Mad River John Barleycorn

Brewed by Mad River Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Blue Lake, California USA

Poured and murky auburn color. Aroma is very muted, with only a sweet and syrupy malt component coming forth. The flavor is a bit more agressive than the wimpish aroma, but is just a bit too dis-jointed for me. And Good Lord, the alcohol burn on the finish is just too much.

’07 bottled. Thick, well-balanced, sweet & syrupy barley wine. Hey it may lack complexity but unlike many b.w.’s its very good fresh & right off the shelf. Nice alcohol finish, oh & btw the ’07 is 10.8% abv, very nice!!!

Bottle; poured a murky brownish color with small head. Aroma of sweet caramel and fruit. Flavor was a blend of caramel malt, grapefruit and spice. Soft palate. Only moderately sweet. Gets better as it warms. Not an elite version of the style, but definitely a solid barleywine.

Bottle. Poured clear ruby/mahogany with foamy white head. Faint aroma of malt and caramel. Full mouth of sugar, malt, caramel syrup and citrus. Lingering bubbly and malty finish.

I’d been sitting on this beer awhile and decided to break it out during our tailgating frenzy at the Oakland Raiders homegame vs. Chefs. Yeah, we lost but damnit we drank some good beer. The beer really did strike me as being fairly bland. Nothing really setting itself apart from the other barleywines out there, but still was of enough quality to be drinkable. An aroma of sweet caramelly malts, fruit cocktail, a bit grapefruity and subtle molasses. Appearance was a hazy orange/caramel brown color, thin wispy head with barely any lacing. Flavor is melted caramel chews, with a subtle touch of some grapefruit. Sweet yet not overly sweet for a barleywine. Glad to have a few more bottles to finish off.

Had this beer on 12/13/2005. Aroma is a bit sweet with malt scents. Color is a deep hazy brown with chunky flootys. Carbonation is good with a nice tight head. Taste is toasted and rich. Starting with a full body it goes down with a sweet rich feel. Finish comes on with this rich feel staying on with a rich malt flavor and sweetness that is back by a faint hint of smoke. Its not the best Barleywine, but a nice one.

(Bottle 35,5 cl) Courtesy of Degarth. Vintage 2006. Slightly hazy, reddish, dark, orangey brown with a beige head. Fat aroma of caramel and overripe fruit. Full-bodied, sweetish, burned caramel flavours and very fruity accents - overripe fruit also. Lightly hoppy finish. Lovely. 270907

Bottle vintage 2006. [Courtesy of Papsoe] Light fizzy white head that mostly diminished. Spare display of lacework. Amber – light brown color. Aroma of heavy bread, caramel, fruit, underlying floral notes. Full bodied with a thick oily /syrup like texture and a soft carbonation. Moderated to heavy sweet flavor with nice counter hoppy bitterness. Thick bread like finish. Lovely Barley Wine.