Town Hall Almighty

Brewed by Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA

Bright, beautiful, garnet hue, with a fresh, bubbling lacey, creamy head. Aroma: spicy, fruity, uplifting, angelic, airy, sweet, spectacular. Profound mouthfeel, lush, and brimming with strong, fruity delights (cherry, grapes, plums). Thoroughly hoppy, yet ably matched by malt, absolutely perfect balance, big with flavor, a most audaciously adequate barleywine, I write with a wink. At a teensy weensy 10.5 %, this did the trick in 10 oz. servings on it's first day at THB, as I sipped it over a beef stew made with their oatmeal stout. Two more later, I pen this review through the magic of growlers...and this was so popular today that it was the biggest growler-selling day in the short history of growler-selling at THB, or so I was told...let's sip another serving to be sure if I was right...Yep, it's yummy...bright, fruity, deep, fresh, and strong...Twin Citians, get your barleywine groove going at Town Hall, or regret it!

Lurking hops beneath the very sweet brandyish candi sweet aroma. Smooth and sweet maltiness. Straightforward and uncomplex. A touch of liquorice. Moderate bitterness, good hop flavor.

Tap. A cloudy amber color with a thick laced tan head. Caramel, apples and noticeable alcohol in the aroma and flavor. A nice dark fruit and caramel finish.

Light red. Fruit and hops aroma. This beer is overloaded with hops. Made me think of an ipa with sugar added. Bitter hops in the finish. Not bad, but call an ipa an ipa.

Nice caramel clouded brown color with a finger high head of ivory, thickly fluffed and whipped, fades slowly, leaving a thin ring and lace in webby sheets. Aroma is light of caramel candies and not much else, semi sweetness with touches of plum and peach, ethanol creeps through as it warms. One of the lightest noses on a barleywine I have encountered. Its there, but just not in a outstanding gerth. Taste is mellowing smooth and easy of a sweet caramel, malty thick, lesser then most BW's, it seems short in length, some light mango and peach tones play within upfront as the hops enter in midway with a deep earthy pine bitterness thats calm and pleasantly soft. Feels a bit thin with a nice creamyness and alcoholic warmth seeping in. Its big, but not as big or thick as I like as this is one of my favorite styles of beer. Its no Batch 6000 or Bigfoot, but a nice sipper to sit at length with while with a friend as you BS about all the other wonderful beers you've enjoyed while at Town Hall.

holy freakin' savory yum yum. sweet, caramelly... lighter in color than any barley wine i've tried, though i've only had my first few in the past month or so. well balanced with a slightly dry hoppy finish. i really enjoyed this beer. i think an angel descended upon town hall during the creation of it. a smile 'n sip kind of beverage.

Nose is light caramel and hint of butterscotch. Served pushed, I feel the colder temp is hindering what could be an exquisite bouquet. Initial bitterness snaps you to attention, then the liquid literally melts across the tongue. Hey, that wave of bitter was actually composed of little pieces of malty nougat! Heat follows up the nasal passages...mmm..tingling alcohol and carbonation on the palate, then a smile for the warming effect. Damn, this is a great beer. Cask it, and I'll 5 it. Way to go, Town Hall!