Smuttynose Barleywine Style Ale

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

Very similar to the wheat wine actually. Cherry and strawberry open up right on the tip of the tongue and move across it. Into the back of the mouth comes the bitterness, but it is soft and balanced nicely with the malt. Hops stand tall, but not overwhelming. The malt is not a dark dried fruit flavor as in an english style, but lighter, brighter fruits connecting with the hops. Alcohol is subdued, but there’s a bit of a cardboardy flavor here. I’m not sure what that is but I feel like I’ve found it in other barleywines. It could be oxidation, but this bottle is pretty fresh. Very good beer, but not exceptional in any way.

Bottle. from Oldstylecubsfan. Thanks Todd!! ’04 bottle. Sweet and malty, some rich carmel in the nose. Nice malty nose. MMMMM tasty,

2007 version.

Ratings seem all over the place with this one. I’m going to a bit over the average perhaps because this had a chance to sit and age for a year to round out a bit of the rough edges. Unfortunately, it should’ve sat another year to further round things out a bit more. No doubt it could easily handle the extra time, in my opinion.

Pours with very little head, but a decent amount of lacing from the viscosity. Nice ruby colour with quite a bit of hop aroma after the year of aging. Intense charred kettle caramelization that was a bit over-the-top at times. Tawny port character with bits of maple syrup, candied cherries and toffee. Very dense with a potent assult on the palate that seemed just a bit disjointed. Some nice complexity going on, but each component just not finding balance with one another.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this sipper at first, but later found that the deeper I got into the bottle the more it became just a bit too much. Perhaps another year of aging will tone this beast down.

Pours amber with big fizzy off-white head, lasting. Some lacing. Aroma is pine and citrus hops with some caramel malt. Flavor starts with strong piney hops that last throughout. Caramel malt, spice, raisins all come through quite nicely. Fairly dry for a barley wine. Warming alcohol finish, very noticeable, but not harsh. Lively carbonation, full-body, long finish.

2003 Vintage -- Sweet aroma of fruits and some hops. Red brown body with a large head. Mollasses and fruits in the flavor. Grapes are noticeable. Very smooth ending.

Bottle: Pours a deep amber with a small sandy head. Aroma of caramel and hops, a bit sweet and vinous. Taste is full of citrus and malts, some caramel. Warming, yet the 10% was well masked. Very straightforward and balanced. Good. Thanks BuckeyeBoy.

This stuff was shared with ross last night. We had a Double Bastard before this thing so our pallate was a bit out of wack but once we followed the bottle’s advice and sat down with some decent cheese and crackers the beer really opened up! Smell and taste were about the same and it was a nice blend of hoppyness with a balanced sweet finish. A little grassy like my friend ross says but no too overpowering. I felt the alcohol a bit on this one though. Not bad stuff at all. I’m on the hunt for more stuff from this brewery.

Bottle. Murky brownish-red color with a thin white head. Aroma hops, vanilla, oak, bourbon notes, toffee, alcohol, slightly tinny. Decent aroma, nutty, but not overly impressive. Flavor falls a little flat. A tad sweet, tart berries, vanilla, more oak, slightly spicy, alcohol. Palate is oily. Not bad, but not great.