Middle Ages Druid Fluid

Brewed by Middle Ages Brewing
Style: Barley Wine
Syracuse, New York USA

22oz bomber. I cracked the bottle open and performed my "quick whiff before I pour it" and the first thought that popped into my head was Double IPA! This suspicion was further reinforced by its lemony/citrus, pine-hoppy aroma that wafted from the glass that I poured it into. However, it looked like many a barleywine I have had as it was a clear, darker copper witha pretty reddish hue. It had a small to medium head that stuck around for a bit. The flavor was very hoppy, which I enjoyed immensely, but it also had a great malt character that balanced it out and kept me from thinking that this was a in fact a IIPA. The finish was adequately bitter and cozily warm. An afterthought I had was "toned down IIPA" but in a good way. It was one of the more hoppy barleywines I have had. A very enjoyable experience. I will buy this again.

22oz bottle in a trade from the other site. Pours a nice rich orange, with a decent head and some pretty good retention. Very hoppy aroma, making me wonder if I’d opened it too soon (but hell I’ve been sitting on it for about a year, I think). However, while it’s still a tad hot, it’s a fine drinking barleywine. There are some sweet malts evident to balance the intense hops and alcohol burn. And there’s a rich, flavorful quality that reminds me of good brandy. Full body, long (slightly bitter) finish. Definitely an above average entry.

22 oz bottle shared by AlohaC in the Lost abbey release party line. Brownish Copper color with decent head. Lots of sweet malt aromas and flavors. raisins and molasses. Nice roasted finish without too much hops on the finish. One of my favorites from the line tasting.

Shared at Lost Abbey Angel Share Bourbon Release line tasting. A nice sample of a pretty complex barley wine. Veyy malty finish.

amber color not much foam, nose is sweet almost bublegum, citrus caremel . Flavor is hoppy but still good malts on the backbone good mouthfeel, smooth mouthfeel. really nice beer

Pours a hazy orange into the snifter with an inch of white head. Very boozy scent and taste with malted barley, piney hops, caramel, dried fruit and nuts. Alcohol in the finish.

Aroma of pine and figs. Sweet flavor, propped up by a pretty firm bitter hop finish. It’s OK.

April 2006 - Beer poured with the look of a not so cloudy apple cider with fluffy head. A piney aroma was present, but not overwhelming. The flavor tasted like a watered down version of Old Ruffian from Great Divide...piney but not that piney...hoppy but not that hoppy and maybe a little bit of sweetness in there from the malts if you concentrate enough. Overall, it was a subdued mild barleywine which there’s nothing wrong with, just a little weak in every way. If there was a "session barleywine", this could be it.