Speakeasy Old Godfather Barleywine

Brewed by Speakeasy Ales and Lagers
Style: Barley Wine
San Francisco, California USA

Bottle. Intensely bitter, first reminding me of Bigfoot or Old Crusty for just the level of bitterness. Decent honey, melon and peach nose, grassy aromatic hops, fresh smelling and lively on the nose. Crisp, sharp, fresh tasting all around, more like a DIPA up front, settling more into the BW category on the finish, though it’s still far too bitter. Mild grassy, moldy hops noted, the finish has much more of this musty mold, and after a few drinks it really starts to get in the way. Becomes the primary reason I’m not enjoying my bottle towards the end. There’s a lot going on in here - not all of it good - but I’m afraid the hops really get in the way and mute out some of the more interesting flavors.

Bottle. Pours a deep dark copper color, very thin skim of a white head. Sweet malt and pine and citrus hop aroma. Flavor is more of the same with the alcohol bite thrown in. This is a big brew alcohol wise, but fairly thin body. Decent barleywine.

Hoppy malt nose, medium intense. Medium harsh, herbal hops taste- biting, therefore overlaying all other tastes. Orange brown color with a small mini head. Ok after a long hops hiatus - LOL.

12 oz. bottle via trade with 11026 - Pours a clear amber color with an average off white head. Light spotty lacing. Has a sweet bready malt and resin hop aroma. Flavor is much of the same but with a nice hop bite. Slight alcohol warming. Medium body. A nice sippin’ beer. Thanks Steve.

This was very much like an IIPA. Nose and taste was all grapefruit hops and pucker. Very, very nice.

A good-looking brew with a nice balance of malts and hops. Has some initial molasses but a lot of upfront alcohol; too much so. The flavor has some present hops, esp. near the end. An okay barleywine.

Pours a transparent copper amber with a thin, lightly-lacing, off-white head. Aroma of complex sweet caramel and some fresh citrusy hops. Body starts sweet and caramely malty with a touch of grapefruity bitterness and toasted toffee. Finishes slightly warming and astringent. Has a decent balance of sweet malt and fresh hops, but its slightly thinner body that could hide the alcohol better.

12oz bottle. Clear copper color with fluffy tan head. Early the aroma is light with sweet sugary malts and pine hops. Really nice west coast style Barleywine flavor. Caramel malts are big and then pine hops hit. Just beyond midway a faint dark fruitiness emerges to add interest. Really nice drinkable flavor in this 10.2% ABV brew.