Southern Tier Back Burner

Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Lakewood, New York USA

Very nice to behold, a clear garnet body with a bubbly ecru head that leaves some fine lacing on the glass. This is a well balanced barley wine style ale, possessing a strong bitter side matched by sweet, soothing malts. Fairly complex aroma, although I made mistake of reading other reviews before I sat down to script this and they gave me the feeling that either 1) the beer was too strong for some reviewers, 2) there is no #2, or C) the reviewers each got a sturdy conk on the skull. The aroma that I got was fruity on two levels, the first being the sweetness of dark cherries and other stone fruit (such as plums), the second being a sharp citric bitterness. Accompanying these sensations were a sweet molasses scent, a dollop of melted caramel, alcohol, pine needles (Scotch Pine, methinks), a hint of berries, and a daub of midwestern honey. The flavor neglects to favor any of what is gathered by the nose, blending all together smoothly. The result is sweet malts and fruit, bitter hops and fruit, and a steady alcohol burn. This is definitely worth picking up some more bottles to lay down for a while. Very nice.

Note: I was on my way to the can to do a number two after imbibing a bomber of this ale when I stumbled and conked my head on a bookshelf near my cats’ litter box. They both kick-scraped litter on me as if I was a misbegotten turd........

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Wine & Spirits, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>

Bottle. (2007 vintage). Pours a medium brown that only lets a bit of reddish light through. Head dies to a film fairly quickly. Aromas are fairly fruity (figs and dates with maybe some plum or prune) and have a bit of a citrus/pine edge. First sip reveals that this is one of the better barley wines I’ve had... don’t know if this is because it has a little age on it or what. Fruit and hops blend together in a sticky sweet maltiness that just brings a smile. Alcohol is present and fairly obvious, but doesn’t punch or distract... it seems like a natural part of the equation. There is a bit of a graininess to Back Burner, though... which I’ve not run across in a BW before and I’m not sure quite whether it is an asset or a liability. I’d drink this again... sure!

Bottled. Courtesy of Bov. Liquorice allsorts, mint and quinces in the nose. Complex. Full bodied. Very nice. Thanks a lot Bov!

Bomber after shoveling a bunch of snow of my driveway. 07 version via trade a while ago with Jah Noth! (Thank You!) Aroma is wonderful with a nice roasted nut and caramel overtone, a bit of fruity hoppiness, and some raisins and prunes to round out this awesome aroma. Pours a clear ruby color with a two finger thick head that lingers around for a while. Taste is malty with dark fruit intermingled. A lot of stuff going on in the taste of this brew. Smoothing going down and deceptively drinkable. Overall, A darn good barley wine with about a year of age on it. Nice!

Bomber->snifter: pours an average, rocky, light brown head on top of a murky, dark brown body. Aroma if cookie, perfume, and leathe. The body is medium, texture is sticky, with soft carbonation. The duration is long (bonus here for me) and is moderately bitter. Definitely a good barley wine--I really enjoyed this one, but couldn’t enjoy more’n a few at one sitting.

22oz bottle. Pours dark reddish amber in color with thin white head. Aroma sweet, caramel and hops. Taste sweet, malt and citrus hops with grapefruit bitter finish.

On Draft at Rattle and Hum in NYC. Pours a brown hazy body. Aroma is hops and vanilla. Taste is sweet, the best barley wine I’ve ever tried.

Nice hazy brown color. Smells of big time molasses with some undertones of toffee, caramel, raisins, and just a little bit of bubble gum. Taste is seriously full of hops, caramel, and toffee. Has a nice aftertaste that is full bodied and full of flavor. Wow what a good job!