Sonoran Old Saguaro Barleywine

Brewed by Sonoran Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Phoenix, Arizona USA

Vintage 2003 Sampled 12.06.03
A slightly hazy amber color, topped by a tan head. There is a fruity candy type aroma with cherry notes here. The candy notes are in the taste of this beer as well. There is some almost imperceptible phenolic notes, but they are just barely there. The alcohol is quite evident in the finish. It finishes with a bit of bitterness that balances the malty sweetness. There is some hop flavor in here as well. This beer is quite full bodied (just about perfect), but not tot syrupy like some. Quite fruity with notes of cherry, which is an interesting note in a Barley wine.

oily auburn color with a fizzy little head and no lacing. The aroma was very malty with a sweet caramel & hop presence. The flavor was well rounded and rich, a good night cap. The alcohol wasn't very apparent and it finishes a tad on the bitter side for me.

Amber pour, little head, no lace. Hops and spices dominate the nose. Very hoppy flavor with a bit of alcohol. Nice palate and a great finish of hops. Pretty hoppy for a barley wine, but damn do I like it.

bottle-again, this is not my style of barleywine that i prefer. Im a huge fan of bigfoot, old horizontal, behemoth, and hog heaven(barleywines with lots of hops). This one was not that type, more an old school barleywine. huge pear aroma-alcohol soaked fruits. dark copper color-light carbonation. Strong apple cider flavor-sharp and pointy tingle on the toungue(alcohol?) very malty, some earthy hops, but you really have to search for them-unbalanced if you ask me. Thanks to Squidget for this one(i cant wait to try the vintage bigfoots!!!!!)

This was just rich and luscious, a joy to drink. I think I would enjoy this as the commerical description says like a fine cognac. I would have prefered to smoke a fine cigar with this one. A very fruity, slightly spicy aroma that follows into the taste, some dark fruits and a bit of toffee.

This has a sweet caramel aroma and it is a dark cloudy amber body with an ok head. Buttered biscuit malt carries a little bit of molasses with just enough hops to balance it out. I can't say that this is an excellent barleywine, something just makes it seem second rate without noticing any flaws.

Reddish-copper color, almost no head to speak of. Robust aroma of cherrys, spices, very fruity almost a brandy aroma. Compeling, intriguing taste of caramel, candy with an aftertaste of Nyquil? Not too bitter, somewhat smooth. I'll have this again when I get sick.

My first experience with Sonora. A very nice barley wine. Not as much flavor as my favorite barley wine, Old Horizontal, but it is well rounded and packs a nice alcoholic punch.