Smuttynose Barleywine Style Ale

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Bottle Conditioned in 2006

3/14/2008: Smuttynose Barleywine Style Ale pours a hazy copper-amber color with a thin beige head. The aroma is layered with thick, sweet toffee maltiness and a pronounced, aged citrus hoppiness (candied). The flavor is much like the aroma - chewy toffee and caramelized maltiness with just a hint of something roasty in the back, aged fruit (apricots), and then a hefty sweet citrus hoppiness with a moild to moderate level of bitterness. There are also traces of vanilla in the flavor and a dry oakiness in the finish. The bitterness creeps out more and more with each sip and as the beer warms. This beer is extremely balanced and the alcohol is really controlled nicely in the flavor. This beer is full-bodied and feels thick and creamy on the palate. I think a couple years of age has really helped to make this a really good barleywine.

22 fl. oz. bottle (1311) from jimbowood. Thanks Jimbo! Rating #279 for this beer...

Bottle, at csbosox KC tasting 4/14. Bottle provided by csbosox, thanks Chris! Hazy - cloudy pour with a bunch of particulates. Tiny white head on pour. Aroma is malt, some spiciness in it. Taste is nice malt, with the spice coming through. A bit of alcohol comes through in the taste, though not overpowering.

busted out at the BA wednesday night tasting. hazy rich copper color with a thick dense off white head which leads to a ring then film and leaves a decent lace pattern. very floral aroma jam packed with zesty fruit and citrus... sweetened grapefruit, orange skins, tangerines, whole pineapple, mango, caramel and a light spicy alcohol bite. light sweetness on the palate isn’t overbearing... yet. it’s still really hoppy and tart. all of the fruity aromas follow into the flavor along with notes of ashiness, earth and a spicy bite from the alcohol. the finish is dry and tart leading to some ashiness in the aftertaste. medium body without stickiness. the mouth feel is quite vibrant because of the prickly tart and dry hops...

Bomber. Pours deep ruby/copper with a thin white head. Aroma of fruit, hops, and slight alcohol. Flavor is initially sweet and fruity (raisins, figs), moving on to piney hops, and fading to a bitter alcohol finish with some slight bitter espresso. Thick, yet smooth mouthfeel. Very nice, although I’m sure this alcohol will hit me soon.

Sampled from a 22 oz bottle courtesy of radagast83. Poured dark amber with a decent head. For a barley wine this beer’s aroma was hoppy. Finished clean with a slight alcohol burn. Easy to drink though. Not a big barley wine fan but this one is now one of my favorites.

22 oz. Bottle. This beer pours a ruby red with a small off white head. On the nose it has hints of caramel, toasted bread and citrus hops. Displays some flavors that I’d associate with old people fruit like dates, figs, etc. Flavor also displays some syrupy malt flavor that is balanced nicely by tart bittering hops. Mouthfeel is medium heavy with a mild but persistent carbonation. Finish is on the bitter side, with the alcohol beginning to show as the beer warms. Overall a very good beer and one of the better Smuttynose offerings.

light off white head, deep grapefruit tonals, smells like grapefruit in the morning. Sweet malts, lightly hopped, aftertaste sticks to the roof of the mouth, which is not normally a pro but in this case was delightful. Deep resounding ruby red flavor with a hint of california date at the finish.

2006 bottle, so I suppose this is about 3 year old. I’d say it’s drinking well right now. Pours hazy dark amber with thin beige head that turns into a ring around the edge. Actually more cloudy and more brown after I pour the second half of the bottle into my Duvel glass. Sweet malty goodness on the nose, and noticeable hop presence that has turned into something sweeter and more oily. Fruits (plum, maybe), slight citrus, and complex caramel, sugars, and toffee nose and flavors. Body is not too heavy, and the alcohol is not overwhelming by any means. I am really digging this.