Drakes Barley Wine Brandy Barrel

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

nip bottle....thanks to drewbeerme for sharing this past its prime beer.....appearance is similar to the bourbon barrel version of this barleywine. a dark caramel brown pour with no head.....aromas of richt caramel and a general sugar sweetness..... flavors of sweet caramel and finished with sour vegetal notes that really didn’t add to the enjoyment but rather took away from it.....this is a little past its prime.

6 oz. bottle from 2004: Monsterous nose - notes of cherries, chocolate, fudge, cocoa nibs, alcohol. Chocolate and cherry fudgecake really. The body starts off real winey and acidic, some caramel malt helps to balance, but the grapes win in the end. Winey and alcoholic - acidic finish, slightly sour.

Pours a hazy brown color with a tan head. Aroma is malty, caramel, some sherry, and brandy. Flavor is malty, caramel, sherry, brandy, and a light bitter finish.

the cap was bent back the crimpings resembling teeth , off it came with a hiss but its contents are still , trace bubbles ,no head but some foam can be conjured when you swirl its legs. Deep red mahogany that light can barely penetrate, it is clear but almost a porter like darkness .The aroma of oak tannins and plum sauce I wanted to say soy but this is no triple bock .The body a bit thin for Im drinking at room temperature .The taste is vinous similar to black rice cooking wine that is available at your local asian grocery store though less salty (salt is present) its very warming. Sweet and tannic .This is a beer for winter outings!

thanks cmubeerman. bottle over thanksgiving 07. pretty dark brown and opaque. super alcohol barrel fermented fruit aroma. fruity flavor. super underattenuated. pretty wild. milded by age 4 7 7 4 16. gets pretty great as it goes on...

Bottle from footbalm. Muddy brown body with no head. The nose is very sweet with lots of sticky caramels and toffee, rum soaked raisins, tobacco and light oxidation. Moderately sweet, lightly bitter taste with lots of toffee, light resinous hops, dark fruits and a sherry/port-like oxidation. Full body is sticky and dense with very little carbonation and a warm finish. I can understand why someone might like this beer, but for me, the just isn’t enough bitterness to offset the sweetness, though the oxidation helps.

Nip bottle poured into a snifter has a dark plum colored body with nearly no head whatsoever. Strong, forward nose of lightly oxidized sherry, sweet and heavy malts, with tobacco and dried wood... but brandy? I’m not sure if I exactly get this, but regardless it smells really nice. Flavor is sweet up front, surprisingly light for a monster weight like 14%, and it dries out and thin out some more over the tongue and into the finish. Quite good overall, and it more resembles an old ale (due to age or recipe?) than a barley wine.

6oz bottle, via 2006 Secret Santa. Pours deep brown, with a rim of tan bubbles along the glass. Aroma of raisins, dried fruit, malt, brandy, and oak. Sweet malty flavor, with raisin, soy sauce, caramel, wood, and brandy. Silky smooth mouthfeel. Really tasty. Thanks, Santa!