Gales Conquest Ale Masterbrew

Formerly brewed at Gales
Style: Barley Wine
Horndean, England

Thanks to chris_o. A release of carbonation heard upon opening, but minimal head formation on a dull-orange body with some mild haze. Unique aroma of Madeira and pungent grapefruit. Medium sour, citric flavor with some balancing elements suggesting darker fruits. I always enjoy drinking the wacky, aged Gale’s beers.

At first I thought that the cork must have been compromised, the beer poured absolutely flat - is this on purpose? I got some decent BW aromas, there were some interesting flavors but to me the beer seemed oxidized and not really enjoyable at all.

275 ml corked and waxed bottle, no date that I could discern, but a fairly dusty bottle, purchased at Stateline Liquors in Elkton, MD (April 2006) and served at cellar temperature in a Maudite glass....cork weak and wet as I easily pried it out, looks like a bit of liquid seeped through, danger Will Robinson danger....no pop, very little apparent carbonation but for a very thin white ring of bubbles, atop the heavily sedimented, lightly oily body....aroma of white whine, raisins, bit of powdered cocoa, caramel, faint alcohol….some oxidation evident, but still mostly sweet and bright, quite enticing actually....body initially sweet, very grapy and raisiny, very much like white wine in fact with not a whole lot of beery malts at all, although faint touches of dry grass and a light worty character do develop as it warms....light, dry, tannic at the finish; little oxidation evident on the tongue, at least not to the detriment of the experience. No masterpiece, but I find this quite fascinating and different, and seriously underrated.

100th rater, woohoo. 2001 bottle, been in the fridge only for 2 months or so. Poured into a Chimay goblet with no head or carbonation, Color is dark copper but translucent, can see through the beer. The aroma is still really strong. I mean too out of control. Sure barley wines are given some slack but this one is obviously just too much. Get that alcoholoic sweetness but in a cheap, uncultured manner. The body is very thin, especially for a BW. The taste is a little off-putting. I would not say it would get better wiht age because is nothing to subside or mellow, just not tasty. Barely any feel to the beer at all.

2001 bottle <P> Very barleywine smelling...also includes ample fruit notes especially apple and pear. Still orange/brown..no head at all. Slightly oxidized fore with lots of smooth sweet malt..a touch of honey and lots of apple, pear, some prune as well and even a smattering of raisin notes. A bit syrupy as well and the alcohol is still somewhat hot even after 5 years. Not something I’d buy again.

Wow. 2001 bottle. Poured with the bottle completely upside down and got zero head, nothing. Not even foam on the top. Aroma is fruity with some caramel but feels light bodied. It is, and the flavor is completely flat and suffers greatly. The only thing preventing a 1/5 palate was that the alcohol is hidden very well. Drinkable, not enjoyable. Perhaps past its prime. If everything worked perfectly this coulda been 4/5ish overall. I’ll give it credit for being a different BW than most.. but I wouldn’t call it a good one.

Bottle shared with and courtesy of HogTownHarry. No idea what year it’s from. Pours a somewhat flat looking hazy dark orange with no head and tons of various shapes and sizes of floaties. Aroma of fruit, mainly apples, with some caramel malt, a mild sourness and alcohol. The aroma may be mediocre but the flavour’s worse. It’s spicy and fruity but it’s got an awful aftertaste and it’s overly boozy. It’s also somewhat acidic and watery. I’m having a hard time describing this but I’m certain of one thing, I don’t like it.

Bottle (275ml). Shared with blankboy, my bottle. Poured hazy flat amber, no head, tons of suspended floaties. Smells pretty much like mild pruce juice and alcohol, maybe a bit over very overripe apples and some raisin and watery red wine. Tastes ... harsh and watery, burned prunes, stale fruits, there’s some roast malt in there but it’s been beaten to death by the alcohol and sourness - I also get a strong bitter yeast nastiness too - leaves an ugly aftertaste behind. Thin, syrupy, burnt and acidic mouthfeel - reallly wish I’d never bought this, let alone drunk it.