Heavyweight Old Salty

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

2005 bottle, courtesy dchmela. The body is a dark and cloudy caramel brown color. There’s virtually no head or lacing at this point. Aromas are massively malty, showing big caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and maple qualities. Candied figs and faded, earthy hops complete the nose. Flavors show more caramel and brown sugar, with figs and just a hint of soured golden raisons. The hop profile is again faded and earthy, not very bitter at all. Medium-plus in body and very lightly carbonated, the mouthfeel is smooth and slightly syrupy. Definitely English in style, it’s pretty decent at this age, but was probably better when young.

12oz bottle from a trade awhile back. this is gonna be quick as this seems a little past its prime..... pours a dark amber brown with a bubbly like light brown head..... aroma of thick and chewy caramel malt, somewhat papery and aged..... flavors are sacharine and brown sugar-like. carbonation is very light. lots of sugar and no apparent hops. yet still drinkable if a little thin.

2005 bottle coutesy Eithcubes. Cloudy caramel colored pour with no head. Pours out like a glass of sherry. Huge malt, brown sugar, toffee, candy and dark fruit (yet no raisin) aroma. Very complex. Taste is sweet malt and sherry like with a slightly sour tang to it. Hops have long faded, which made way for some very nice complex malt. This has turned into a real sipper and wonderful.

Bottle thanks to guys at Stateline Liquors.. Poured copper in color with nice aroma of raisins dried fruit, and malts. Taste was similar to smell with a nice smooth salty finish. Enjoyed.

2004 - Beautiful deep chestnut body with lots of sparkle, huge lasting fluffy beige head; Deep very interesting very sweet sugary caramel, a slight sharp medical touch fit the sweetness well; Huge bubbled big carbonation, soft but thin textured and quite slightly sweet; Becoming quite sharp bitter and a little salty in finish, some earthy hop aromas and a little burnt caramel as well. Great beer that really reminds of some of my favorite Harveys BW’s ! Start brewing again!!

2002 bottle from Kramer. Many thanks for this! At first pop of the cap, I could tell that this was going to be an interesting experience. At nearly 7 years old, I was more than curious. Very little carbonation on this one. Very interesting, fruity, almost vinous aroma. Flavor was all over the place: Fruit, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Red Wine, Salt, Vinegar, Pepper. I could go on and on. There is a strong asprin-like aftertaste that is very distracting. Definitely a lot going on here. I’m not sure if it completely works for me, but it is rather enjoyable and definitely unique.

2005 Vintage. Cloudy amber-brown w/ some sediment. Generous finger of creamy beige foam. Aroma is malty (caramel, brown sugar) & brandy-ish w/ some fine herbal hops. full-bodied, chewy feel. Flavour is moderately complex, sweet & malty w/ notes of dried fruit & fresh hops.

Deep ruby in colour, very thin tan coloured head with no lacing. The aroma is sweet and alcoholic, caramel, some honey, some raisins. The flavour is very sweet, lots of caramel malts, dark fruits, high alcohol. Lightly sweet mouthfeel, medium/light body, medium carbonation. Finishes fairly quick and slightly warming.

This didn’t have nearly enough characteristics I look for in a barley wine. The alcohol hasn’t mellowed all that much in the past 3 years and the body is starting to thin out quite a bit.

355ml bottle obtained in a trade with The_Epeeist, thanks Chris.
Opened on February 27, 2008.
Vintage 2005.