Wild River Cave Bear Barley Wine

Brewed by Wild River Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Grants Pass, Oregon USA

Bottle 2003 vintage poured a clear dark copperr with a minimal ring of amber foam. Aromas of sherry, carmel, molasses and figs. Palate was medium bodied and smooth with a warming finish. Flavors of carmel, fig, molasses and toffee with a smooth warming lingering bittersweet finish.

This was quite different than what I was expecting. Not a NW style barleywine at all. This was thick and syrupy and cloying and did not have an enjoyable mouthfeel at all. On the positive side, it did have some light complexity, among all that I just described, there were some decent flavors of spice and dark fruits, but alot of that gets washed out by the aclohol. Almost tastes aged, at times it has that past its prime vinousity.

Brown/mahogany with sparse head and lacing. Sweet caramel aromas with raisins or figs. Candy like aromas come out with gummi bears and bubblegum. Bitter hops with some citrus. Flavors are sweet and bitter with figs and caramel. Lots of flavors. Gummibears with some alcohol and spice. Very sweet. Thick and cloying finishing with a bitter kick of malt and alcohol.

Sampled draught at Wild River Pub, Grant’s Pass
Amber color, light head. Nose is hot with a distinct ethyl alcohol bite. The taste is sweet though, mild hops, massive alcohol. Not very balanced & lots of flaws. Barleywine for sure but finishes even a bit vinous.

It’s a shame to call this a ’beer’ -- it’s almost a food group in and of itself. Only available in the dead of winter at this small brew pub in southern Oregon, it’s worth a trip just for a taste. Highly complex -- even a bit more so than Old Nick. Best barley wine I’ve tasted.