Great Divide Oak Aged Old Ruffian

Brewed by Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Denver, Colorado USA

(draft) Crystal clear copper body with beige head, nice lacing. Aroma is medium sweet, pine/grapefruit, some plum/vinous, light oak. Taste is moderately sweet, pine, some grapefruit, raisin/vinous, oak. Medium-full body, alcohol well contained.

On tap. Poured a deep and muddy amberish color with a small sized off white head. Aroma sof citrus, lighter oaky/woodiness, caramel, and lightlly fruity. Tastes of wood/oak, vanilla, citrus, smoke, caramel, toffee, and fruity. Alcohol content well hidden. Smooth and very easy to drink! Barrel aging done nicely...not overpowering and added to the other aromas and tastes.

Clear dark burnt amber sienna color. Vinuous, chewy and with a medium thickness up front, very dry and parched from the oak, tastes of sweet candied marachino cherry flavored hops, not sour really at all, but it is biting and quite dry... sugary hop juice is pushed aside for dry oak planks... the dry wood flavors working well with the sweet candied malt flavors. Solid BW, in fact I like it more than the regular over-hopped, aggressive Old Ruffian. The oak aged is not nearly as aggressive or bitter. Vinuous and slick on the tongue, oily almost. Wine-like red grape aroma as times, very good overall.

Draft at Capone’s. Poured hazy magenta/brownish color with minimal head. Aroma was cherry, merlot, some oaky earthy notes, and hops. Smooth palate with a notable complexity, providing flavors of cherry, oaky earthy malt, cabernet, mild vanilla, and some figgy spirity notes at the finish. This one was nice.

Draught. Head is mostly diminishing. Body is dark amber. Aroma is lightly malty (cookie, toasted grain), lightly to moderately hoppy (grapefruit, resin), lightly to moderately yeasty (dough), with a hint of wood. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, watery/velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly to moderately alcoholic. Surprisingly meek aroma that became somewhat dominated by vitamin B smell as it warmed. Had to reach deep to find any wood character. Not very enjoyable.

Many thanks to Todd for getting this to me from the best beer bar in the world! Poured clear reddish-orange with a solid 1/2" of off-white head. The aroma picked up sweet, lightly toasted dark fruits with lesser (but only slightly) caramel.. oak and vanilla are subtle, but provide intriguing overtones.. bright floral hops emerge with warmth. The flavor began with syrupy dark fruits and a complement of sour oak washing over the tip of the tongue.. the middle is where it really got good.. vinous notes, caramel, and darker fruit are layered intricately, and are surrounded by vanilla, more oaky sourness, and floral bitterness (not as heavy and bitter as the regular version).. vanilla, caramel, and vinous notes ride out the finish. Heavier-bodied and a touch syrupy on the palate with low carbonation.. the sour oaky accents worked well, as well as the floral bitterness. Solid stuff!

[Draft @ Max’s] Poured a lightly hazy, amber color with a small, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of citrus fruits, vanilla, floral hops, with sticky caramel malts, and dried fruits as well. Taste of citrus fruits, bubblegum, watermelon, toffee malts, caramel, with more vanilla, and a dry, oaky finish. Some alcohol noted in the end as well.

On tap @ Great Divide tasting room poured a clear reddish brown with a small lingering amber head. Aromas of oak, fruitiness, carmel and toffee. Palate was light to medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of BIG oak, carmel and toffee and a hint of fruitiness with a smooth lingering oaky finish. A very tasty Barleywine!