Sprecher Barley Wine Ale

Brewed by Sprecher Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Glendale, Wisconsin USA

Bottle. Spare rocky white head that was quickly gone. Spare lacework. Clear flat body with an amber color. Aroma of bread, caramel, grain, toffee, roasted malt, fruit and a hint of hops. Light port wine like aroma over this one. Full bodied with an alcoholic texture and soft carbonation. Moderated sweet flavor with light bitter notes. Sweet and warming finish.

2006 bottle? (Purchased May 2006) Clear bright reddish amber with a quickly diminishing creamy white head. The nose is big and sweet. Rich caramel malt and a bit of light fruit and some cinnamon sort of spice? Some port? Really very nice, the sweetness balanced by the toast and no alcohol perceptible. Viscous in the mouth, not incredbily thick, but not syrupy. Big bold sweet malt. Cloying, a bit like port. Creamy, sweet, with a vinous quality. Alcohol is low, a bit of diacetyl, and some rather fruity esters. The slow dissipation of the diacetyl knocks this down a point in flavor. The finish is buttery with some alcohol, creamy, and a lingering bit of bitterness. Not out of balance, entirely appropriate. I think I’ll grab some more of this at the right price to cellar.

Pretty average barleywine. 16oz bottle from HiTime. Pours a rich deep amber with extremely minimal head, this one has a modest nose of caramel and pretty evident nutty character. It’s a decent brew, with a faint trace of hops to balance the very slick caramel malts. But there’s really no character to this and the body is wicked thin - not something I’ll really seek out again.

06’ Amber/brown color..no head to speak of,the aroma was fruity and some what caramelish.Pretty smooth brew,Light carbonationfruity taste with a nice mildly malty side some hints at caramel and toffee and a smooth finish that ends with a light alcohol burn.Not exactly one of the hardcore brews in the style but it manages to be very plesant and easy drinking.I’m glad i have 4 more for later trials.

16 oz bottle, 2006 vintage. Pours to a beautiful, bright, caramel color, with a creamy, off white head, and a moderate amount of carbonation. The nose on this beer is very pleasing, with aromas of sweet malt, caramel, toffee, fresh bread, esters of plum, and light peppery notes. The plate is slightly slick on the tongue, with lots of good sweet malt, toffee, and caramel flavor, paired with light hints of plummy/estery fruit. This beer finishes with more really wonderful sweet malt, toffee, and caramel up front, then ends with some light peppery, alcohol notes that round out the cloying flavors of this beer. A very delicious, very drinkable barley wine, with loads of malt character. This is a wonderful sipping brew, and an ideal barley wine to match with sharp and aged cheeses, or rich, creamy deserts. Another impressive beer from Sprecher.

Picked up two waxed topped 16 oz bottle at the brewery. I am sure I am rating a young barley wine so I’ll have to remember to come back in three years and give a second rating. The young Sprecher Barley Wine Ale pours a burgundy/orange brew with a very thin head. Aromas of brown sugar, yeast, sweet tawny port wine and sweet hops. Flavor or sweet with dark fruits and figs. The finish fades fast with a spicey yeast malt aftertaste.

Pours a light copper color with a light tan head. Smells of caramel, molasses, and some sweet fruits. Nothing too complex and interesting. The taste is much the same. Decent with some sweet malts, caramel, and sweet fruits, but kind of a dulled taste. needed something else to boost it a bit. Nothing offensive, but I was hoping for more from this beer.

I was surprised to find this brewmaster’s series at my local store. Basically, I really enjoyed this beer. Nice looking reddish-copper color with a thin head, the mouthfeel is smooth and silky. THe flavor is malty, with some wine-like notes. It’s extremely drinkable.