging hop cones, light and tender with alpha acids gentle and caressing, marrying the saccharin nature of grain to aromatic. The parchness balances, the fruity floral resin alights into the evenings breeze with exquisite symphony. Finally, adding a sheer exultation of glory is the dates, figs, plums, currants and candied everything in one fell swoop, holding on until the others won’t let go. In the end, a triumphant smack of grapefruit flesh and date husk, with a wistful eye of raisin tears. Pass sweetly and gracefully o’er mine tongue, thoust true ambrosia. Thanks Andy!

7oz bottle via trade with Einniskillen - Thanks Chris! - Pours dark brown with not much head to speak of. Big aroma of caramel malts, oak, bourbon, port, and some raisins and plums. Flavor is caramel, port, raisin, brown sugar, oak, molasses, vanilla, and some toffee and a little cherry. Very complex. New flavors dance on the tongue with each sip. Palate is full bodied and smooth like good whiskey. Not bad.. Unique flavor and pretty tasty..

This is one big ass beer in one small ass bottle. Didnt the traditional weird barleywine vibe to it as was actually quite smoothe. Had alot of dark flavors in it like vanilla and molasses. Solid brew, solid brew.

Big thanks to DaveCooks for this one. The pour, into my Stone RIS snifter, was deep brown and ruddy, with little head. The aroma was huge, providing notes of huge figs, oaky bourbon, port, dark fruit. The aroma was similar to Thomas Hardy and Samichlaus, although a bit hotter and more volatile. The palate was medium density, with flavors of malty brown sugar, figs, cherries, oaky borubon and port, molasses, and almonds. Is this worthy of top 50 status? I say it is. Thanks again, Dave.

Easily the best barley wine I have ever ever tasted. Ever. Aroma has some butterscotch and brandy, with some oaked hints and some vanilla. black licorice flavor with some molasses, toffee, and almonds, some vanilla and lots of that creamy butterscotch kind of flavor/mouthfeel. just a freakin excellent beer. thanks to mitch for this one this weekend!

Iceman and Cheri stole my sample but I think I got enough to rate this. A dark fruit and fig aroma. The aroma is a murky brown with no head. The flavor is quite sweet with a huge caramel and toffee presence. The alcohol is very much present with a rum type flavor. Not my kind of barleywine but still a great beer.

Thanks to the great hopdog. Murky brown body with a minimal, gray-white head. Aroma of concentrated brown sugar, rich malt, sherry, brandy, and vanilla. Flavor has amazing, earthy vinous characters with notes of red grapes, raspberries and caramel with medium-high sweetness and an ultra smooth finish. The aftertaste is sublime. An outstanding barleywine. Thanks again, Steve.