Fish Tale Leviathan Barleywine (Batch 5+)

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

Batch 5, 11/2004. Hazy amber pour momentarily topped by a 1/2cm of fizzy, off white foam. First whiff is of sharply bitter, resinous hops, followed by a strong dose of toasty, chocolate-caramel-cookie malt with hints of dried fruit and bready yeast. Balances out nicely. Same flavors with the addition of some sugary sweetness, figs (defined), sweet tobacco, very mild licorice candy (good n plenty). Finishes dry and lightly yeasty, with a bit of spiciness and alcohol. Full body, heavy yet balanced. Great mouthfeel for a barleywine, even after 2+ years. Well done, not in the top echelon, but very good.

12oz bottled Nov. 2004- Pours a dark ruby color with a moderate head which disipates quickly. Aroma is of sweet plums and caramel. There is defenitlely a Cascade presence in the flavor as well as vanilla and oak. This is a nice nightcap but after one I wanted more.

Spawned Nov 2005 Pours a dark coppery color with a quarter inch head that fades quickly to a very thin cap and ring. The lacing that’s left behind is this and spotty. Smell; lots of sweet caramel and toffee malts. There’s some hints of citric hops as well as a touch of alcohol. Taste; the caramel and toffee are present, but there’s also a little bit of chocolate and vanilla. The hops are there as well, but they were a little stronger in the nose than they are here. There’s also a little bit of a charred flavor in here, with almost no alcohol presence. Mouthfeel/Drinkability; mouthfeel is full bodied and very smooth, almost velvety, and the drinkability is really good, especially since my glass is practically empty already.

The pour gives rise to an average sized off-white head that falls quickly into the medium/dark amber brew below. Wonderfully complex aroma of caramel, dried fruits, particularly raisins. The flavor was also good, but perhaps not quite up to what was expected from the aroma. One of the better commercial Barleywines that I’ve had nevertheless.

Thanks to Degarth for sending this one to me. The pour is dark and murky reddish orange in color with an off-white head that leaves good lacing on the glass. The aroma is of syrup and malt with definite alcohol presence and some raisins. Very thin palate for a barleywine really detracted from this brew. The taste was watery. Raisins, smoke and malt flavors combine for a complex flavor, but the mouthfeel kills the experience.

Bottle, from trade with either acertain or kenb. I forget. Good aroma sweet, butterscotch, nutty yeastiness (maybe even a signature from the brewer) Grapefruit, brandy, woody, little oxidized. Hazed brownish orange color, small head that quickly faded to a ring, minor lace. Bitter flavor sweet & sour. Like aroma with a dull citrus and woodiness being dominant. ABV shows itself. Medium body, smooth oily mouthfeel, bitter dry finish. Eh, somehow it doesn’t work for me. Looking at the description I see what they mean by sherry, pear and I didn’t like.

Aromas are of malt,dark fruits and alcohol.Pours murky brown with a medium tan head.Flavors are of dark fruits Slight oak and alcohol.Mouthfeel is just a little thin.

A nice B.W. Good hop profile, citrus aroma. Not too sweet taste, which I like. Smooth, balanced and a good mouthfeel.