Grand Lake Holy Grail

Brewed by Grand Lake Brewing Co
Style: Barley Wine
Grand Lake, Colorado USA

Tasting at Hophead22’s house. Rating #10. Really glad I got to try this one. It poured a golden orange color with no head. Taste was caramel, sweet sugars, vanilla. For 20% it was very smooth and well balanced.

500ml bottle from aplusbreaks, thanks man. Rating #9. Dark amber with no head. Sweet aroma. Very sweet, almost like sweet wort, very weird, but not too bad. (1071)

Bottle shared by aplusbreaks, thanks man. Poured a clear rusty brown color with no head. Aroma is sweet with some caramel, brown sugar, port notes, vanilla, and a light oakiness. Smooth, sweet entry with some caramel, a bit of rum spiciness, brown sugar, vanilla, coconut, and some fruitiness that finishes lightly dry with a bit of oak. Due to the lack of carbonation, the palate is slick and smooth, but not thin or lacking. Overall, a surprisingly good treat that is very reminiscent of a port. Amazingly, the alcohol is basically non-existent. Thanks for sharing Austin.

Bottle thanks to Pantanap. Reddish amber color with out a head. Aroma is sweet caramel and alc with some honey, this might be the barrel? Flavor is much the same with a little bit more booziness, and a lot of that red fruit. Thin and watery body. Kind of like a braggot.

1pt., .9oz. swing top bottle in a cool antique blue color, with a big thanks to BlackForestCO for the chance to try this rarity! Pours a perfectly still, clear dark iced tea color. Aroma is quite lovely, with sweet caramel malts, oak, candied dark fruits, vanilla, honey, and light rum. Flavor is equally tasty, with more caramel, oak, candied dark fruits, vanilla and honey; a hint of that Malibu liquor stuff, but very complimentary to everything else going on here. Nice and coating on the palate with a lingering just sweet enough and complex finish. Warming and smooth, and surprisingly not alcoholic or abrasive, to the point that I’d question the 20% ABV. If it’s there, that’s really impressive! The lack of carbonation works really well with this, which was also surprising. I wasn’t sure what to think of this one, and have been holding off on trying it for quite a while, but sure glad I finally opened it. Thanks again Jake!

500ml bottle from a recent trade. pours a dull dark reddish caramel brown with no head. sweet sugary malts with added caramel and honey notes.... sweet caramel and honey, watery-thin mouthfeel with little to no carbonation. didn’t seem all that boozy for being 20%. worth a try but not all that good unfortunately.

500ml swing top from kan! pours clear amber with no head. nose is very sweet, caramel, honey, and booze. flavor is very sweet malt-honey and ripe fruit. watery finish. this comes off more as a mead than a barleywine.

From a flip top bottle bought at the brewery (duh)- winter 2008/2009 release. Woman working said this particular batch was 5 years old pre-bottling. Zero carbonation as intended. Very remiscent of brandy or cognac in appearance- can’t decide which. Smell is highly boozy, but it’s a "fine booze" aroma as apposed to a rubbing alcohol booze. Drinks astonishingly well- rich, balanced, smooth. Very sweet. Alcohol is rather well hidden, but not completely. I’m really really impressed with this beer. I’m not sure it’s worth the price tag, but wow am I glad to say I’ve drank it at least once.