Full Sail Old Boardhead Barleywine

Brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Hood River, Oregon USA

Pours a deep brown with a nice one finger white head. Aroma of sweet malty notes with a hint of alcohol. Medium body with a nice balance of hops and malt. Not a malt bomb like a lot of barley wines, much more balanced with a nice hoppy finish. Would pick this up again.

2006 vintage bottle from Crosling poured into a snifter. Pours a cloudy amber tea-like brown with a thick, creamy one-inch head that recedes to a small collar and a swirl in the middle. Aroma is a little lighter than I was expecting with some sweet sugary caramel malts with hints of lighter fruits and maybe even a little hop presence left, which is impressive given the age. There is a bit of wood as well. The taste has the same sweet malts and some toffee sweetness but there is a distinct metallic bitterness in the finish that sticks to the tongue and leaves a metal aftertaste that detracts from things. The mouthfeel is very light for a barleywine with good carbonation. Unfortunately, the taste seems to have taken a turn for the worse on this one with a metallic character now in the place of what I presume was a hefty hop profile when fresh. This is still drinking OK, but I’ll seek out a fresh bottle to try.

Remarks 22 oz. Bottle--$3.99 2009 Release Thin white mild lace head.Cold hazed rich amber color.Rich floral hop mellow malt fruit front.Cloying sweet malty hop infused caramel pine mild fruit body.Balanced hop spice cloying malt mild EtOH smooth end.DIPA?Young & Should Age Well. Remarks 9.0% ABV. 91 IBU’s 22 oz. Bottle. Bottled 12/01/2004.Mild lace head.Clear bright rich amber color.Malty aromatic floral hop front.Rich crisp hot caramel malty IPAish restrained fruit body.Clean rich balanced hot hoppy mild EtOH end. 4/13/2005 Remarks 2005 Release 9.0% 91 IBU’s. 22 oz. Bottle 4-$3.99.Mild lacy white head.Clear bright rich amber orange color.Sediment hint.Aromatic malt fruit hop front.Sweet rich caramel fruit mild hot body mellowed by sediment hints.Cloying malt mellow hop crusty mild hot end.Improves with warming.Aged well. 4/20/2008 Brew Version Size Sampled ABV IBU’s Rat Boardhead Barleywine Ale--Reserve 06 2006 22 oz. 9.0% 91IBU’s 4.5 / 5.0 Barleywine 4-$3.99.Lacy mild head.Hazy BC light loose sediment bright rich amber red color.Rich floral malt hop front.Crisp dry mild sweet malty caramel toffee bisquit mild fruit rich smooth mellow body.Cloying malt balanced hot hop spice rich clean end. 2/2/2008 Brew Version Size Sampled ABV IBU’s Boardhead Barleywine Ale--Reserve 07 2007 22 oz. 9.00% 91 IBU’s 4.0 / 5.0 Barleywine 4-$3.39.Very thin mild lace head.Aged sediment hint.Clear rich bright amber red color.Floral caramel malt ester hop smoke hint front.Rich string dry sweet nuanced caramel fruit mellow Wine body.Mild hot EtOH balanced hop spice bitter mild citrus end. 1/4/2009 Brew Version Size Sampled ABV IBU’s Left Old Boardhead Barleywine Ale--Reserve 08 2008 22 oz. 9.00% 91 4.3 / 5.0 Barleywine Thin lacy head.Cold hazed cloudy amber color.FS47 Cap.Sediment hint.Chill suppressed floral hop fruit ester front.Sweet smooth hop infused.caramel fruit ester DIPA rich malty zesty body.Rich hop spice mild EtOH fruit ester end.Hoppy DIPA Barleywine.Nice! 11/15/2009 $3.99

[’07 Bottle] Pours caramel brown with a small khaki head that lasts a little while. Aroma is sherry-like oxidation, dark fruits, some sweet malt, and just a hint of resinous hops. Flavor is really mellow, not too sweet, plenty of caramel malt, some dark fruits, and just a little too much hop bitterness that comes off a bit harsh. Well attenuated, this one is not overly sweet. Peppery alcohol is noticeable but nice, and the carbonation is just right. I liked this one.

Barley Wine Tasting with Hophead22. 2001 Vintage. Aroma was caramel, soy sauce, oxidation. Very sweet, caramel, figs and a toasty finish. Copper color. Pallet medium and sticky. Overall pretty good for being so old. Can’t wait to compare to my 2008 bottle.

2008. Bottle from scrizz. Amber color and pours with a thin tan head leaving spotty lacing. The aroma shows caramel, toffee, red licorice, plums and a little citrus. The citrus hop scent seems to pick up steam as it warms and breathes. This drinks rather light for a barleywine. Sweet tasting with brown sugar, dark and citrus fruit, toffee, maple, and a nice little citrus hop finish. Moderate bitterness. I like this. A blue collar barleywine, nothing flashy, but not overly sweet, sticky, hot or hoppy either. A nice balanced blend of all that which results in a pretty tasty and very drinkable evening sipper.

Thanks Hayduke! This beer pours a cloudy medium brown with plenty of visible carbonation. A nice light tan head stays for a while and the second, and warmer, pour offers a bigger head. Aroma is toasty malt and is not big. Flavor is also malt with rye. That rye has a big bite to it. There is some dark fruit flavor and some nice hop notes. Alcohol becomes more apparent as the beer warms and caramel and some chocolate become more prominent. Flavors move in and out. Very nice.

Orange brown pour with a red tint. Fluffy white head. Crisp caramel malt flavor with grain. Slightly sweet with lots of malt and honey and molasses.