Heavyweight Old Salty

Formerly brewed at Heavyweight Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Ocean Township, New Jersey USA

From a 12oz Bottle, 2001 Vintage. Slightly hazy, orange tinged caramel color with a thin wisp of white head left disappearing like a chilled fog into the night. Oxidized sherry aroma and golden raisins create an enjoyable dessert-like presence thats spiced with a shave of nutmeg. Medium, borderline heavy bodied mouthfeel with gentle carbonation. Apricots and lightly caramelized sugars sweeten the taste with a chewy raisin fruity character. Some herbal hop flavors add, rather than detract. A bit oxidized, but the hops are still able to impart a bit of a spicy bitterness that seems like a breath of fresh life into this one. Thanks, Dr. Bill!

2004 Bottle. Thanks to Kramer17801. Loud pssshhhh sound from opening, I was worried that this was going to gush. Caught it into snifter as it poured a huge soapy head with a somewhat cloudy body. Aroma is nutty, caramel, malt. Flavor is sweet with a high intake of caramel, malt and a big ammoutn of carbonation. Odd since this bottle is close to 3 years old. Still a smooth Barley Wine. Was not what I expected from a bottle 3 years old.

2005 bottle. Poured cloudy brown/copper with absolutely no head. Aroma of dark fruits and brown sugar. Way sweet; raisin and brown sugar lead a sweet assault on your tongue. Alcohol is well hidden. Not bad, but did I mention the sweetness?

2005 bottle shared by nolankowal: Pours copper in color with an off white head. Aroma, fruits, some rich sugars, toffee, and a hint of alcohol. Flavor, roasted malts, some toffee, caramel, fruity notes, and a bit of alcohol again. Pretty solid, nice and smooth.

The aroma was sherry and strong malt with a bready and toasty aspect. The dark caramel malt and deep biscuity nature were well achieved. The aroma was fruity with an earthy characteristic. The beer poured into the glass hazy deep amber with an off-white low head which was persistent enough to lace the glass. The flavor was malty with a light spice and a strong bittering. The biscuity and toasty aspects of the flavor were excellent. That breadiness coupled with a strong fruit and subtle sherry equaled an excellent flavor. The earthy hop presence was accompanied by a mineral flavor component. The finish was just dry with lasting impressions of fruit, bread and strong malt into the aftertaste. The body was full and with a moderate level of carbonation the beer was creamy in the mouthfeel. Alcohol was really only a factor in the warming that occurred post consumption, but that warming was huge. A truly excellent barleywine in the flavor. 12 ounce bottle, 2003 vintage.

2004 bottle from trade with kramer17801. Thanks Jason! Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a small off white head. Aroma of plum, wood, alcohol and spices. Flavor is sweet of caramel and malt. Has bit of hops in there as well but not very noticable. The malt, fruit and spices show dominance in the finish. Nice beer that I thoroughly enjoyed.

2001, thanks to Dr. Bill. Pours the color brandied lemonade, with no head. Flavor carries salted pecans, over a twinge of lemon peel simmered amongst sherry and tawny brown sugar. Nips of cardboard showing age in a Goldings-esque manner. Tingling with alcohol. Toasted cardamon crawls in with aging oak and a full nose of bread, to which this beer explodes into. Finally, a bit of wheaty oil. Could be interesting compared to a fresher vintage.

2002 Bottle. I’m a bit late to the party as far as Heavyweight goes, but its nice to finally try the Old Salty. Reddish-plum colored pour with a fairly large off-white head. Strong malty aroma with hints of fig, raisin, and apple cider detectable. Taste is sweet with lots of dark fruits with thick creme brulee and some apple (pink lady flavor). Hop taste has obviously faded, but those bitter little guys are still kicking (just enough). Surprisingly smooth and enjoyable - too bad its gone!