Lagunitas Olde Gnarly Wine

There is a dry vegetal character to the hop that is unique to this beer and for the life of me I can’t figure out if I like it. The malt is sweet, juicy and complex enough to make it quite a pleaure to drink- so I didn’t mind pondering the vegetal thing for quite a while...like as long as it took me to finish the bottle. I still don’t know. I’ll have to have another.

Amber red pour; the first appearing violently filtered and the second yielding a pleasant haze of yeast. Aroma is surprisingly dense and nuanced, and even delicately layered; raisins, caramel, vanilla and strawberry compose the original punch of sweet syrups. Red pepper, black pepper, and a hint of vinegar in a pungent middle. Seared, caramelized pears, butter rum and tepid maple sugars lend a sophisticated touch as it warms. Caramel apples and brown sugar dominate the flavor, simply and boldly, sitting in comfortable obesity beneath a thick layering resinous piney hops. Citrus and honey sweetness in abundance, with bready and fruity esters filling in the cracks on that second pour. Medium to full bodied, slick, and loud. Heavy caramel and singed sugars in the coating finish. Hardly unenjoyable, and certainly not poorly made. Still, it’s nothing to revisit.

Orange yellow color with faint head. Hoppy sweet malt nose. Similar tste, cloying.

Draft at the Blind Tiger. Copper color, only a little bit of head. The aroma was typical for the style; lots of caramel malt, a little pepper, and some maple syrup. The flavor is strong caramel malt, very sweet, and somewhat fruity. I think this is a slightly above average barleywine.

01 Nov 07, BW Tasting. 1999 Vintage. 12oz bottle. Deep mahogany. Aroma of big malt. Sweet florals. Hints of vanilla. Body is light. Flavors of oak barrel.

This dark brown ale poured with a generous beige head. The flavor is sweet caramel malt, laced with candy sugar and with a smooth slightly bitter finish. This is a very tasty barleywine.

(1999 Bottle) Appearance: Pours a brownish-red body with a very thin, off-white head. Smell: Aroma overflowing with sweet-smelling caramel along with notes of vanilla and dark fruits. Lightly boozey. Very faint hint of wet paper lurking in there as well. Taste: Rich, sweet maltiness with flavors of dark caramel. Mild vanilla note. Some dried dark fruits. Only a very, very subtle earthy bitterness remains. A bit of oxidation has taken up residence. A mellow alcoholic finish with an emphasis on the candylike malt sweetness. Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonation. Nicely warming. Drinkability: Good stuff! A very well put-together barleywine from Lagunitas.

Huge malt nose with hints of piney hops. Pours light amber. Huge malt flavor, caramel, piney hops, smooth with a thick mouthfeel.