Pike Old Bawdy Barley Wine

Vintage 2006 from the brewery. I haven’t had this one before, so I don’t know how it compares to more recent vintages, but the is fantastic. Looks gorgeous, practically glowing. Absolutely no head, as expected. Mellow for a barley wine, I assume the age has something to do with that. Tastes toasty with a decent amount of alcohol in the finish. Smells sweet and tasty.

12oz. bottle, 2006 vintage. Only a faint hiss of escaping gas as the bottle is cracked. Strong aroma of toasted caramel malt sweetness with lighter notes of raisin and honey along with a touch of citrus and alcohol. Deep amber color, the faint head quickly subsiding entirely. Flavor is again strongly malty and sweet, with dark brown sugar and toasted, nearly roasted malt character in fact, and lighter additions of spicy hop bitterness, dried fruits and peppery, medicinal alcohol. Palate is smooth and sturdy, body is certainly full enough. This is one Ive been wanting to try for quite some time, it sure would be interesting to have some other vintage or a fresh bottle for the sake of comparison, younger bottles showing a much different hop profile, no doubt, if the 90 IBUs on the bottle is any measure.

Bright amber with small white head. Aroma of flowers, hops, malt. Nice bitter flavor throughout, especially apparent in the finish. Like an IPA but darker and more mellow. A winner.

Pours a cloudy dark brown, with a small off white head. Smells of typical barley wine notes, lots of caramel and bready yeast, hops, and dark fruits. The flavor was also typical barley wine characters, with alot of the same flavors as in the nose. Lightly sweet and stingy from the alcohol on the palate, but not a monster. Light hop bitterness is apparent in the finish and lingering aftertaste. Just another run of the mill decent barley wine for me.

Rated 11/29/2008 (botte labeled 2007): Pours a reddish brown color body, somewhat cloudy body, with a little tan head, somewhat creamy looking. Malty syrupy sweet aroma. Bitter in the nose along with the sickly sweet. Malty soy saucy taste. Some nuttiness. A little smoother in the taste. Some smokiness too. Carbonated, somewhat creamy taste. Some grapefruit.

Deep ruby pour with minimal head. A dusty, figgy flavor coupled with a light bittering finish and an alcohol warming presence. A little on the caramel fruitiness which gives a slight puckering sweetness. Good brew, better for bedtime.

Good barley wine. Little alcohol/boozy flavor but little cherry flavor too. Pretty sweet though but I guess that’s OK. Very drinkable & smooth.

12 oz bottle shared. Sweet Barley Wine aromas with lots of dark fruit and caramel flavors. Very tasty.