Smuttynose Barleywine Style Ale

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

22oz. bomber: This beer poured an amber color, that was a touch hazy. it has absolutely no head to it at all, and almost no carbonation. The aroma is nice. Some sweeter fruits in there, as well as a hint of hops burried in the background. The taste has some bitterness to it up front, followed by some malt sweetness. Somewhat spicy with fruits also. Not bad.

Pours deep, hazy red with a small off-white head. Sweet, citrusy aroma with a good deal of grassiness. Sweet, caramel-ish malt. A touch of graham cracker in the background. Piney hoppiness throughout the flavor, with a good sweet malt background. Probably the freshest-tasting Barleywine I’ve come across. It’ll be interesting to see what age does to this.

Big and brawny. Copper in color, with a slim pale golden head and some racing. This is my first barley wine. Aromas aren’t as fruity, but there is some peach and esters present, with a malt, resin smell. Nice hop bite, bitter throughout, and very full as the palate goes. Bitter finish, but not too dry or sour. As I get used to it, the beer becomes smoother. I taste pine along with the hops. Well-balanced. I’d have another, but at another time. This is a bruiser at 10 percent alcohol.

Bottle. Clear orange red coloured with an off white head. Aroma of caramel, hops and pine needles. Flavour of caramel, hops and pine needles.

Split with BlueDevil0206. Dark coppery brown pour. Pale head that is gone fairly quickly. Aroma is strong American hops, but not too citrussy -- much more piney. Strong sweet malt but not an incredibly heavy, thick, syrupy palate. Nice bitter finish that balanced it out. Good and rough without being incredibly over the top.

Garnet-brown, aroma like raisins plumping in a glass of brandy, flavor like subdued hops and orchard fruits all simmered in syrup.

22 oz. bottle from 2006. A slightly hazy, cherry pour with a medium-sized British khaki head. Lots of hops and red apples in the aroma. Piney resin, grapefruit and some caramel in there too. Medium body. Much more balance than I expected from the aroma. Starts with some red apples and caramel and proceeds to some toastiness with vanilla extract. The finish is only slightly bitter and dry. It lingers though. Some burnt tastes at the end. Oakiness pervades throughout. The alcohol is nicely hidden and only pokes its head out at the end.

I kept putting off tasting thsi one, but after opening and sampling it, I figure I must have been crazy. Pours ruby red with no discernable head. Only a a few bubbles dot the surface. Smells of port wine, some cherries, molasses, syrup, some bitter peppery splashes. Tastes of dark fruit, lots of tofee, cognac, caramel, some cherry hints, some peppery splashes. The alcohol is present but does not overwhelm this one. I was happy to see a dark English style barleywine when I poured this one.