Green Flash Brandy Barrel Barley Wine

Brewed by Green Flash Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Vista, California USA

Tap @ O’Brien’s. Poured oily brown/orange with a small, creamy off-white head. Spotty lacing. Rich, alchohol-laden aroma. Heavily caramel/brown sugar and brandy, giving it an almost maple-syrup character. While it is a sipper, its suprisingly smooth and drinkable, with a heavy, nearly non-carbonated mouthfeel. Very sweet throughout; liquer/candy-like but without being sickening. Again, more caramel and brandy, but with some faint citrus hop flavor. More pronounced earth, maple syrup, and vanilla flavors as the beer warms. No real "oakiness" but the beer has the mellowed feel of barrel-aging. It was worth the trip to a crowded O’Briens.

On tap at Obriens. Color was very nice, a very reddish auburn, brown color. Aroma of caramel, fruit, apple and brandy. Some very light floral touches. Flavor of caramel, fruit, alcohol, brandy. Only slightly sweet. Some floral hops in the finish. Nice after taste.

On tap at Toronado. Murky brown amber without much head. Sweet malty aromas. Medium body and quite smooth. Nice sweet caramel and fruit flavors off the front followed by a good hoppy bite and finish. Alcohol not very apparent. Good solid barley wine.

On tap. Dark amber color. Some alcohol in the aroma. Smooth and easy to drink. Light sweetness. Easy to drink. Delicious.

Growler from brewery. Big malty aroma with sweet brandy and wood tones. Flavor is initially rich malts with a background of piney hops, sweet molasses/brown sugar and vanilla flavors peek through a hefty brandy-alcohol heat presence. Medium-bodied, and a bit thin for the style. A tasty BA barleywine that could use some additional aging, tastes a bit fresh with some significant heat.

On tap @ Hamilton’s. Copper pour with no head. Tons of sweet caramel and bourbon/ Brandy on the nose. Flavor held sweet malt with a tinge of alcohol.

On tap at PP Carlsbad. Dark chestnut color, off-white head. Rich malt flavors, molasses, vanilla, toffee, oak, and brandy. Warming alcohol and a bitter hoppy finish. Tasty barleywine.

2007 vintage on draft at hamiltons during SDBW: pours a gleaming amber with a lasting, frothy head. Nose is mature, sweet, and creamy-like, with hints of vanilla and maple sap and a vegital raw pumpkin kick.. Mouth is nicely creamy yet a bit sticky sweet...brandy barrel-esque for sure. Aged hop residue rounds things out...just a little sticky sweet and syrupy to be entirely enjoyable. However, its very creamy and flavorful regardless.