Pelican Stormwatchers Winterfest 2005

Formerly brewed at Pelican Pub & Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Pacific City, Oregon USA

Draught at the brewpub. Dark ruby, fairly rich head. Strong aroma of toffee and balsamic berries. Sweet and very malty with beautifully soft mouthfeel. Thick with some molasses and plenty of warming alcohol. Strong, salty bitter finish. Incredibly rich, but maybe still too sweet. Probably the best of the four Stormwatchers served at one tray, and this is not a small accomplishment.

Very deep mahogany colour. Abundant molasses, alcohol, añejo rum, brown sugar, burnt cherries in the nose. The body is creamy almost to the point of being flat, enlivened only by a surge of late alcoholic dryness. The flavour is sweet with brown sugar, rich toffee malts and subtle alcoholic splashes.

Bottle with a sticker label with vintage information. Mahogany hue with a frothy head and some lace. The aroma has notes of walnut, molasses, tobacco, fig and raisin, clove, a hint of oxidation and cardboard, vinous character. The taste is sweet and fruity with a nutty olde school profile. A spice and light acidic finish. The mouth feel is biting, boozy, and sharp at first finishing with a dry chalky note. A solid brew in a surprisingly English style, Mikey Likey. (THX Chris)

Sample at the Hopsnobbery Collective Barley Wine tasting on 03/14/2009: Thanks to Homerwantsbeer for sharing a bottle. IPA bottle with an address label over it. The beer is a dark brown color with a minimal off-white head that disappears fairly fast. Top ring of lacing with spots beneath. Aroma of dark malts and plum and sweet boozy notes. Rich and syrupy with flavors of rich malt, dark fruit and sweet brown sugar. Warming alcohol throughout. The finish is sweet caramel and brown sugar with a lingering roasted malt aftertaste. Enjoyable all around.

I didn’t know they were goin to do these all by year, but watching the ABV you know why, changes quite a bit from year to year, glad I keep good notes. The 2005 tasted similar to the 04, caramel and light plum flavor to the malts. Finish was hoppy and set to age well. This years tasted a bit more dry then last year with a bit more alcohol showing.

I think I liked this one the best of all. This is a perfect winter sipper, the location is perfect, this is almost a perfect barleywine. Lots of molasses, sweet brown sugar, and some fruit complexity. Reminds me of fine Madeira, a great after dinner, that is very warming on a cold winter night.

Courtesy of Styles

Bottle: The aroma consists of chocolate, buttery toffee, caramel, muted citrus, and faint oxidation. It pours a dark transparent brown with a small beige film for a head. The flavor starts with moderate chocolate and light caramel. There is some mild herbal hoppiness in the finish along with some saint maple syrup and light oxidation. Medium-full bodied with soft carbonation.

Bottle shared by Styles. Sanguine red-brown body, medium tan head. Sherry aroma, oxidized, with faded dusty hops, raisins, prune, and alcohol. Body features toffee and toast, warming alcohol, and hints of dark fruit, including prune and raisin. Oxidized sherry tones abundant. Bitter around the edges. Nice crisp sweetness of residual sugars towards the finish. A quite interesting mix of old ale characteristics and bitter, rindy hops that have faded over time. Very nice.