Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine

Brewed by Kuhnhenn Brewing
Style: Barley Wine
Warren, Michigan USA

On tap at Spuyten. Deep copper in color with no head. Malty caramel and vanilla aroma. Sweet malty caramel flavor. Oak cherry notes. Sweet tasting. Finish is hoppy. Medium bodied. Nice beer.

On tap at Spuyten Duyvil. Poures a murky brown with no head what so ever. Fantastic aroma, tons of sweetness, caramel, toffee and a touch of vanilla. Flavor is very sweet but right before the after taste kicks in there is a bit of a wierd plastic chemical taste that quickly fades. Other then that weird split second flavor this is one kick ass beer.

Tap at Spuyten Duyvil. Deep ruby tinted beer with a thin white head. Great aroma, rich sweet fruity aroma with lots of cherry, raspberry and blackberry. Very soft oakiness with a hint of vanilla that is quite subtle and well integrated with the stewed fruits and rich sweet malts. Lingering fruity hoppiness on the back. A little bit vineous with some soft sherry character bringing everything together. Nice.

(Unknown vintage, 12 oz. bottle) The aroma is a strong smack of dark fruits, oak, a touch of vanilla, and something lurking in the back I can’t place. Pours a very dark red, with just a ring and dusting of tan head. Slick oily mouthfeel, alcohol warming in the back of the throat. Not anywhere as sweet as the aroma hints at. Touches of dark fruit linger for quite a while, with hints of spice. Very drinkable for 14.5%...

Draft special at the solstice party. Someone said this was the bourbon barrel and then the brandy barrel. I’m not sure. It could have been both because I’d seen old ales and barley wines on bourbon come off a little fruity/sweet like this. This one smells downright amazing, with a huge red grape and plum and wine-stained oak note along with some bread and peat notes in the nose. Lots of wood tannins at play, and slightly oxidized. Very low carbonation, sweet, spicy, velvety, very amazing. Reminds me of sherry, sour brown ales, red wine, and potpourri.

2006 Barley Wine in bottle. Clean mahogany hue with a small foamy ring and spotty lace. The aroma has notes of plum, mango and starfruit esters, sweet honey, bready and caramel malts, herbal and resiny hops. Was this dry-hopped or something prior to re-release for it is shockingly hoppier than any of us expected. Besides the hop forward taste I also got tropical fruit, sweet caramel, toffee, mint leaves and a hint of clove on the finish. Warming and biting with a sticky mouth feel, astringent finish. This is really nice and I still wanted to know what is up with the bitterness. Glad I got one bottle for later.

Bourbon barrel: Tasted at the Kuhnhenn Winter Solstice: Deep murky brown with a minimal amount of bubbles but oily upon the glass. The aroma has a big woody and bourbon character with some wet grains, molasses, caramel, and herbal hop vapours. The taste has an oxidized and cardboard tone up front with notes of prune, chocolate, caramel, anise, clove, and plenty of bourbon barrel. The mouth feel is sharp and biting, lush and dry. Seems a bit too long in the barrel IMO.

Rating #1100

Purchased at the brewery a few months back. I’ve been looking forward to trying this. The aroma can be detected from across the room. There is a great play between dark fruity goodness, sweet caramel, hints of alcohol and woody bourbon-ness. The flavor is a sweet kiss on the lips with figs, dates, minced raisins soaking in molasses and an absolutely delicious river of caramel candy. A pleasant warming sensation does show up around the finish. Competing with the barleywine flavors but a couple notches below in strength is a bourbon and wood sensation. Very nice compliment creating an enjoyable experience. The after taste is a mix of dark fruit, caramel and hints of wood. The only knock I could find would be the body. It’s a bit too thin. Sure hope they plan on making more this next winter.

Sampled at Kuhnhenn. We told them we were from NJ and they pulled this out for us. Bourbon flavor was present but not overpowering and balanced out very well with the base brew. Have to get this one again. Rerate: didn’t enjoy this beer anywhere near as much.