 WeeHeavySD (1839), San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA
Oct 6, 2008 06 Vintage Bomber, I thought I’d had this before. Pours dark orange with a tan head. Nose is sweet and oaky with touches of bourbon and smooth character. Taste is sweet big hints of vanilla and only a small hint of bourbon. Tasty and quite smooth.
padrefan98 (638), (San Diego) Santee, California, USA
Sep 27, 2008 Thanks to toncatcher for bringing this one to the line tasting at Alesmith on 9/26/2008. A very good barley wine. Vanilla and bourbon present in the flavor.
thickfreakness (95), Austin, Texas, USA
Sep 21, 2008 Thanks to JB175 for this brew as an extra. This is poured from a 2005 bottle. Pour is hazy, dark amber with some nice lacing. Aroma begins with a big burst of creamy, milk caramels and vanilla then as it warms a lot of the bourbon comes out along with some alcohol. Reminds me of a very caramel smelling Jack Daniels. Flavor is really caramel forward with a lot of ripe, dark fruits that were not present in the nose along with plenty of bourbon and alcohol. Pretty well balanced, slightly syrupy and a lot of residual sugars. There is also a lingering after taste that is reminiscent of taking a swig of bourbon. I much prefer this to the regular Blithering Idiot which I found to be only ok.
jjpm74 (3086), Stratford, CT 06614, Connecticut, USA
Sep 14, 2008 Pours reddish with a thin ring of white bubbles. Smells of sweet malt, sugar, some dark fruit, earthy. Tastes sweet and fruity with some sugary hints on the finish. Too sweet.
Sephiroth (65), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Sep 10, 2008 No date, but AlexJ said it was from last year. Thanks for the trade. Poured into a tulip, the beer is a slightly hazy amber. Ample head for the ABV%. The nose is of dark fruits muddled in vanilla and bourbon. Yep, there must be alcohol in it.
The taste is intense. The bourbon barrel ageing has done wonders for this beer. Dates, raisins, figs, and cherries are smoothly blended with vanilla oak characteristics. The bourbon flavor really shines as it warms. This is a masterpiece.
The mouthfeel is thick and smooth, not syrupy given the style. If this is distributed where you live, drinkability is high. If you have to trade or travel, like me, not as good. I think another year of cellaring would only help. Hard to believe it could get much better, though.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed on: 11-07-2005 01:00:14
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