Marin Old Dipsea Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine Style Ale

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

From a 22oz Bottle, 2009 Vintage. Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrel, #33/180. Generously shared by rallison. Mostly transparent, ruddy mahagony colored body with a thin layer of tight bubbled beige head. Intense bourbon aromas dripping of vanilla and pretzel dough barrel qualities. Moderately alcoholic, with notes of fig, fruitcake, brown sugar, and a light peppery spice, although more cardamom-like than black pepper. No hop aroma. Full bodied, soft-moderately carbonated mouthfeel with a rich, silky texure. Sweet flavors of maple syrup and pecan brittle explode over the palate, softened by some of the oaky vanilla. Suggestions of english toffee and butterscotch, although not at all in a d-kind of way. Light fruity characters also emerge, although they have more of a fruitcake, spiced bready quality. Finishes sweet, but not cloyingly so, with the silky barrel flavors slowly fading on the tongue. Easily one of the best bourbon barrel beers I’ve had in a really long time. Thanks for sharing, Ryan!

Bomber from Joey (iowaherkeye) with an orange sticker so it was the Heavens’ Hill barrel. Thanks a ton Joey! Awesome light bourbon nose, with some toffee, dark fruit, and more light bourbon. Clear dark brown with a very small beige head receding into a ring of bubbles. Flavor is very oaky vanilla, light bourbon, and dark fruitiness. Finish is very oaky vanilla woodiness and only a hint of alcohol.

(2009 bottle by way of irishboy)brown body with no head.the aroma is a lovely blend of vanilla,bourbon,candy sugar,and brown sugar.the flavor does much of the same.honestly im just blown away at how well the barrel aging did for this beer.its perfectly balanced,alcohol is well hidden,and the palate is out of this world.

Bottle. Pours a dark brune body with an off white head. Chocolate, bourbon, light woodiness and some dark fruit. Very smooth with a light chocolate silk character and vanilla oak accents. Great beer.

Shared by YGTBSM94. Not sure which vintage. Very nice beer. Very well attenuated. Great flavor. Sweet but not cloying. Mild bourbon and wood flavor.

Pours clear dark brown with a tan ring of foam. Sweet aroma of chocolate and fruit. Nice liquid fruitcake taste. This would be very interesting in a few years.

Sample from a bottle shared by riversideAK (???) Heaven Hill version. Tawny brown colored body, small tan ring of a head. Clear and surprisingly light colored, not that it matters. Nose is strangely minty and solvent-like, the bourbon character seems spicy/peppery/gin-like, with your more typical vanilla, almond and wood character not playing a primary role. Body is disappointingly weak and sharp - not something I like at all - while the sweet caramel malts and vanilla/bourbon focused flavors seem detached, stale and overall just very mild. Surprised that this one came across so... bland?

Bottle #35/180. Date of 2/4/09. Dark mahogony/brown beer with a thin tan head. Sweet malt aroma with caramel and bourbon. Bourbon flavor with caramel and brown sugar. Medium bodied. Carbonation a little light. Bourbon , vanilla, and oak lingers with caramel and malt.