Rock Bottom Denver Old Thumper

Sampled at the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild 2008 Strong Beer Fest, on February 17, at the Mesa Amphitheatre.

Draft, 2007 version. Dark gold/light red body with a ¼ inch foamy head. Nose-unsweet honey, brown sugar, maple and brown sugar oatmeal, amber liquid malt extract. Taste-light sawdust, tea, light sausage spice, medium sweet malts, sticky, medium CO2, Dr. Pepper, apple, cherry cough syrup, corn on the backend. Overall a very enjoyable average English/American hybrid barleywine.

i’m guessing this is what i had. it was listed as "barley wine" on the chalkboard with nothing else to id it. mahogany brown body with an off white head. alcohol is noticeable in the candy caramel nose. taste is more of an english barleywine variety. honeyed caramel malt flavor some pear and grape notes with a decent dark fruit plum or rasin taste. a herbal hop note in the finish. a bit too much sweetness as this gets a bit cloying, but it is a nice one to have while i wait for a bus, because it kept me warm once i went outside. 3 7 6 2 13

On tap @ Rock Bottom Denver poured a clear dark copper with a small lingering amber head. Aromas of carmel, toffee, stone fruit and a faint hint of spice. Palate was medium to full bodied and smooth. Flavors of toffee, carmel and stone fruit with a smooth warming lingering bittersweet finish.

Draught at Colorado Springs. Pours a hazy mahagony with a large tan creamy and fizzy head, lasting, good spotty lacing. Aroma is roasted malt (nutty, caramel, cookie), average hops (floral, pine, perfume), average yeast (warm dough), with notes of brown sugar, chocolate and alcohol. Medium sweetness, heavy acidity, harsh bitterness, malty creamy roasted caramel nutty flavor, alcohol and hops. Full bodied, creamy yet spicy and fizzy, alcohol texture.