Lagunitas Olde Gnarly Wine

Brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Petaluma, California USA

2008 Vintage poured into a Duvel tulip glass. Pours a translucent deep mercurial red hue, bit thick and foamy off-white head sustains, thick lacing. Smell is caramel malts, dark fruits, brown sugar, light chocolate and alcohol. Taste is sweet malts and dark fruits which open up to grassy, earthy hops and alcohol burning, tones of cocoa, toffee and molasses, finishes sweet and boozy. Mouthfeel is medium/full-bodied, creamy and smooth texture, moderate carbonation. Drinkability is moderate, this is a good example of American barleywine with a slightly higher emphasis on the hops, alcohol sensation is biting throughout and hinders sustained drinking, not a bad beer to try out if you like the style.

Thanks, bro!! Pours an amber color with a medium off-white head with some lacing. Aroma is caramel, toffee, with some sweet malt characteristics. Taste is about the same. Definetely a well-rounded barley wine.

Pours an amber color with thin off-white head. Aroma is off bright caramel, toffee, light fruit and mild alcohol. Taste is much the same with the overall character being a bit more brash. Carbonation is about average but a little too much for a BW.

22 oz. bottle from Knightly Spirits. Pours a beautiful amber/tan/caramel color and a minimal tan head. Tight curtains of tan lace envelop the glass. The aroma is solid caramel, dark fruits, and honey. This beer is sweet and slightly boozy with more dark fruits like plum, more caramel, wood chips, nicely balanced hop and malt characters. Smooth texture and a full, rounded mouthfeel. Low/medium carbonation and full body. This is a great barleywine and another example of why I love this style.

22 oz bottle. Pours a dark copper color with a small off-white head. Aroma is mild dried fruits, with a touch of hops and a LOT of alcohol. A pretty decent barleywine.

Pours a wonderful light amber with a slight head. Aroma is of prunes, grapes, cherries, and of faint hops. Heavy, syrupy body with plenty of fruit and alcohol in the finish. Like many barley wines the flavor improves as it warms - well balanced and easy drinking - I like!

Solid barleywine with a strong floral and dark malt nose. This is its finest characteristic. Otherwise this beer does extremely well, but not quite up to the aroma’s task.

Bottle. Dark copper pour. Small dense tan head. Nose is fruity, caramel, citrusy hops, sweet malts, and dark fruits. Taste is citrusy hops, some grapefruit, sweet malts, chewy caramel, dark, ripe fruits and hint of rum cake. Body is full and thick with creamy carbonation. Rather chewy for a barleywine. Bit if lingering bitterness to this. The finish brings forth more grapefruit, big caramel, sweet malts, and cocoa. Some dark fruits notes come through here as well. Very tasty barleywine!