t4h2c0 (65), seattle, USA
Mar 17, 2008
Ages great! Had off tap and bottle. Aged bottles come out very thick and malty, almost syrup-like. Off tap it seem smoother and less malty. Pours dark. Make sure not to drink this one too cold or any barley wines for that matter. Complex flavors and high quality make this a great beer!
 ruggedman (429), Portland, Maine, USA
Oct 5, 2008 Bottle at Novare Res. This stuff is fantastic, I’m starting to think I love barleywines as much as IPAs. Sweet, malty, the hop presence is there though and this is a great barleywine. Toffee and caramel aromas and flavors from the malts. Nice mouthfeel too.
Imperial-John (98), Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Oct 1, 2008 2006 bottle. Bubbly murky brown with creamy tan head that coats glass as it thins. Sweet oakey whiskey aroma. As aroma would suggest, wweet oakey raisin whiskey taste with clean aftertaste. Very warming and so smooth for 13.25%. It brought a tear to my eye as I drank this as it is the last of the 2 I had. This and Old Rasputin are 2 of my highest ratings. Thank you North Coast, hope to see you again soon.
Illini08 (519), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Oct 1, 2008 2007 bottle. Picked up at Brawley’s in Charlotte, NC. Dark amber pour with no real head to speak of. Very vinous aroma, dried fruits, maybe some leather, vanilla, some booze. Sticky sweet flavor. Fruity, some caramel and molasses. Not much in the way of hops. A bit of booze noticable in the finish. Pretty smooth on the palate. A little sweet stickiness as well. Enjoyable and I think it will get better with more age.
timsilvia32 (244), from Michigan now in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Sep 29, 2008 2008, Solid amber pour, very slight cream head that dissappated quickly. Big sweet malty aroma. Tastes of the same with carmal/toffee, slight fig, raisin. Carbonation stays up front with very little hop prescence to speak of, making it a bit sticky. This reminded me more of an old ale, which I enjoy much more than barley wine. Thought this was good and will only get better with a little age.
mgermani (617), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sep 29, 2008 2008 Vintage
Pours a crystal clear amber with a thin ring of foam. Aroma is sweet and strong, present alcohol and dark fruit. Very sweet tasting, bubblegum and caramel, touch of bittering hops in the finish with warming alcohol, not particularly complex. Moderate carbonation but a nice gooey body. I will save one of these for aging, but at this point there’s just not enough going on here. Will try again in a year or two.
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