Pisgah Hellbender Barley Wine

Bottle… Murky, caramel-colored ale with a small, creamy, off-white head and thousands of small, white floaties tooling about the glass. Good retention. Cereal grain, corn and caramel are dominant in the nose. Full-bodied with a watery mouthfeel and energetic carbonation. Caramel and lightly vinous notes. Dark fruit, thin finish. Kudos to mgumby10 for popping the top on this one!

Bottle sampled at mgumby10s: This was not one of my favorites of the night, flavor is brown sugar prominent, then some bitter citrus rind, wood, spicy hops, and sort of a thin mouthfeel that was a little disappointing.

Pours a dark maroon, with a small off white head. Smells of some light bready yeast, lightly sweet dark fruits, and caramel malt. The flavor has a bit of that bready yeast complex to it, with the caramel malt becoming a prominent figure in this beers identity. The finish is fairly malty with gooddoses of bitterness attacking the leavings on the palate. Decent little mix of dark fruit is left in the aftertaste. Not bad, but didnt blow me away.

Appearance: Pours a lightly hazy, chestnut brown body with a very frothy, tall, off-white head. Smell: Sweetish, caramel-minded aroma with a distinct waft of alcohol and lesser notes of bread and citrus pith. Taste: Slightly bready maltiness with a middling amount of caramel sweetness. Touch of citrus. Resounding, resinous hop bitterness. Pinch of freshly-grated spices. Hint of candied lemon peel on the otherwise bitter, someone boozy finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation. Drinkability: Ask me again in a few years.

Pours a clear chestnut color. Aroma is subdued and mellow. Mostly malt dominant, some dried fruit does come through. The flavor is very mellow and unobtrusive. Not very exciting.