Mad River John Barleycorn

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

Deep copper body that shows murky brown when not under a light. Yellowish khaki head. The aroma was sweet and malty with dark Karo syrup and apples. There aso was some sweet cellar and potatoes. The taste was fairly sweet with dark Karo syrup and some bread crust. There was some light apple core in the finish. There is also a little bit of dirt and burnt bread crust. Decent, but maybe better with age.

Brown bottle, 355 mll, via Philippe Boutin on February 17 2009, savoured on February 24 2009; eye: dark caramel, hazy, no effervescence, tiny ring of beige head, a bit of lacing; nose: lots of malt, lots of hops, lots of caramel, light citrus, molasses; mouth: lots of malt, lots of hops, lots of brown sugar, light pepper, citrusy, molasses, finale in caramelized malt with a good presence of hops, rather bitter and sweet, mild astringency, full body, average carbonation, slick; overall: fine FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 355 ml, via Philippe Boutin le 17 février 2009, savourée le 24 février 2009; œil : caramel foncé, voilée, pas d’effervescence, petit anneau de mousse beige, un peu de dentelle; nez : beaucoup de malt, beaucoup de houblon, beaucoup de caramel, léger citrique, mélasse; bouche : beaucoup de malt, beaucoup de houblon, beaucoup de cassonade, léger poivre, citrique, mélasse, finale en malt caramélisé avec une bonne présence de houblon, plutôt amère et sucrée, astringence moyenne, corsée, carbonatation moyenne, coulante; en résumé : bien

12 oz bottle purchased on the Marine base on Oahu. Poured a clear amber/orange color with a thin off white head. The aroma was citrus and some caramel malt. The flavor had caramel, brown sugar and molasses, with a good citrus finish. Very well balanced with a full body and a solid mouthfeel. I think this will improve with age. This was a good brew.

A copper orangish pour with tight lite head and lace. Aroma of dried fruit dates. A flavor of oranges and sweet malt. A nice bitter finish. Slick rich mouth feel but a tad of foaminess. A damn solid bw.

Pours a clear garnet color with a full light tan head. Aroma is sweet malt and hops. Caramel , brown sugar and butter taste along with considerable hop bitterness (duh, it’s from California). aBV is well hdden. Very good and well balanced.

pistachio/caramel aroma; bittersweet and full; well-balanced, but slightly on the bitter edge; good.

2008. Pours hazy deep mahogany into a snifter. Off-white head recedes to hug rim leaving no lacing. Sweet molasses, coconut and alcohol aromas. Full and tingly with upfront sweet caramel and a lasting bitter winter warmer finish.

2008 bottle, 9.1%. Pours a dark brown color with a small off-white head. Aroma is malt, caramel, roasty, dark fruits. Flavor is light for the alcohol content and is well balanced for a barley wine beer. Alcohol is not overpowering and the flavor really is drawn out as the beer warms.