Fish Tale Leviathan Barleywine (Batch 5+)

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

Bottle: Batch 5 (2004) sampled April ’08.

Pours an elegant copper with a quite decent tan head, short-lived, but tan with plenty of lacing left behind. Oxidized hops and caramel, the faintest whisper of gingerbread on the nose. The flavor catches me by surprise. Not only is it quite hot, but there’s a smokiness that I didn’t anticipate from the aroma. Plenty of wood, some peat, very earthy. A bit of fruity (peach, pear) sweetness early but surprisingly dry especially through the close. Even after four years it is hot on the mouth, without being particularly thick or smooth; the alcohol penetrates into the taste components as well as mouthfeel.

There’s a great deal going on here; brazil nuts emerge in the mid-rangeand the smoke and earth ushers the flavor out almost as with a watered Islay whisky. My first sip was not overwhelming, but as I savor this one I have to appreciate it for its complexity. Not bad at all!

Vintage 2006; notched November. Pours warm red and quite glassy. Woody, sweet, hoppy aroma of maple syrup, port, caramel, burnt toffee, raisins, and citrus. Lots of syrupy, caramelized fruit goodness; softly alcoholic. Flavor is mostly a smooth blend of creamy lavender, grass, candied almonds, and fresh leaves. Really green and vibrant hoppiness is slathered thickly with a heavy, bittersweet crystal malt tea flavor. Unsweetened earl grey. Oranges and mild bittersweet chocolate. Leaf flavor develops a lot of must and wet autumn character seeming off. Slowly unravelling. All tea and barren cascade bitterness. Palate is soft and medium bodied with low carbonation; finishes with somewhat sweet earthy bitterness redolent of sweet squash, pears, and ginger. Odd. Everything about it seems wholly unlikeable, but it’s actually exactly the opposite; filtration seems to have run a strange, awkward current through the whole thing that it would have been so much better without.

12oz. Pours hazy red/brown with minimal head. Aromas of rasins, sweet fruit, and some alcohol. Flavors of plum, malt, and alcohol in the finish. Solid BW and very drinkable.

November 2006 bottle, I believe, aged 1.5 years. Pours a cloudy, murky, brownish-orange amber. An off-white, wispy film sits at the surface. Minimal, spotty lacing noted. A swirl reveals decent legs that slowly drip back down into the body. Aromas include brown sugar, toffee, caramel apples, and hazelnut liquor. Vanilla enters the fold as well, adding further complexity. Flavors include sweet caramel, buttery toffee, light tree fruits, toasted nuts, and vanilla. Seems to be slightly oxidized at this point, but still pretty tasty. Medium-full body, with a smooth mouthfeel. Solid brew, but I will have to re-visit a fresher bottle to see how it differs.

i had the first sip out of the bottle and i thought it was going to be black colored yet when i poured it after that it was a very hazy dark amber color.very very sweet aroma, lots of sugar and molasses and brown sugar. very thick sugary brew that could probably use some age to develop those sugars.

Pours a flat dirty golden color. Looks unlike any other BW I’ve had. Aroma is largely sweet malts, some hoppiness, and hints of bourbon. This is a very balanced BW......not boozy, not thick and rich, and has the perfect blend of malts and hops. The finish is a bit dry and bitter and has a mix of fresh pear. Not as diverse as other BW such as Bigfoot, but is just perfectly balanced.

Bottled. 2006 vintage. Slightly hazy, amber colored pour. Light lacing and minimal head. Simple, plain aroma of caramel apple and a bit of tobacco. Sweet notes of nutmeg and cinnamon start the flavor, and fade quickly into a nice bittered finish. No lingering of flavors on the palate, and the body is a bit thin. Nothing to rave about.

Bottle from Hellbilly. Medium hazy orange color with no head. Sweet malty aroma with light hops mixed in. The flavor was malty with hoppy tea like flavors. Medium sweetness in the finish.