Ithaca Excelsior! Old Habit

Brewed by Ithaca Beer Company
Style: Barley Wine
Ithaca, New York USA

Extreme Beer Fest 2/15/08: Very drinkable brew, tasted like an IPA to me. Bold citrus flavor and strong rye presence. A very good beer.

EBF V NOTB. Aroma fruity across the board. To me this drank like a bold IPA. Citrus of every kind in a robust palate, and the rye in there really makes me think I’m gnawing on some freshly baked bread, a sensation I rarely get from beers. All the wood I get is mixed in with the rye notes and just adds to that segment of the beer. Very nice.

Bottle shared by ogglethorp: Pours a murky brown color with a dark tan head. Aroma, caramel and brown sugar, vanilla, woody, and some earthy notes. Flavor, oak, boozy, caramel, some chocolate and fruits, and an earthy finish. Very nice.

750ml bottle (#692) that was bottle in June 2007. A full 6 months old. The cap come off with only a light hiss. The pour is very mild - I’m wondering just how much carbonation is in this. The color is a very dark brown; actually it is black until it is held up to light. The head is minimal, only wisps of cream and a ring around the chimay chalice I chose to drink from. The aroma is sweet and slightly alcoholic. I’m kinda getting some light chocolate in there too. No bitterness or harshness to the smell.
The flavor is interesting. I immediately detect some hops and something else, that I imagine is the rye character. There is definitely some chocolate here. Maybe some dark fruit like the cherries mentioned on the label, although I’m not getting any vanilla. There is an oak dryness to the finish. The carbonation isn’t bad, definitely not flat, but just enough to give it life. No one wants an overly-carbonated barley-wine. I’m impressed - Ithaca has produced a beer with some really nice subtleties and plenty of flavor.

Pours a very dark brown that when held to light shows a dark, but perfectly clear ruby. Nose is extremely clean. But not in a bland or boring kind of way. If this were a porter or a stout, I’d say this has a lot of malt qualities. Carries a pretty thick and robust character. Flavor is extremely hearty. Just a mass of robust qualities. It is hard to judge this one as I have not had any rye beers to this point, but it seems extremely well made. Feel has a great carbonation to it and a thick enough liquid feel. This one is extremely drinkable. Even though this is my first sample at this particular style, I feel as though I can firmly say that this is an excellent example of the style and overall a beautiful beer in general. If you see it....don’t hesitate. If you did...you’d be robbing yourself of an experience. Beautiful. One of my most amazing experiences with beer in very recent memory. If Ithaca doesn’t make this a regular in their lineup, I say they are moronic idiots.

Bottle. #655 released 07. Cloudy dark amber colour with a nice beige head. Aroma of sweet malt, little hops and alcohol. Sweet malty flavour with hints of oak, bourbon and caramel, very nice endeed.

Dark brown in colour, small beige coloured head, some light lacing. The aroma is fruity, some alcohol, quite sweet, some hop bite, vanilla, woody. The flavour is of light spices, vanilla, wood, earth, chocolate. rich, moderate alcohol, rather sweet. Rich mouthfeel, medium/large body, medium/high carbonation. Finishes long, syrupy, quite warm from the alcohol. There is lots of alcohol in this one, loses points for not being overly complex and fairly simple.

750ml bottle from the <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/new-york target=blank>Premier Gourmet in Buffalo, New York for $8.99.
Purchased on August 20, 2007 and opened on November 17, 2007.
Released June 2007, Bottle #633.

Excelsior Old Habit Bottle #655 Ithaca Bottle. Courtesy of MPA [Amager – Mikkeller Brew session @ Amager Bryghus] Average beige creamy head that mostly diminished. Cloudy amber colour. Fair display of lacework. Aroma of bread, grain, fruit, sugary sniff. Over the palate light plum, hint of wood and vanilla like notes, mix of dried fruit. Also some caramel. Pine and grapefruit. Medium bodied with a soft carbonation and light dry texture. Moderated bitter flavour with counter sweetness. Lingering bitter finish. Nice one Mads-Peter 7 / 4 / 8 / 3 / 16