Schooners Old Diablo

Brewed by Schooners Grille & Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Antioch, California USA

On tap. Pours an almost clear orangey brown with a small, beige head. sweet nose of chocolate and licorice. Quite full-bodied, wood and overripe fruit, sweet brown licorice allsorts. Warming alcoholic finish, but not much hops to be found. 100709

Bottled. Very dark brown. Coffee aroma. Dryish with full-medium body and clean, rounded mouthfeel. Nutty with notes of chocolate. Surprisingly low bitterness.

From a pitcher at the RBSG dinner. Pours hazy dark brown with a small a light golden orangehead. Vanilla, hard roasted and solid caramelish. Wooden vanilla and heavy caramelish. Smooth and solid caramelish and wooden flavoured finish.

Date: February 26, 2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Vintage: 2002
Appearance: cloudy dark amber, wispy beige head
Aroma: rich caramel aroma with hot fusel alcohols to burn your nose
Body: sticky sweet body
Flavor: big sweet caramel malt flavor, touch of alcohol, earthy bitterness

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Date: July 10, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: RBSG 2009 Dinner
Vintage: 2007
Appearance: hazy dark red, fine beige head, drippy lace
Aroma: big sweet dark caramel and vanilla aroma, candy sweetness, rich ripe dark fruits, light oak
Flavor: sweet caramel flavor, lots of vanilla sweetness combines well with the caramel. touch of dark fruits, light chocolate

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: ***+/4

Dark brown colour. Not much head. A decent starter barley wine that, while slightly cabbagey in the nose, holds together some civilized roasty character, light chocolate and a bit of nuttiness. Not intimidating but has enough to pique a newcomer’s interest in the style.

Bottle (2005) ... O-Town Throwdown Part Tres... Clear copper ale with a small, creamy, white head. Decent retention. Caramel, pine and pink grapefruit aroma. Rich, malty flavor. Alcoholic and heavily sweet, then medium bitter. Full-bodied with moderate carbonation. Lengthy, caramelly sweet and then bitter finish. Thanks to Ibrew2or3 for providing the bottle!

(Draught, 2007 vintage) Pours a cloudy burgundy body with a small beige head. Aroma of caramel, cherry, brandy, and vanilla. Flavor of toffee, caramel malt, cherry, wood, and raisins.

2002 bottle sampled on 2/26/07: Pours a transparent bronze copper with a lightly-lacing coating of off-white head. Toasty sweet caramel toffee aroma has some complex light fruity esters. Body starts full, viscous and caramely sweet with decent bittersweet, light fruity balance toward a warming finish. An enjoyable barleywine that appears to have aged quite well.