Fish Tale Leviathan Barleywine (Batch 5+)

Brewed by Fish Brewing Company/Leavenworth Beers
Style: Barley Wine
Olympia, Washington USA

Leviathan. A mythical sea monster. Anything of immense size and power. Seems to fit here. A dark, murky amber sea beneath a small crest of white wave head. Big aroma of caramel, ripe fruit, wisps of sherry, vanilla, and hops. Full bodied with a robust feel in the mouth. Moderately sweet flavor with notes of fortified wine and a dash of hops not strong enough to cut the sweetness but enough to make it interesting. Good stuff.

Leviathan Barleywine Reel Ale...have I really never had this before? Is this truly my white whale, in a bottle? Eh, must be... 12 oz bottle...please recycle... Tawmy crimson color, dusky, unclear, with a slim, perfunctory head....rosy look, all around...nice... Nose abounds in wondrous, vinous sweetness, very wine-like, rich, burgundy-like, cherries and berries blessed with the richness of malt.... a deep feeling, rich and luxurious...cognac-like...decadent.... Taste: fullness to the exteme, plump, rich, fruity, beautiful, ....everything I really want from a barleywine...all my slots are punched, here....I’m gettin’ it...damned tasty! Full-bodied, long, malty, hoppy, delicious finish...those seeking a sensous beery experience won’t be disappointed here. Lip-smackingly good! After all of the years I’ve heard of this beer, I finally get it and it’s not through, trading, no, it just shows up at Surdyk’s...and now it seems like a regular ol’ barleywine...nothin’ wrong with that...once upon a time, we didn’t have so many of those....this is also the year I never bought a 6-pack of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, too! Quite a nice barleywine, highly recommended!

Bottle. Notched "Nov." What year, I have no idea. Smells of orange peel, alcohol and candied fruits. Pours amber orange with almost no head. Has an oily look to it. Nice bright hops followed by some malt. Caramel and toffee sweetness balanced by some fairly bitter hops. Finishes quite dry and bitter.

One of the best barleywines I’ve gotten my hands on. Love how smooth it goes down despite the high ABV and general thickness of it. Gotta try more of these Fish Tale beers.

Brought by Eric at a tasting. Red, orange hazy head and floaties. Aroma is caramel, citrusy hops, cookie dough, and alcohol. Taste is caramel, citrus/resiny/earthy hops. Moderate bitterness on the finish. Nice mouthfeel. Old rating, just added.

Pours a two finger cream head that fades to a shallow layer leaving a good lace. Cloudy amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Raisin nose. Starts sweet - raisin/plum, has a drying, slight bitter finish and aftertaste. There are better barleywines like Deschutes Mirror Mirror. $3.50 for a 12oz bottle from Liquid Solutions Oregon City, Or.

Bottle courtesy of CBA: Poured a clear deep copper color ale with a small foamy head with limited retention. Aroma of sweet malt is domination with some very subtle dry figs and fruits. Taste is dominated by sweet malt on the verge of being disgustingly sweet with again some light dry figs. Body is a lot more watery then I would expect with some low carbonation. Ending is quite bitter but does not attenuate some of the sweetness.

Chestnut colored with minimal white head. Aroma and taste are also rather minimal and lackluster. Alcohol is very well hidden. Very glad the guy at the store forgot to ring this one in... free)