New Holland Pilgrims Dole

Brewed by New Holland Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Holland, Michigan USA

Beautifully hued a deep bronze-tinted mahogany beneath a long lasting head of fluffy ecru. Lush, layered aroma of intense caramel, cherry, brandy, sweetened cereal, mild earthiness. Smooth and thick on the palate, letting the aftertaste carry long afterwards. Flavor starts sweet, with honey and caramel, slightly stale, with oxidized notes that make this seem closer to an Old Ale than a Barley Wine. Alcohol follows late, fairly strong and slightly obtrusive. A rich, potent brew that does well after aging and becomes an introspective slow-sipper.

<font size=-4>Purchased May 2007 at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Beverage Depot, Orland Park, IL 60462 Consumed October 2008.</font>

Dark amber pour with a short lived small head. Aroma of malts and caramel. Taste is sweet, caramel, dark fruits. Drinkable but nothing exciting.

650 ml. Clear darkish copper with a small disc of cream overhead that holds steady and laces well. Nice aroma of caramel, chocolate, dates, oak, vanilla and whiskey. Flavor starts with dates, caramel and chocolate in light whiskey, then fades slowly to a strong finish of vanilla, whiskey and oak. Medium-heavy body is smooth and finishes warm and dry with wood and alcohol flavors. Pretty nice sipper, but just a tad too evident with the alcohol.

10/4/08:Bottle.
Light brown body. Nose of Sherry cask. Oh dear God, this BW was TERRIBLE. Flavor is way wrong, rotten sherry cask and ick. I refuse to take another taste.

Pours dark red with a white head. Leaves plenty of sticky lace behind. Big sticky aroma of caramel malt, fruity yeast, and pine hops. There some bubble gum and maraschino cherry juice as well. Lots of sweet and sticky malt flavor. Maybe too much. Finishes with a shot of evergreen hop bitterness and a punch of alcoholic heat. Certainly full bodied with just a bit of carbonation. Semisweet finish. Overall, this is a pretty enjoyable beer. No masterpiece, but certainly interesting. I really like the hop character.

Pours amber/orange in the glass and cascades to form a light head that dissapates rather fast. Aroma is sweet, mainly malt with some wood. Aroma is really nice, reminds me of a 8 year old vintage bigfoot. Flavor is different, not bad but interesting. Carbonation is almost non-existant and a silky mouthfeel that coats slightly but pretty watery for the style. Slight alcohol in the finish that is a little dissapointing. Upfront is sweet, wood, dark fruits, hops have all but vanished from this 2007 vintage. I really think the alcohol is a bit much for the body of this beer. This needs a few more years and I can see it being a really good barleywine.

Bottle. Poured brown with red notes and a small tan head. Aroma of sweet fruit, caramel. Taste is of sweet fruit, malt, honey, light wood, and little hops. Finish is smooth, not at all bitter. Body is pretty heavy and sticky.

Decent sized head. Frothy on top and nice and dense on the bottom. Loads of caramel malts, sweetness and dough. Lots of dough...Liquid bread. Smells fantastic! Crystal clear mahagony brown. Sweet and smooth with lots of butterscotch! So smooth and creamy in the mouth. Coats the mouth with a velvet sheet that is fantastic. Caramel, alcohol and some bitter hops presence. Finishes creamy smooth and delicious. I love the barleywine. At least, I do now. Lets see how I feel as I make my way to the bottom of this bomber.