Flat Branch Old Cave Dweller Barley Wine

Snifter poured a coppery orange. Very little carbonation. Aroma of lots of sweet malt. Taste is sweet, but toward the dry side for a barleywine with some hop bitterness that seems to linger on the back of the tongue. All in all a very good beer.

I may have to rerate this one. I only see one barley wine listed here, and maybe the one I had tonight (Jan 2008) is the same. Maybe not. Decent malts. Not a very intense alcohol taste. Probably could use aging. Offered a taste to my wife. She said no.

Growler: Bloody orange. Fine-sized dirty-white collar of head. Very intriguing aroma comprised of hop resin, candle wax, watermelon seeds, and strawberry esters. Only a hint of vaporous alcohol manages to shine through. Soft, dense carbonation. Fairly viscous. Initially boasts an understated snap of alcohol that cuts the array of soft fruity esters. Sneaky kiss of bready malt sweetness slowly envelops the palate and links up with the resinous hops which continue to bolster the body’s thickness. Nary a smidge of alcohol, other than the dry snap it lends. Despite the lack of hop bitterness to balance the weighty body, the sweetness never becomes too forceful. Succulent malt frame reveals a whisper of nuttiness, and is mirrored by an equally juicy dose of hops. The finish matches the aroma with a furious medley of fruity esters reminiscent of strawberry and spicy rhubarb, as the deceptively bitter hops render the palate numb. The alcohol is a non-factor in both flavor and aroma, and the balance between malt and hops is very well done. An incredibly interesting spin, although it’s more interesting than it is tasty.

Deep copper-amber in color, malty sugary sweet candylike aroma full body, thick and sweet syrupy mouthfeel, very malty caremel flavors with a nice hop bite, balanced with more hops. This tasted a little green, would be much smoother after some aging.