Rock Art Vermonster

Brewed by Rock Art Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Morrisville, Vermont USA

GABF 2008. Very hazy amber brown. Surprisingly hop-dominated aroma and palate. There is some rich buttery toffee malt too, but the hops steal the show here. This comes across as a malt-heavy IIPA more than a barley wine, but that is splitting hairs I guess. Either way this really is a monster!

Bomber. Pine tree aroma stands out along with the alcohol on the nose. Amer body with off white head that disapates to a a bacteria swatch under a microscope. Good fruity flavor along with the dry bitterness bit of an IIPA. Rather thin on the malts as the alcohol has a warming affect on the body. Nice chill in the desert this morning good beer. Man that pine and dryness, swwet citrus lft on palate. Lot going on with this brew good stuff.

As a Vermonter, I might be a bit biased of the Rock Art brewery, but I think their products are very unique and well made. The Vermonster seems to be their flagship product and just became widely available in the state due to the change of alchohol content allowed to be sold by non liquer licensed companies. This is the beer I buy above all others. Try it with a good Vermont hard cider as well. I think you’ll be impressed!

The Vermonster poured a deep opaque amber brown into my glass, almost like a burnt sunset on the distant horizon. Thankfully, my Vermonster is no further away from me then the glass in my hand which is about to grace my lips with her liquid depths. Her nose is crisp and bright with lots of hoppy pine sap and oils, hints of fresh cut grass and dew. Just the way I like it. A swirl or two and little trails of brussels lace clamber all over my glass before settling back into the brew within. Her palate is a bittersweet oily piney array of wet woodsy notes. I am reminded of a fresh morning start in the heart of Mother Nature’s forest. Surrounded by dew and wet grass and pine, I breathe in the sap, oils, pine and fresh morning scents. Except in the case of the Vermonster, I taste all of those and more. Not to be outdone by the glorious hop profile, sweet malts in the hue of molasses and caramel carry mingle amidst the hops, providing a nice backdrop to rest against. As the Vermonster warms and I near the end of my glass, she finishes smooth with a lightly malty body adorned in oily hops, pine sap, and wet grass.
If this is the Ridge Runners big brother, I have a feeling I would also enjoy that one along with the Vermonster. Though in this case, it would be akin to having eh Piece de Resistance first and the opening act second. The Vermonster from Rock Art Brewery was excellent, and just the way I personally prefer my IPAs. Wet, oily, piney, sappy, and invigorating.

On tap from a 1/6 barrel keg freshly filled the day before. Pours a simply beautiful dark reddish brown with a thick 1 inch beige/off white head. Heavy, sticky, sweet lacing clings lovingly to the side of the glass. Smells of spicy hops dominate the rich malts. First sip is a hoppy bitterness that is both tangy and biting. The massive hops are paired with a complimenting strong malt backbone creating a creamy milkshake like mouthfeel. Very Nice - Seek this one on tap.

Peasant smelling enough. Nothing unique or special but nice. It poured very nicely with a rich dark brown honey color. The head was a nice and sticky cream color. The 10% ABV is nicely hidden with a strong and very bitter sensation of the hops. Could be a little more balanced with more malt and other flavors but rather good. A very nice beer overall. I am a bit confused that this is classified as a barley wine and not an IPA. It has an IBU of 100. What distinguishes this as a barley wine and not an IPA or Imperial IPA?

Bottle... Pours a hazy reddish brown with a generous sticky off white head that leaves a ton of lacing around the sides of my snifter as it slowly subdues. Aroma of malt, hops, earthiness, caramel and pine. Flavor is earthy yet very bitter hops, pine, caramel, understated malt as the bitterness in this one takes the stage. Alcohol is pretty well hidden, and overall this is good stuff.

Bottle... Post RBSG ’08 O-Town/Vero Beach Throwdown Chapter 8... Clear burnt orange ale with a mid-sized, creamy, off-white head. Fantastic retention. The malty, earthy nose bestows notes of perspiration and brown sugar, among others. Full-bodied and smooth with medium carbonation. Caramel sweetness and tannic, heavy hop bitterness. Lengthy, bittersweet, very warm finish. Thanks to growler for providing this nice bottle of beer!