Real Ale Sisyphus

Re-rate, 2003 Vintage: It had been sitting on the shelf of the Whole Foods here in Austin for more than a year. OHHH MY!! This is significantly better than the 2004. Much lesssteric and much more full of hops, yeast and barley flavor. The pour is excellent. Not much head, in fact just a small atoll at the edges of my glass. Nose has a minty freshness to it, at least it is as abrasive as mint is and just as sharp. Next comes the typical citrus and pine that the 2004 had. Also present is swiss cheese. All of these aromas are much more crisp, much more defined and much more palatable this time around. Taste is considerably of brown sugar, pine and grapefruit, especially however brown sugar. Find this brew. Buy two. put a straw in one and drain it as fast as you can and cellar the other. Grat

For all of the hatred this beer gets, I really liked it. Very copper colored and not much of a head. Smells like vanilla, bourbon and rubbing alcohol. The nose could use some work. This brew had been sitting on the shelf for nigh on 4 months maybe 5 so it’s had a little time to mellow out. Flavors are lovely. Whoever below pointed out the over ripened fruit was dead on. Hints of bourbon and vanilla just like the nose only without the astringency on the forefront. Salt as well is prevalent. Mouthfell is excellent. Coats like cough syrup. Good brew. Buy 2. Drink one cellar the other. Grat

Sampled on draft at the Flying Saucer, Addison. My favorite barley wine to date. Most are syrupy and under attenuated. This one passes the drinkability test. So easy to drink! Easily the most attractive of its style I’ve seen. I’d say try it, but that would result in less of this beer for me. Stay away.

hahahaha! a case was sent to my local after talking to my head beer honcho of the whole city! Pours a dark tan-brown, has a constent foam layer... The aromas that emanate are fan-freakin-tastic! ... yahoo!..’’maybe she’s sleepy??’’ ... for an american barleywine, this has to be the most drinkable in all of man kind!!! .. i could drink this after a 90 min soccer game or with breakfast in the morning, its that f*ckin good and SMOOTH!!! balnced and tasty, I recommend this to anyone who even considers a barleywine once and a while because this is the definition of: beauty! ..............by the way, is this really 11%..????

Wow - I liked this beer. Had it at the Gingerman in Austin when it was being served out of the cask. This was an excellent beer with what I think were Amarillo hops! Great big beer (barley wine) with great big flavor. Nice pour of a golden color with big hop aroma. It finished nice on the pallate - I’ve had this beer out of the bottle and was not impressed, but this was great. It’s hard to pull off a balanced big beer like this, but they did it. Compliments!!!

Draught at Flying Saucer, Fort Worth TX
Hazy amber color; nice lace. The aroma is malty, with fruity hops. Full mouthfeel, excellent malt flavor, sweet but not thick nor oily, with a robust but not overwhelming, good and aromatic hopping; some fruitness. Excellent.