Great Divide Old Ruffian

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

Serving type: cask Reviewed on: 02-13-2007 17:41:54 2006 GABF Gold Medal batch on cask at the Falling Rock for barleywine month. The color was dark red with a fluffy head. The smell was floral, hoppy, and so alluring. This beer’s smell really builds up the anticipation as far as the taste. The taste did not disappoint. Mmmm, hops, caramel, toffee, goodness. This was one of the best beers I have had in a long time. Now I have to grab some bottles for the cellar.

A little sweet and caramelly for my taste. Not enough hops to balance out the heavy caramel taste. Aroma is of sweet malt.

Light roasted malt aroma. Clear copper color with a small tan head. Light sweet malt beginning with a mild bitter finish. Creamy palate. Alcohol well hidden.

THOUGHTS: I still haven’t met a barley wine I didn’t like. Not spectacular, but still a really nice beer and a pretty good barley wine. Hides ABV incredibly well. A littl heavy on the hops but it has a nice transition and balance. Great on a freezing cold night. It warms you up without burning (had this in February). The warmer the beer is the better. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a dark brownish red with and average, off-white head that mostly lasted and left excellent lacing that almost completely coated the glass. The aroma was light to moderate caramel malt and heavy citrus (orange, lime and lemon) hops. The initial flavor was moderately sweet and lightly acidic and bitter; while the finish was heavily sweet, moderately to heavily bitter and slightly sour with an average to long duration. The flavor was caramel malt then citrus hops and a touch of chocolate. The medium to full body was sort of creamy and a little syrupy with very fizzy carbonation and a moderate astringent, light alcoholic and slight metallic finish.

Bottle. ’06 Vintage. Pours brown with amber highlights. Creamy head. Strong, raisin and malt aroma. Smooth, creamy texture. Still pretty hoppy. Another winner from a great brewery!

Aroma is very hoppy. Appearance is a reddish brown color, kinda hazy, but looks delicious. Flavor is slightly creamy, with hints of grapefruit . Palate is very smooth, easy to swallow, almost no alcohol bite to it. This is my first barley wine, and I am impressed by it.

Highly hopped barley wine. Copper color. Lacing, thin white head. Was perfect with mom’s southern slow cooked roast with stewed veggies. ..raspberry and cherry pie, with yeast rolls. All combined well, although it might be a little over the top. Sour, malt, then hops..hops hops..I’ve never had a barley wine this light in color, or this hop heavy. Is it really a barley wine? I have 1/8th of an inch lacing...never seen that before. A strange brew indeed. Should a barley wine be see-through? I guess by definition yes." American Barley Wine" anyone?

(Re-rate, draught at Pikkulintu, Helsinki, on 2009-01-27) Dark brown and hazy. Lightly tan coloured medium sized long lastin head. Strong grassy and hoppy aroma. Full bodied and dry palate with medium carbonation and warming alcohol. Hops, grass, bitterness, malts and light sweetnes in taste. Bitter aftertaste. Old rating: 8-4-8-4-15