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 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.

[’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.