Mad River John Barleycorn

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

Bottle shared with Hogtown Harry and Blankboy, Paul’s bottle. Dark ruby red, small white head. Nice dark fruity aroma - lots of alcohol, hops, and apple(?!). Very dry and bitter initial taste - gives way to sweet malt and alcohol. Finishes with a huge citrus hop infusion that was not even hinted at before. Strong and bitter - not complex, but intensely enjoyable.

Bottle (12oz). Shared with blankboy and tupalev, blankboy’s bottle. Hazy deep amber-orange with an average off-white creamy head. Juicy citrus malt, slightly funky/resiny hops, quite sweet, not much alcohol for 9%, funkier hops on warming, quite herbal. Taste has more hop character - very bitter - alcohol and light malt try to keep up, but this is woody, dry and hop-bitter - very nice. Average body, slightly harsh, almost turpentine-y finish, not complex but good hop character, mix of UK and west coast hops. Very interesting, a little intense, but excellent.

Dull brown murky appearance – nice head does not last long– nose fresh hops, roasted malts, alcohol and cat turd funk – heavy to medium body – initial taste is sweet then turns bitter, heavy malt and coffee - aftertaste bitter with alcohol

1997 bottle that i was saving for a special occasion but had anyways. It had mellowed marvelously and was a magnificient aged barleywine. Reminded me of a mellow balanced cantillon open fermentation. A cloudy fruity appearance. Clearly barley and malt in taste.

Deep amber pour with a medium off white head. Aroma of toffee, dark fruit, and some citrus hops. Medium body, light carbonation, leaving the tongue quickly. Light molasses flavor followed by raisin, and then peppery spice and grapefruit. Dry, medium bitter finish .

Bottle. From the year 2000! The world of tomorrow holds an excellent beer. Soon we will all be indulging our noses in sharp green apple-cheese. Almost a cross between an imperial pale ale and a barleywine, this is light and crisp. Raisin pine bark is delicious. It’s very easygoing and does not burn the throat or tongue. IT has an awful lot of citrusy, fruity hop flavor for a six year old. It’s full of flavor and life at this age and would probably have continued on well into further maturity. I now want to store up a bunch of them. It’s good beer. It appears to not please veryone, or be off the radar on this site, but it’s good stuff, eminently drinkable and ageable sharp apple hop barleywine. Definitely not to a style, but who cares, I actually prefer this to many heavy and burning barleywines. Agreed with erway that it may best be categorized as English Old Ale, it’s got the reminiscent cidery, smooth yet sharp, autumnal feel of an Old Izaak.

Bottle. Great hop aroma and flavor along w/ a huge malt backbone. Malt equals that of a bw and hops = that of an ipa. Great bw.

’98 bottle sampled April ’06: Pours a deep foggy amber with no head. Aroma is all figs and sherry with notes of toffee and treacle. The body is med. but lacks any CO2. Very fruity flavors with a distinct British yeastiness. The oxidation is subtle, and is elegant. It is a fine aging beer but does not have the punch to remain much of a barleywine. Much more of an Old Ale. No bitterness in the end.