Rock Bottom La Jolla Blitzen Christmas Ale

Brewed by Rock Bottom La Jolla
Style: Barley Wine
La Jolla, California USA

Taster at Pizza Port Strong ale fest. Pours a deep hazy reddish brown with a small beige ring. Nose is lightly spiced with some faint citrus qualities and herbal hop notes. Flavor is very similar with some added spice on the finish.

On tap at the SD Strong Ale Fest 09. Pours a dark reddish brown. I am deffinitely getting more strong belgian from this beer more the barleywine, maybe they changed it this year. Dark fruit, raisin, caramel malt, christmas spice, belgain yeast, and some esters. Overall not very interesing.

Draft. Bronze beer with a dark cream-colored head. Malt, caramel, and a light citrus aroma. Toffee, caramel, and light earth flavors. Medium bodied. Toffee, caramel, and earth linger.

On tap at Rock Bottom La Jolla. Color was very red, almost dark ruby in color. Aroma of caramel and fruit, with hints of earth and flowers. Flavor was very similar. What was strange was the fruit component of the flavor reminded me a bit of HI-C. It was still a bit hot and alcoholic. A bit one dimensional, but not bad.

One of the better barleywines I have had. Rich malty aroma, with floral spice scents. Taste of liquid bread, extremely malty but in a good way, with some mild grassy hops and just enough carbonation to give it that zing without an abundance of bubbles. Nice. Great tawny hue to boot.

Name: Blitzen Barleywine
Date: 12/01/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Tasting, Strong Ale Fest

hazy dark orange, wispy beige head, dark caramel aroma with lots of earthy hops leaving just a hint of sweetness, rich caramel malt flavor, just a touch of sweetness brings in a fruity character, lots of earthy hops keep it fairly dry, light lasting bitter finish,
-------- /> Name: Blitzen Barleywine
Date: 12/03/2007
Mode: draft
Source: la jolla brewpub

aroma is very light caramel, same rich dark caramel malt flavor and earthy hops, only a hint of the sweetness and a faint trace of the fruityness, light tartness, showed better at the fest than the brewpub, will age nicely,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Tap at Rock Bottom in La Jolla, CA: So I take it that most Rock Bottom locations have to make a Blitzen beer around the winter time and they get some freedom to do what they want as long as it’s a bit strong and somewhat spiced? Clear amber, no head. Nose of banana, clove, cinnamon and a bit of honey and orange. Sweet caramel and a bit of spice bludgeon you. The flavor is strong with alcohol and spices with a lazy fat uncarbonated sweetness. No hops to speak of. Not too east to drink. A bit too strong in the spices and overall just not a good beer.