Sonoran Old Saguaro Barleywine

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

Bought at Trader Joe’s in 2003, bottle says it was produced in 2002. Poured almost like maple syrup...Some sediment floating around. Smoother, and easier-drinking than other barleywines, but seems to lack the complexity I was hoping for. Pretty damn good overall though

Scott Yarosh, the Sonoran Brewmaster gave me a bottle of this, corked like fine wine. It pours a beautiful ruby red/amber with a true barley wine head, as in, it has none. the smell is huge ripped hops backed by oak and more oak. then comes the sweet malts, it’s heavy like molassis. On the taste, it’s very big, but, a lot like Kentucky breakfast, astonishingly smooth. Lots of hops, but more like british hops. I know he uses the same style malt for everything he makes, but it sure as hell doesnt taste that way. This stuff is the devil, like a great port wine! This beer is far from dead, and based on previous reviews, a hell of a lot better! Call the brewer and get yourself some.

Old Saguaro (pronounced "suh-whar-oh") is a barleywine by style, and is an exceptional one at that. A Saguaro is the variety of cactus, most of us see when ever we see a desert land scape of the Southwest. It is a very tall, very prickly cactus with a arms sticking out and upward, as seen on the bottle. No cactus juice is used in the brewing of this beer, however. This beer is aged at the brewery for 6 months before its release, and the 2004 vintage is truly outstanding. Coming in at 9.2% abv by volume, this is the perfect beer to sit in relax with as you watch the Southwestern sky fall. Old Saguaro pours to a beautiful, bright, deep tawny brown color with a slight tan head that fades, and a soft carbonation. The nose on this beer is very inviting with lots of sweet malty and caramel aromas, paired with just a hint of peppery alcohol. The palate is firm with some soft touches, as flavors of biscuit and caramel malts fill with mouth. Hints of estery fruit play along as this beer glides over the tongue. Old Saguaro finishes with more sweet malt and touches of estery fruit up front, then ends with a slightly warming, peppery burn. This is an excellent barleywine. I was very impressed with this beer. This limited release beer is available now in in AZ, and select markets in CA. If you find yourself in that area, it is a beer that is well worth seeking out.

12 oz bottle. Murky brown with lively bubbles forming a dense tan head. Aroma is mostly sweet caramel and malt. Taste is nicely balanced between the alcohol, hops, some semi sweet chocolate and caramel. Very tasty.

Small white head, settles quickly but does sustain, lace is thin though intact. Lightly hazy amber/copper color. Sweet malt nose, fruity, lightly cinnamony, alcohol? Full bodied brew, lightly oily, coating. Medium sweet malt flavors on the palate, notes of toffee, grassy hops that are somewhat raw. Balance is righteous. A nice Barleywine. Easy to drink at 9.2% Finish is medium dry with a touch of caramel and a light malt graininess. Thanks Cliff!

Cask at Papago. Good finish for the night. Dark amber color with beige head good lacing on the glass. Sweet and alcohol aroma to this beer. Had a crisp alcohol flavor to it. Little sweet flavor aftertaste . This one went down smooth despite high alcohol content. Really liked this one.

Poured a dark amber color. Malty sweet aroma. Caramel, raisins and biscuit. Malt caramel flavor with some hops. While alcohol isn’t giant it wasn’t very well hidden.

Dark golden syrup maple syrup colour light beige head (slightly yellow) malty honey..... katie says it smells ligke a fruit flavoured nail polish... vinyl plastic aroma clouing and sweet.....