Bethlehem Brew Works Big Bad Barleywine

Brewed by Bethlehem Brew Works
Style: Barley Wine
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA

On tap, at Allentown location. Pours a clear dark amber to copper body with a small wispy beige head that retained as a thin film. Quite a complex nose, very fruity with lots of citrusy hops, some cherry skins, and toffee malt. Unique flavor, extremely well balanced between the fruitiness and the hops. Lots of cherry and toffee sweetness up front but the hops keep it in check so it’s not cloying or tiring on the palate. Thick, almost syrupy texture, but it’s not sticky at all. Pretty darn good. Though the more of it I have the more the sweetness does seem to come on a little stronger than I initially thought.

Deep amber color with an orange hue, big & soft off-white head, good lacing left around the glass, lots of malt in the nose, notes of caramel, bread & oats, full-bodied but a little light in the flavors, lots of malt but not a whole lot of anything else, only a small trace of hoppy bitterness, a little off-balanced, too strong of an alcohol flavor as well, a bit of a disappointment

on tap-pours a white head with hazy orange color. Aroma is dark fruit, malt. Taste is dark fruit, sweet malt, lively. Good effervescence. Occasional.

Pours copper/ruby with medium off-white head. Fruity aroma with some caramel, hops, and spices. Tastes malty, fruity, with some finishing hops.

Deep amber color - medium head. Aroma of hops & caramel. Medium thin body, somewhat hoppy and sweet, but has a bad, burning finish, like the alcohol suddenly lashes out. Not sure what that was, may have just been the growler that it was poured from.

Copper in color with a small white lacing. Aroma is malty,hoppy. Flavor is malty with a warm alcohol mouthfeel and a bitter dry finish.