Traquair 900

Brewed by Traquair
Style: Barley Wine
Innerleithen, Borders, Scotland

From a trade on BA. It pours an almost completely black but really dark brown with almost no head. Aroma is strong with dark dirt and soil covered alcoholic raisin. A very Scottish BW in that ’soil" aspect and there is a nice almost roasty muddy leaves aspect. Strong and fumy. Very alcoholic prune in the flavor still very Scottish with a brown sugar aftertaste. Lots of alcohol still, but its very muddy and dark. Perfect for a Scottish BW.
11.2 oz bottle in a Cantillon copita glass.

Bottle thanks to and shared with FunkyBrewster. Pours a clear dark amber with no bubbles and basically no head, a small off-white fine minimal froth. Rich woody aroma, toasty barley, a bit buttery, definitely seems English, noticeable alcohol and a touch of brown sugar. Toasty sweet flavor like candied buttered barley, nearly burnt tasting, lightly fruity, quite English, a bit nutty. It doesn’t seem like it needs anymore age as I don’t really see it getting any better or more complex. Medium body, sugary feel but not sticky at all, lighter mouthful but still a sipper with soft super small fizzy carbonation that dissipates quickly, a bit thin and watery once the carbonation dies. Very drinkable and no sign of being 9%.

11.2oz. bottle, with a big thank you to beastiefan2k for the rare treat! Pours a clear dark amber with a thin off-white head with a few large bubbles and quickly settles to a thin ring. Aroma is interesting to say the least, but oddly can’t describe any part of it accurately. Flavor is also equally lost on me, but reminds me a lot of Bass #1. Has a comfortable feel to it and is quite nice. Thanks a bunch Eugene!

Bottle. A clear, brown beer with a nice, beige head. Malty nose with lots of dried fruits as well as chocolate and some coffee. Sweet and malty flavor with chocolate and coffee, as well as a touch of alcohol. Full-bodied and sweetish. Short finish with malty sweetness, some chocolate and coffee. It’s a nice beer, but it lacks something. It should either have more hops, or it should have more of everything. Still, I would like to have it again. (081108)

Pours dark brown with a small off white head. Aroma is very sweet and rich sherry and fruity cherry notes. Some buttery notes are somewhat off-putting but all together a very English ale sort of aroma. Flavor starts with a bit of sherry and light fruity notes. Opens up to a rich maltiness that is all again very English. A light grassy floral quality in the finish which is very smooth and almost no bitterness. Medium body and low carbonation. Slightly disappointed for the cost but still rich, tasty and easy drinking for the high alcohol.

Bottle shared by goldtwins. Pours a deep clear amber with a thin off-white head. Very pleasant aroma of caramel and orange, what a lovely combination. The flavor falls off just a bit and loses most of the orange fruit flavor promised in the aroma. Mostly caramel with some mild alcohol warmth towards the finish. A bit lacking in depth, but not a bad barley wine.

Bottle shared by goldtwins. Deep amber beer with a thinnish tan head. Aroma is lightly malty. Sweet decocted caramel. A bit of sweet toasted malt and a very chewy character. The flavour is a bit briny and salty with a touch of woodiness. Soft sweetness. It’s strangely non-descript. Not really bad at all, just a little bit bland.

Date: November 01, 2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Appearance: clear dark ruby red, wispy beige head, bits of lace
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma, light fruity tartness, light earthyness
Body: creamy body
Flavor: sweet fruity flavor, good balancing earthyness
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4