Taps Barley Wine

Brewed by Taps Fish House and Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Brea, California USA

A sweet and syrupy, big and bold, heavy and rich - barley wine. Dark red in color with a thick foamy head, this one was not for the faint of heart. Sampled at LA Craft Beer Fest 2009.

Growler poured into nice abbey style glass. This was much darker in aroma and appearance than others of this style. It seemed nearly like an abbey-triple or abbey-quad. Dark molasses and caramel with chewy texture and raisin like body. Good beer, nice, but could be hard to have more than 2.

Excited to try this one, as I have never seen it on tap there before. Color was very dark for the style; darkish brown. Tannish head. Aroma of candied fruit, caramel, flowers, fruit and honey. Flavor was not very hoppy or sweet, but subtedly balanced. Alcohol well hidden. Floral finish. Flavors of caramel and fruit. Not great flavor, but it was well balanced.

Dark brown with a creamy tan head. Hoppy earthy grainy aroma and taste with buttery toffee caramel and musty notes.

2006 version. Poured a hazy dark red with a lasting velvety tan head and great lacing. A pretty beer. Aroma of herbal, floral, and woody hops with toffee, dark fruits, brown sugar, and a light roast. The flavor is woody herbal hops up front with a great malt backbone. Sweet but not cloying. Some chocolate, toffee, currants, dates, plums, roast etc. in the flavor. Alcohol is virtually unnoticeable and the beer is exceptionally smooth. A fantastic BW!

Deep mahogany brew with a wispy tan head. Full of licorice and raisins. Creamy body but a little thin for the style. The abv. is well hidden.