Newport Storm 02

Formerly brewed at Coastal Extreme Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Middletown, Rhode Island USA

I was lucky enough to find a bottle of this (the 2002 vintage) a few weeks ago at a large chain liquor store in New England. Beautiful blue corked 750 ml. Deep coppery color with a strong caramel nose with a slight hinting of the alcohol wafting in the background. Smooth smooth smooth warming taste with a stong caramel flavor that slides so effortlessly on down. Beautiful stuff.

This was an amazing beer, the head was not all that great but who cares. the flavor was a bit of roasted nuts with a chocolate aftertaste then came a smooth malty flavor as it slides down your throat. They did a good job hiding the booze in this even though it was a high alcohol brew. but over all this beer is amazing

Deep amber body, huge tan creamy head. Aroma is very hoppy and vinous, reminiscent of Bigfoot. Flavor is woody and hoppy with some alcohol tinge. Finishes dry and bitter. Overall, this beer has loads of hop flavor but the year or so of aging has really mellowed it out, leaving a wonderful creamy smoothness. Awesome stuff.

Had this one after it had been aged for 6 years. Pours an ultra-hazy apricot with a thin biege head. When held to the light, a dark, thick cloud can be seen suspended in the center of the liquid. Smells of apricot, peach, dark pitted fruit, and booze. The taste is entirely different, and unbelievably complex. From the initial taste to the after taste, almost no alcohol is detectable. The mouthfeel is so slick and pleasant and the carbonation is among the smoothest I’ve ever had. Definately full-bodied. Tastes of a variety of hops, most notably cascade. The fruit flavours include apricot, plum, and other pitted fruits. One of my all time favorites. Incredibly unique and good.

Rated recently. Malty sweet aroma--I smell sweet, honey. Some smoked malts in the nose as well. Pours a very cloudy amber color with a nice frothy light tan head (bigger than expected). Very malty tasting with vinous herbal hints toward the middle. Nice slow alcohol burn with some smokiness to end. A very yummy offering.------RE-Ra 7/3/05...This is aging awesomely. Extremely smooth, velvety and flavorful. I think it’s at its peak right now. This is up there with the St. Ambroise Vintage 2001 I had about 6 months ago. Fabulous. I have increased to the overall by a point as well as the flavor by a point and the palate by a point.

Thanks ClarkVV. Garnet red color with a nice fluffy tan head. Nice aroma of fruit and candi sugar. Fruity. Raisins, prunes, figs, and plums. Well balanced. Full bodied. Rich tasting. Smooth. Big flavor. Enjoyable. Great.

Big thanks out to ClarkVV for this bottle. Perfect clear, Ruby Red color with a nice rich thick tan head. Sherried candy and fruit aroma, with raisns, plums, cherries, figs, prune, all melded together. Flavor is big and smooth, with huge sherried malts and tons of dried fruit. This is one delicious brew that is probably extremely hard to find by now. Would be a prize for any cellar. YUM!

2002 - opened & drinking it in 2004 - Has a light caramel colored, thickly set pour out of the slender blue bottle, settles a dark sludgy and opaquely thick, mahogany ochreous color with the bottom giving way to a dark golden caramel hue. Firm and dense cap of prailine pecan malted ice cream. Some bigger bubbles on the pour side. Thin but prominent collar keeps the edge after a bit, lacing in minimal spots dripping back to the surface in a short duration. Aroma is a lovely sugary soft yet colassal amount of caramel and brown sugar array with a slight sundry of hops that brings both dulled citrus and pine. Notes of ginger and cinnamon bring in more cookie dough sweetness; and I’m fine with that. Love that cookie dough stuff! Yum! Taste is caramel-tastic! Age has seemed to mellow out this once 100 IBU beast down to a heavenly smooth concoction of malted caramel goodness. The hops are extremely subdued in this bottle. Oh, hops are there, but in flavor, not bite. Beautifully redeeming and coursing pine resin tinctures with sprinkles of citrus fruits that have lost there souring acids but not their flavors amend all the loose ends. But those caramel malts just keep gushing with a nice mixture of cookie dough sugars. Pulsingly strong amount of caramel now. Mainly finishing aspects silhouette the once beaming hop light of yore. Very little of the 12.7% ever makes itself present in the taste, aroma, or feel, but it does have that specific edge of warmth and burn to keep it in check along the way down. But hardly enough for this thirsty, willing dog. Feel is firm and bold, free and pliant; thickly creamy and chewy with malts and super smooth. Mellowing calmness in alcohol and the hop bite tame now that its had time to sit. A beautiful sipping ale but gulping is fine too. One top notch brew that reminds me of the Doggie Claws of 2002... and it seems to have a mix of Yulesmith and St. Bernardus in there. Just the thought of that is making my dreamy...