 lemasney (265), Trenton, New Jersey, USA
Aug 16, 2008 RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 95, BWSA, Snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10 % in 22 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $4.99 (sale)
Aroma: amazing, delicious, tea, herbs, alluring. 10 out of 10.
Visuals: beautiful, blood red moon, quickly thinning, off white head, interesting lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: blunt, delicious, silky, mild, surprising, very well crafted. 10 out of 10.
Palate: dull, numbing, medium to long bitter finish. 5 out of 5.
Overall: Taste is smooth and alcohol is amazingly disguised. Very interesting aroma — more than inviting. I would have it again, and it is a favorite. It was very well crafted. 20 out of 20.
polomagnifico (418), Saginaw, Michigan, USA
May 11, 2008 Deep brandy hue with no head. Aroma is sweet caramel, honey, malt, dried dark fruit. Sweet flavor with a well hidden alcohol finish. Oily flat and sticky. Full bodied. Just incredible.
emgesp (4), Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA
does not count  Mar 21, 2008 Pours a dark amber, with a average head that forms great great lacing down the glass.
Smell is of fruits and figs, but I sense no strong alcohol prescense.
There is great balanced between bitters and sweetness.
Though, both flavors are at the max here. Strong hop bitterness stays on the tongue for a couple of lip smacks (LOVE IT).
Mouthfeel is very silky and velvet like all the way down.
This is a super sipper beer for sure, one bottle will be enough for most.
I’m really impressed by Southern Tier lately. They have awsome Imperial IPAs, Stouts, and now a Barley Wine.
TWO PINTS UP FOR THIS BREW.
badbeer (409), Iowa, USA
Apr 13, 2008 Really dark red with an off-white head that has excellent retention and lacing. Sweet caramel, dark fruits, and toffee are balanced with piney and orange-y hops in the nose. Sweet malt all over the tongue; caramel, dark fruit, and a large amount of bitter, but flavorful hops come through with some pineapple and tangerine. This drinks incredibly smooth to me with a full body and about medium carbonation. I’ll be getting more of this. Extra point added to overall because the flavor is above 8, but not quite a 9 for me.
IMtheOptimator (1113), Bethel, Connecticut, USA
Apr 28, 2007 Poured a cloudy mahogany with a fizzy off-white head. Rich aroma of ruby-red grapefruit, pine forest, sweet wildberries, a bit of cinnamon. Taste is very well balanced with some citrusy hops nestling against some sweet and tart fruitiness, toffee, and a touch of brown sugar. A bit of tartness as well as some earthy hoppiness and some slight dryness, though nowhere near indicative of 10% ABV. A bit of hoppy tartness remains at the back of the palate after the swallow to serve as a reminder of the delectably balanced strong ale you have just enjoyed. I can’t completely put my finger on it, but everything here just really clicked. An excellent barley wine.
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