Marin Old Dipsea Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine Style Ale

Brewed by Marin Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Larkspur, California USA

Bottle… This beer rocks!… Pours a murky caramel-color with a small, creamy, white head. Hurricane-like, swirling retention. The nose is an intoxicating swirl of oak, whiskey, caramel, vanilla and coconut. Full-bodied with tingly carbonation. The tangy, sweet flavor offers caramel, bourbon and a rumor of oak. There is a lot of bourbon flavor without a lot of bourbon heat. The lengthy finish is sweet and tangy and bequeaths lingering, rich notes of brown sugar and whiskey. Big time thanks to daknole for sharing his bottle of this world class beer!

Bottle 65 cl. Pours a cloudy opaque dark brown with a creamy, beige head. Aroma has lots overripe fruit, bourbon and licorice allsorts. Quite full-bodied, again lots of caramel and overripe fruit. Sweet caramel and a warming alcohol in the finish. Absolutely no bitterness. 110709

(A couple 22oz bottles) Pours a hazy mahogany body with a small beige head. Aroma of vanilla, bourbon, caramel, and toffee. Flavor of caramel malt, hops (herbal), dark fruit, vanilla, and bourbon.

Bottle #16 from iowaherkeye. Damn what a beauty. Pours a nice cloudy brown with a small tan head. Aroma is pure sweet bourbon, caramel and oak. Flavor is so well rounded. Smooth and sweet with such wonderful bourbon notes. Vanilla flavors, brown sugar, oak, and more. Damn this was amazing. I wish I had more of this!!

22oz bottle, Heaven Hill Barrel. Huge thanks to Daknole for busting out this super rare beer. Pours hazy brown with a small beige head. Nose is intense caramel and brown sugar. A little cinnamon and a whiff of bourbon and smoke. Fantastic nose. Flavor is intense fruity caramel. Layers of vanilla and chocolate, a little bit of brown sugar and molasses. Bourbon on the back end. No real alcohol bite even as it warms. This is super balanced with perfect carbonation. Probably the best American Barley Wine I’ve had. Simply outstanding.

22 fl oz bottle. Pours hazy dark orange to brown with a small off-white head. Smooth and fruity barrel aged aroma. Light eye burn. Vanilla and chocolate malt flavoured. Mild wooden and vanilla finish. Very smooth.

Name: Old Dipsea Barleywine Style Ale, BA
Date: July 11, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: RBSG 2009
Appearance: hazy dark amber, scant head
Aroma: sweet dark caramel and vanilla aroma
Flavor: rich caramel malt flavor, nice bourbon, sweet vanilla, balancing oakyness, touch of alcohol
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

RBSG09 bottle on the bus after the grand tasting. cquiroga said this was the Heaven Hill barrel version, one of only 190 bottles. Pours dark brown with some ruby highlights and a tan head. Aroma is big on caramel and molasses with dark fruity notes and a very smooth vanilla bourbon note. Flavor is also very smooth with toffee, vanilla, light booze, almonds, black cherry, and brown sugar. Totally silky on the palate. I loved it.