Hopworks Organic Noggin Floggin Bourbon Aged Barley Wine

Fred Fest 2009 – Portland, OR
Aroma: Big Bourbon and oak flavoring along with the fruity sweet malt.
Appearance: Dark Brown in color, Clear with a thin head.
Flavor: Malty sweet this was a big beer. Tons of alcohol, fruit and bourbon flavoring.
Palate: Dry Bourbon, fruit sweet finish, with a Good Mouthfeel.
Overall: This was awesome beer the flavor was right in my mind. I love the strong barrel flavoring.

Sampled at Toronado 2009 Barleywine Festival. Pours slightly hazy deep gold with thin off white head. It has a pleasing aroma of dark fruity esters and toffee/butterscotch that works well here. I also get mild roasted malts too. The taste is much the same with a pulse of dark fruity esters followed by toffee and butterscotch that quickly becomes too much by midway. It becomes smooth and dry into the finish. The toffee is a bit too much for me right now, likely based on some palate fatigue.

Draft. Amber beer with an off-white head. Hoppy pine aroma with sweet malt. Caramel and brown sugar flavor with sweet malt and pine backing. Medium-plus bodied. Caramel and pine lingers with some earthiness and slight citrus.

On tap at Toronado for Barleywine fest ’09. Amber color, off-white head. Aroma is caramel malty sweetness, bourbon, and slight citrusy hops. Flavor is more of the same, not as hoppy as I expected for a beer from a place called "hopworks" that’s listed as 90 IBUs on the Toronado list. Smooth and syrupy on the palate.

On tap at Pizza Port Carlsbad. Pours a slightly hazy brown/amber. Fruit, caramel, candied sweetness, hints of citrus, and lots of bourbon. Very malt heavy and lots of sweetness. It’s alright.

Holiday Ale Fest 08... Poured hazy amber with a beige head. Fruity and floral aroma. Silky palate that left a little bit of a syrupy residue on the tongue. Sweet alcohol with hops, malt, and a clean sweet finish.

Interesting barleywine, comparing the barrel aged and regular is interesting. The bourbon barrel was really strong, heavy bourbon takes it over. Lots of citrus still comes through, sort of candy like sweetness to the fruity flavor up front.

Draft @ Horse Brass. Pours a deep, slightly hazy orange color; off-white head with excellent fine-bubbled lacing. Solid amounts of candy sugar, oranges, and lightly toasted oak in the aroma; well-hidden alcohol; slightly reserved for the amount of heft. Lively carbonation. Loads of candied oranges and earthy sweetness upfront; lightly toasted wood, very soft scotch notes (some peat and char); very light on the alcohol throughout; just a touch too heavy on the candied / dried orange notes. Lengthy finish: oranges, mineral hop bitterness, and candy sugar.