Great Divide Old Ruffian

250ml on tap at Den Tatoverede Enke. Cloudy mahogany body under a loose, tan head. Flowery smell with notes of biscuit. Prominent taste of dry pine and grapefruit giving way to notes of caramel malts. Hoppy dryness beneath resulting in an increasingly and prolonged bitter ending. Full bodied and a bit heavy to drink (Thanks to Guri from VG for the treat, Copenhagen 16.09.2008).

Bottle at EBF copenhagen 2008 ... Red brown ... big sweet barley wine nose ... juicy pine ... quite a lot of bitterness ... loads of pine hop and just a bit rough.

Pours a mahogany-amber color with chill haze. Head is a medium sized, fluffy, creamy tan color. Aroma is of floral bouquet, hops, caramel, and nuts. Smells more like an American Strong Ale, to be honest. Front palate is smooth, with notes of wood, nut, candied fruit, and underlying sweetness. Mid-palate reveals more fruity flavors, also introducing a hop character that will build through the finish. Finish is a touch sharp, featuring warming alcohol, bitter hops, and some fruit-cake. Overall, this is a tough Barley Wine to top. I will have to dock it one notch because I just can’t get it out of my head that this beer veers too close to other American styles of ASA (in the flavor) and Double IPA (in the aroma, and perhaps the sharpness

Draught @ Plan B. Hazy red copper, firm beige head. Grapefruit hoppy aroma, sweet molasses. Peppery, a bit tangy hoppy flavor, liquorice and fresh ginger. Sharp spicy finish. Full bodied, smooth low carbonation. Not as soothing as I hoped.

Couldn’t imagine a better introduction into barley wine. The flavor lives up to what you’d expect from an ale called "old ruffian." Don’t let its’ fruit filled bouquet fool you, this beer will challenge even roughest of veteran beer barons.