Rocky River 10th Anniversary Barleywine

Brewed by Rocky River Brewing Co. (OH)
Style: Barley Wine
Cleveland, Ohio USA

On tap @ the Brewpub: Pours a clear copper with a light tan head. Aroma, caramel, toffee, earthy and citrus hops. Flavor, toffee, sweet up front with a big citrusy and earthy bitterness on the finish.

Sample @ Brewpub: Pours a reddish-orange. Aroma is sweet malts, some dried fruits, and sugars. Flavor is sweet, toffee-esque, yet bitter-finishing and sticky. Odd flavor for a barleywine, but still very tasty.

Growler… DLD’08… Lightly hazed golden ale with a mid-sized, creamy, white head. Good retention. Intensely resinous, earthy and citric aroma. Medium to full-bodied and a bit chewy with dancing carbonation. Solid, crystal malt backbone, but heavy PNW hop bitterness dominates. Crisp, tongue-numbingly bitter finish. Barleywine? If the brewer say so, but I’m thinking Imperial IPA all the way. Very good stuff!