Moylans Old Blarney Barley Wine

Brewed by Moylans Brewery & Restaurant
Style: Barley Wine
Novato, California USA

This was a very young and edgy barleywine, very sharp and alcoholic up front. Lots of sweet caramel malts with some brown sugar and raisin taste. Big hop finish with a big bitterness, giving this brew some good hops to age on. I’m going to pick up another one and set it down for two years and rerate it then, but this was still really nice fresh.

2004 bottle. Pours a brilliant auburn with copper and amber tints. Moderate sized beige colored head. Bottle conditioned, lots of sediment on the bottom. Aroma: WHAP Slapped in the face with stiff hops. Great. I’m probably going to just love this one. . . .
As I drink it, I hate the huge hoppiness and it makes me cringe and gets me angry again about the overusage of hops. This is all hops, very similar to Stone’s Old Guardian 2004. Much munich malt and tons of hops. I will say, I really like the body and love the mouthfeel. Smooth, live and very fresh tasting. Creamy, medium-full body, but just glides on the palate. Ends with bitter hops, earthy notes from the yeast and a bit of peach brandy. Can’t find the alcohol, which is nice. Found the hops though.

Bottle, from trade with JCW. Good nose, carmel, leather, dried fruits, plum, raisin. apple. Hazy orangy brown color, no head. Bitter sweet flavors. Same as aromas with grapefruit and chocolate. Medium bodied, kind of oily creamy, bitter citrusy finish. Nice brew. Hides 10% well

1998 vintage. The bottle almost erupted, gushing foam for almost 5 minutes. Aroma is orange peel and slight vinegar. The taste makes me wonder since I drink so many old beers, if I actually like the gueuzeness of oxidized beer. This is still sweet and malty with some typical Moylans chocolatiness. Some plum and peach flavors are still evident.

nice mellow aroma with a hint of carmel.with a carmel apperance as well.very mellow/ balance barley wine,and very easy to drink.flavors of carmel,sugar,and malts.once again it very smooth.

Brown sugar, malt, and alcohol. Ruby body, little head develops. Very sweet like cane sugar with a tart background. Slightly fruity.

(Bottle) Pours a cloudy dark brown with a small beige head. Aroma of cookies, toffee, caramel and hops. Flavor of caramel, dates, dough, and hops. Somewhat bitter finish.

22oz Bomber. Pours a dark reddish brown color with a quickly departing off white head that leaves no evidence of its existence shortly after. This smells of sweet fruits and some floral hops with a bit of alcohol lurking about. Very hopped up front on the taste with malty sweetness following shortly after. It finishes with a dry and bitter taste that lingers for a while and alcohol is quite warming. Mouthfeel is creamy and thick and this is quite drinkable. Overall it’s a good beer but not one of the best of its style.