Rock Bottom Cleveland Gukels Little Helper

FoBAB: murky dark amber/mahogany with minimal head, appears very oily, growing legs in the glass. Aroma is very sweet caramel malt up front with lots of vinous notes, mostly sweet raisins. Flavor again sweet caramel malt, mollasses and raisins, only the faintest bourbon a nice hop bitterness towards the finish that sort of cleans the palate. Very well done!

Thoroughly enjoyable bourbon aged barley wine...prunes, dates, raisins, smoke, toffee, caramel, all intertwining and then mixed with a insistant hop bite in the finish. Very strong alcoholic warming.

Sampled at the 3rd Annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-aged Beers held at Goose Island (Wrigleyville branch), Chicago, IL. Served from tap. American Barleywine aged for 9 months in a Woodford Reserve barrel. Hazy brown-black hued barleywine with no discernable head. Intense complex aroma of bourbon whiskey, prunes, raisins, and toffee. Soft carbonation. Full-bodied that starts with slightly sweet malt flavor with hints of bourbon, toffee, burnt raisin, and hop flavor and finishes with slight bitterness. Well balanced. A very satisfying tasty beer.

Nicely done, a sweet barleywine with a nose of caramel, alcohol, bourbon, and a touch of woody smoke. Not much to look at, a thick, flat copper tone with a filmy head, but the caramel, bourbon, and alcohol are joined by a previously hidden hop bitterness that helps round the drink out. Nice hot & sticky sweet finish. Bottle this, people!

<font size=-4>The Third Annual Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers, Chicago, IL 11/12/2005<font size=-1>

A copper body with mahogany notes, seemingly flat with just a ring for a head. Aroma was nutty and alcoholic with bourbon and smoke to whet your palate. Flavor starts caramel-sweet with bittering hops jumping in at just the right moment. Big warming effect in the finish. Thick, rich & sticky sweet. Well-deserving of an award.

<font size=-4>Sampled at The Third Annual Festival of Barrel-Aged Beer, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>