Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot

Brewed by Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Easton, Pennsylvania USA

A gorgeous ruby/vermillion body shows noticable viscosity, allowing some dusty sediment to hang motionless within. Its head exhibits some staying-power before fading to a tan film. The nose is met with yeast and alcohol, while malts emerge as the beer warms. With fruits, florals and delicate cheese notes, the aroma as a whole has a wonderful Belgian persona. An equally impressive flavor gets carried by a smooth and heavy mouthfeel. She starts sweet and fruity, then the tongue gets a mild wash of alcohol before we move to some coffee notes in the finish. Fruitiness holds throughout and lingers thereafter with a hint of tartness. Despite a mild burn to the throat and gullet, Blithering Idiot is a diverse beer which I would love to have again (...and again).

<font size=-4>Single 12 oz. with BIG thanks to <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/View-User-14352.htm&g />

Got some caramel malts and lots of alcohol in the aroma.Pors a deep copper with a medium off white head.Sweet malts,caramel and alcohol made up the flavors.Full mouthfeel with a roasted malt/alcohol finish.

[189-20070115] 12floz. Aroma hints at barley strawberries. Dark brown amber body with a foamy light brown head. Flavour has nice sweetness and initial tangy sour-tongue, overall quite barley-esque. Medium-full body. A little blithering, not so much idiot, good togetherness, otherwise... enh. (Should re-rate later.)

12 oz. bottle. Poured dark amber with of white head. Hints of dried fruit and malt in the nose. Flavor was caramel malt, raisin, mild hop bitterness and a warming alcohol finish. Nicely done barley wine.

The color was amber/orange. The head was thin, white, and fizzy. The aroma was candy, fruity, alcohol, tart, and sweet. The flavor was alcohol, fruity, bitter, and banana. The palate was smooth and the finish, warm.

Pours a deep coppery amber with huge long-lasting head. The nose is alcohol, dried fruit, and more alcohol. Big roasted barley graininess is evident along with a very prominent sweet dried fruit twang and, again, alcohol. This is a hell of a fine barley wine!

Poured a thick yellowish orange with a good complexity to it. The head was thin and yellowish. The aroma was wonderful. Full of character, lots of fruit, sweet candy, and some alcohol. Very powerful. The flavor is disappointing in this respect. Lacks the upfront character of the aroma. The alcohol is well masked until the finish, fruity, sort of a wine character (aged fruit), and I have less hop than American style written here and it says that its European so that makes since. The palate is full and a little warm. The finish is sweet and shows most of the alcohol. Overall I liked this barley wine. Not as good as some I’ve had but I prefer it to its dry hopped American cousin.

**Rating based on the 2000 bottle, consumed in 10/07. ** 2005 bottle. Poured a clear medium orange with a swirly dusting of white head. Aroma picked up pear and other light fruity sweetness, vodka-laced caramel, and dusty toffee. Flavor had a high level of alcohol throughout... sharp at times... caramel, toffee, and dry yeast form a soft and enjoyable base... moderate floral bitterness, light fruits, and alcohol warmth surround... warm, sweet finish with pear and pineapple sweetness. Heavier on the palate, dry, slightly grainy, and thorough... nice flow to it. This one grew on me. 6 3 8 4 14

Many thanks to Blake for the 2000 bottle! Poured cloudy coppery-caramel with just a little tan head and a ring sticking around. The aroma picked up deep, rich aged caramel and toffee with alcohol warmth, but no overt heat.. quite decadent! The flavor had deep caramel and a pinch of peat along with a bunch of dark fruits.. darker spices and alcohol warmth toward the back-end.. mild oxidation, which somehow made it even better. Syrupy and warm on the palate with damn near perfect balance.. herbal notes and caramel stuck around for quite some time!