 Indra (1825), Prairie Village, Kansas, USA
Mar 8, 2002
I am completely amending my rating for this beer as of today, having taken proper notes and having decided that it would be worth the effort to give readers some idea of what this beer is like. Note: the brewer’s description above is actually for the 1997 version, the Barleywine I tried was the 1999 version, which differs just slightly. First of all, this beer is hugely aromatic. Medicine, alcohol, fruit and hops all overpower you at once. This beer has no effervescence, but a nice, even head with very small bubbles. It is unfiltered, with a dark, cloudy amber color, a bit like fresh cider, and it is served in a brandy snifter at cellar temperature, approx. 55 F. The flavor consists of varying degrees of caramel and lightly toasted malts, but also huge, flowery hop flavors. This beer is very complex, and your lips tend to stick to the glass. I was able to get some data on this beer from the bartender -- 28.75 P, 1150 O.G. Alcohol is 10% by vol., with 65 IBUs. Ingredients used in the 1999 batch included Pale Ale and Biscuit malts, with Ahtahnum hops for finishing and dry hopping, and Horizon hops for finishing as well. The mouthfeel of the beer is most certainly quite chewy, and it leaves a bittersweet, hoppy aftertaste (apple butter??). Overall, this is a classic and very well-done rendition of a Barleywine.
Papsoe (9980), Frederiksberg, Denmark
Jul 30, 2008 (Hand bottle 65 cl) Courtesy of Storm. Pours an almost clear reddish brown with a beige head. Aroma of nuts, caramel, overripe fruit and alcohol. Quite full-bodied with sweet caramel, yeast, overripe fruit and aroma hops. Rather bitter finish. 260708
KimJohansen (3026), Copenhagen V, Denmark
Jul 29, 2008 Clear brown with tiny beige head. Sweet vinious aroma with caramel, ripe fruit, chocolate and roasted malt. Sweet flavor with bourbon, roasted malt, caramel and roasted malt.
yespr (6162), Copenhagen O, Denmark
Jul 27, 2008 22 fl bottle. Pours clear and golden dark brown with a tan lacing head. Smooth vanilla and chocolate malt aroma. Flavour is solid caramel and liqourice and towards chocolate. Dark and roasted malt and liqourice flavour. Ends warming and roasted. Great.
Grovlam (2984), Copenhagen, Denmark
Jul 26, 2008 Bottle [Sk8viking great American blind tasting] Small beige fizzy head that mostly diminished. Spare lacework. Pale mahogany color. Aroma of lovely thick vinous notes, bread, caramel, dried fruit. Over the palate came some hoppy notes with again alcohol, mild spice feel. Full bodied with a soft carbonation and thick alcoholic texture. Moderated to have sweet flavor with good counter bitterness. Lingering alcoholic and mild spicy – malty finish.
HogTownHarry (3175), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
Jul 8, 2008 Thanks to glouglouburp for hooking me up with this rare treat!! 2007 vintage. Pours thick, lively, cloudy brown-red, with a solid tightly fizzy / foamy tan head. Dry aroma, woodsy and nutty, like strong sweet caramel malt aged in old oak, with hints of cocoa, marzipan and burnt rye toast. Taste - wow, that’s amazing - strong, near-boozy, but smooth, sweet-yet-bitter; I get light dry wood over a solid body of softly sweet malt, and it seems infused with lightly chocolatey hazelnut - damn that’s tasty. Thick, almost sugary body, not somewhat still, but softly astringent, and a long, long nutty balanced semi-boozy finsh - goddamn this is good stuff. I want more! Big, big thanks, Dany.
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