Lagunitas Olde Gnarly Wine

2006 bottle. Pours a translucent copper with barely any suggestion of a head, just like a barleywine should look like. The nose is spot on as well. Big rich malt, though not overly sweet. Like carmel, not cloying, balanced by a woody sort of hops, a little earthy. The palate is nice, low carbonation, not super thick, but not watery, with some alcohol in there, for sure. The flavors are really quite enjoyable. Sweet, but not to sweet, something very tannic about this, like tea. The malt is not hit you over the head in a thick syrup, rather, it’s more like a thin port. There’s some alcohol in here, and no sign of cough syrup is what I’m saying. Soem slightly woody and barely earthy notes accompany a very conservative noble hopping. A little peppery. A bit of bubblegum. The finish is light, and dry for the style, while the aftertaste is tannic, with some bitterness. This reminded me so much of the first barleywine I had, a year old Bigfoot, though I’d say it’s much less syrupy and hoppy. I have to try to pick up some more of this stuff in my travels this week.

Red. Smells like caramel, maple, sweet honey and sugar. Similar flavor but now I notice the alcohol. Also in the flavor it seems fruity (apples even) and spicier than I would have guessed given the aroma. Full bodied, thick palate.

[148-20061221] 650mL. Sweet syrupy maple aroma with light woody notes. Clear, red-amber body. Flavour extends sweet maple into aftertaste, heavy on the alcohol and caramel toffee-like characteristics. Medium-full body. Very nice togetherness, not like others’ afters. (8/4/9/4/16) 4.1

[2363B-20090731] Growler. Nice sweet malty toast aroma. Clear, dark amber brown body with a quick light tan head. Long sweet malty syrup flavour has some toasted honey yeast in it. Medium-full body. Very tasty! (7/3/8/3/17) 3.8
(w/ others @ BCTC; Cooperstown, NY)

On tap at Front Door Boise, Pours out a dark brown topped with a nice head. A nice sweet aroma to go with a very good tast. The 9.7 was not that apperent to me. Very good overall.

I lost my notes so this is from memory. The bottle was about a year old, split with Lukin and feedmecookies. Aroma was very odd, stale stinky cheese and gasoline, rotten eggs, bitter hops and sweet malts. Lots of caramel in the flavor but is dominated by a spoiled milk flavor and zucchini. Tough to drink, minerally, very unappealing.

Bottle shared with GregClow, Blankboy, Hogtown Harry, Jerc, and Mabel, courtesy of Blankboy. Strong malt aroma, tons of alcohol as well - oh so very nice. Dark brown, medium foamy head. Great taste - tons of malt and alcohol. Long complex linger. What a balanced great tastting Barleywine, more please.

Bottled 2006 vintage. Slightly hazed copper appearance cleared up after some time in the glass; medium size head with little lacing. Caramel malt and dark fruit nose interlaced with aromas of citrus and pine. Sweet malt taste with hints of raisins, molassas and brown sugar. Balanced by bitter, decently hopped, resinous flavors. Full bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel with a long lasting finish. Very true to style.

22 oz bottle, 2004 vintage. Pours a clear amber colored body under a small beige head that quickly faded to a thin patchy film. Aroma is of deep toffee and caramel malt with some nuttiness, papery oxidation, and light alcohol. Flavor seems to be a little past it’s peak, with the toffee and caramel battling it out with a moderate level of oxidation. Finishes with quite a bit of papery notes and light alcohol. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and very slightly sticky with fairly soft carbonation. This just made me want to try a fresh bottle of this more than anything because I’m not sure that this was the best that this beer could offer.