J.T. Whitneys Mad Badger Barley Wine

Formerly brewed at J.T. Whitneys Pub & Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Madison, Wisconsin USA

this beer is a deep brown with an inch or so of tan head. Okay, let it warm up a bit and then... Ahhh. Nice aroma of dark caramel, stone fruit, and a touch of alcohol. Flavorful beer here, with lots of molasses, thick sweet caramel, fig, and licorice into the finish. A noticeable but not powerful hop presence provides good balance, and adds a good lingering bitterness in the finish. There’s a slight alcohol flavor early that becomes more pronounced in the finish and aftertaste. Full bodied, softly but amply carbonatied. Good head retention, not much lacing.

Had this today as desert after lunch. What a great way to finish off the meal. One ov the better barley wines I’ve ever had.

This BW has a slightly medicinal edge but I quickly adjusted to it and found it complex and well balanced. Hints of liccorice, diverse fruits. Bitter dry finish. Great head and lace and mouthfeel. JT Whitneys has nice micro brew pub with nice view of the brewing area and reastaurant and bar. The brew is affordable and have a nice variety of brew types but the brew is mediocre or less for a micro brewering reatuarant, with the exception of very good barley wine, smoked porter, old ale, and gran cru. The food is a bit pricey but good. If this place good up the quality of the brew it could be a red hot destination-- if places like Flossmoor Station can have very good beer than JT Whitney should be able to too.

Name: Barley Wine
Date: 06/22/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

clear dark red, headless, sweet dark fruit aroma, sticky body, sweet rich dark caramel flavor, lots of ripe fruit character, warming without being alcoholic, light earthy bitterness keeps everything in control,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 9/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***+/4

2006 vintage on tap at the brewpub on 6/22/07: Pours a nearly opaque dark mahogany with a thin ring of off-white head. Aroma of sweet dark caramel malt along with a touch of dark fruits and piny hops. Body starts rich and dark caramely sweet with nice complex raisin and brown sugar flavors before a slightly warming sticky finish, with some light fruity esters. A pretty nice barleywine.

On draught at the brewpub in Madison, Wisconsin. Pours a semi-cloudy and dark reddish amber brew with a thin tan head that slowly dissipates with a spotty lacing to a tan ring. Aroma of raisins, tart cherry, a touch of chocolate, bourbon, and smoked caramel malt, Taste is full bodied, light carbonation with flavors or caramel malt, figs, raisins, a touch of brown sugar and some toffee. Finish is semi-sweet with a mild tart cherry and brown sugar aftertaste. Have to save a growler of this for the winter season. Nice Finish!

On tap at JT Whitneys

Caramelly colored body gave off scents of apples, cherries, yeast and honey. The first sip was caramelly with a light chocolately followup and fruity hints. The further I got into my sample, the sweeter it become. Towards the end it was mostly honey and dried apples. Excellent barleywine that I will have to try again in a full serving.

Murky/Rusty With Red Coloring. No Head. Aroma of Bread and Barley. Alcohol, Fruit...and a Bit Bitter At the End. Really Not Bad At All. I’d Like to Have Again to Further Discern This Brew...But Very Enjoyable.