Drakes Barley Wine Brandy Barrel

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

Adoarable little nip courtesy of footbalm (big thanks for this one!). Pours dark brown with wisps of tan laced on top. As soon as I popped the cap, I was welcomed by huge brandy sweetness, along with dark fruits and caramel. Somewhat oxidized with a bit of cardboard, which kept this from being a 9 in the aroma department. But boy, this little guy has a big time taste. Very malty, brandy booziness, dark fruits, caramel, earthy. And the mouthfeel...liquid velvet on the level of Expedition and KRE. If that weren’t enough, the finish is probably the best I’ve had in a beer. Doesn’t say die at all. Lots more fruitiness comes out along with caramel and the warm, tingly feeling only a 14.7% ABV beer can give you. It was a true privilege to be able to try this beer.

Name: Barleywine, Brandy Barrel
Date: December 03, 2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Strong Ale fest, 2005
Appearance: dark brown, thin beige head
Aroma: rich earthy malt aroma
Flavor: flavor has a nice alcohol sweetness well balanced by good earthy hops, rich fruity character

Name: Barleywine, Brandy Barrel
Date: March 27, 2009
Mode: bottle
Source: tasting
Words: brandy
Appearance: clear dark brown, scant head, legs
Aroma: sweet sherry and caramel aroma, still a touch of sweet brandy
Body: body is still thick and sweet
Flavor: rich sweet malt flavor, caramel and brandy coming through strong, just a hint of tartness

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 5/10
Score: **4

Tasted from bottle from cquiroga at Alesmith’s Sept 2007 BA release. Thanks Chris! Near the end of the tastings, so not the optimal time to rate. From notes: Freakin’ awesome (I seemed to be using this descriptor many times at the end of that day). Super dark brown. Fine bubble head. Sweeet! Great level of oxidation. 10,4,8,4,18:4.4 Tasted at 2008 Woodshop hosted by cquiroga. Dark amber color. Sweet. Aging perfectly. I’m not sure why this bottle keeps sitting there and people aren’t trying it. It is excellent. 8,4,9,4,18:4.3

Pours almost still and murky brown in color. Aroma is nice dried prunes, plums and raisins. The taste isn’t much different than the aroma. The bourbon is very subtle, as the time has mellowed this baby out greatly. Just the right touch of oxidation makes this really shine. Would pair nicely with cheesecake.

Deep reddish brown in color with a wisp of carbonation. Chocolatety dark fruity aroma. Oak bourbon wood notes. Malty fruity oaky and caramel flavor. Slightly vineous plum notes. Chocolatety wood notes. Finish is brandy and is very nice. Full bodied. Wow. Very drinkable.

Thanks to secret santa Pailhead for this beer. Poured a dark mahogany with a small dark off-white creamy head. Rich aroma of chocolate, cigar smoke, oak barrels, some dark grapes. Flavor is sweet with notes of chocolate and oak, with a bit of acidity that comes up towards the finish, with a bit of black cherry. The alcohol is almost undetectable, a remarkable feat considering the strength. Very well crafted, and would have gotten higher marks from me even than what I gave it, excepting the fact that I prefer slightly sweet vinous flavors over smoked chocolate. Craftsmanship however is undeniable, regardless of expectation or preference.

Courtesy 1FastSTI. Ugly, murky, multi brown topped by just a bit of off white foam. Nose of roasted and burnt caramel, old wood, cookie, dried dark fruits, brandy. Flavor adds some oxidation and more brandy, finishes with chocolate, caramel, nougat, wood, and brandy. Very nice aroma, flavor saved by the finish. Full body, smooth with just enough carbonation. Solid.

Pours with very low carbonation, certainly not enough to create a head. The body doesn’t look lifeless; instead, beautiful colors swirl within - muddy browns mingle with deep crimson and cherry wood. The alcohol that leads in the aroma is large, looming but never grows excessive, tiresome or burning. This is especially exciting when considering the immense alcohol that’s actually present. Brandy nuances are ripe with fruit, sedated by bold barrel notes and sultry sherried oxidation. the oxidation plays it’s tune marvelously here, never impeding the structural integrity of the nose. Amazing: high alcohol and copious oxidation, neither of which are annoyances. Plum notes are heavy as well, with minor apple, toast, dates, raisins and molasses. A very nice start. The flavor introduces heavier oxidation notes that unfortunately carry a bit of rust into the fray. Sweetness is mild, bitterness mild, acidity light. Other additions to the flavor include milk chocolate and apricot nectar. The finish is full, semi-sweet, lightly sherry-tinged, with plenty of fruit and delightful caramel malt. Eventually some drying pursues the sweet blend. The mouthfeel is surprisingly carbonated - still very light but it definitely plays a role in the bouyancy of the liquid upon the tongue. Feels dusty, slightly grainy, lightly tannic. Full bodied and very smooth. This was a pleasure to try, I’m thrilled that after two years of trying to obtain it I finally had the chance.