Sonoran Old Saguaro Barleywine

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

Not much molasses aroma. Flavor is ery sugary. Not bad stuff, just not amazing.

Flip-cap bottle from Flaco Alto, 2003 Vintage. Thanks! After 3 long years, it sits before me: Sonoran Old Saguaro Barley Wine. The search has been long, the road riddled with potholes, but alas, here it is. Sitting like a gooey amythyst in my snifter glass, it glows like the desert sand at sunset. Tufts of dust sit atop the beverage, wavering gently as the liquid rocks back and forth, as if moved by a welcome breeze at high noon. Aromas of raisin, peach, apricot, and plumb swirl in glorious harmony to the tune of a softly played pan flute. Too thirsty to go on without sampling, I raise the glass to my lips. My mouth is greeted by a gentle caress of sweet raisin and sugary bread. Bits of nutmeg and coriander slither along the palate like a rattlesnake returning to its den after a satisfying hunt. Shards of alcohol sting the tongue like a scorpion whose slumber was disturbed and wishes the drinker to know he is none too pleased. As the flavors subside, a coolness envelops the mouth, much as the desert will breathe a sigh of relief after the sun leaves for locales to the west. Fantastic beer; everything I hoped it would be... and more.

2004 bottle. Aroma of caramel malt, a bit of dark fruit, and some hop. Rather hazy brownish color with a minimal, temporary white head. Starts caramel, develops some medium mouthfeel, not a lot of carbonation, followed by some alcohol and raisin. Very warming. The finish is not very dry, but not overly sweet. The finish is a bit flat, no detectable hop, but the burn in the esophagous holds one’s attention. A decent barley wine.

12oz - 2003 - thanks dukefan - Aroma is caramel, raisin, cherry cola and alcohol. Looks like a dark brown mudpuddle with a small bubble island floating in the middle. Flavor is rich caramel and raisin. Alcohol is there but well faded. Palate is sticky and sweet, maybe a little thin. Nothing ground breaking here, but has held up well and tastes pretty good.

Brown Color with Sandy Ring. Musty Sweet Malt...Hoppy/Herb Aroma. Syrapy Mouthfeel ..Very Present Warming From Alcohol. Nice Sweet Syrapy Malt Foundation with a Dry Hop Overlay...Bit of an Odd Flavor...Cactus Juice? Or a Mix of Fruit Combined with Bitter Hops...Drying Aftertaste...

Vintage ’04 bottle... Appears an amber haze with a small white head that doesn’t die out. Scattered streaks of lacing left around the glass. Smell is of mild oxidation with caramel, raisins, raspberry, and cherry. Taste is of the aromas with some vanilla and oak in there. Mouthfeel is sugary, mellow, and actually quite drinkable.

Pours a hazy orange amber with an average lightly lacing off white bubbly head. Aroma of dark fruits, caramel, light alcohol, cherry and nicely mellowed overall. Flavor of sweet carmel an dmore of the dark fruits and light alcohol.

Poured a hazy, reddish amber color with a medium sized, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of raspberries, tart grapes, prunes, vanilla oak, nougat, caramel malts, and nuts. Taste of sweet caramel malts, green apples, dried fruits, and medium alcohol in the finish.