[1673-20080906] Tap. Sweet caramel roasted malt aroma a super sugar molasses shot. Clear, medium brown red body with quick white bubbles. Sweet molasses syrup flavour with a hint of evergreen and smooth brandy. Full body is boozy. Fairly alerting with the alcohol but not bad. <br /><i>(@ brewpub; Anchorage, AK)</i>

2008-09-06. Dark ruby brown body with a smallish tan head. (3+) A sledehammer of rubbing alcohol spearheads a port-like precursor to a caravan of sugar containing molasses, maple and brown sugar representation, sherry touches, brief raisins. Light bitterness fights valiantly to balance things but ultimately fails. A lovely finish and glorious aftertaste of sweet malts brings along the best of the sugar posse and mostly makes up for the abrasive front end. (7+) Aroma of alcohol and sugary malt is surprisingly mild considering the behemoths looming in the flavour. Molasses character is the last to depart, and there are some really nice highlights to this but it never comes together as well as it could. Still, it has its charms. <i>On tap at the brewpub.</i>

<b>18-Jan-08</b> <i>(Draft: Sleeping Lady Brewing Company in Anchorage, AK)</i> Sweet, fruity, and seemingly oaky and bourbony, this is a very aromatic barleywine with rich, decadent aromas. Deep, caramely malt flavors are enhanced by sweet fruits, coconut, and a slightly oxidized sherry flavor that suggests some aging. Full-bodied with a sticky sweetness, but little to balance the mouthfeel. So yes, it’s cloyingly sweet, but the flavor is quite delicious. Medium-brown and clear in appearance, though the beer pours will just a wisp of filmy head that dissipates rapidly. This is the final beer of the seven I’ve tried today at the Snow Goose bar, and though all have been fairly sweet, this one is still pretty enjoyable. Nice flavor profile.<br /><br /><i>(Note: The day after I sampled Old Gander at the brewpub, this beer won 2nd place at the 2008 Great Alaskan Beer and Barleywine Festival.)</i>

@ Great Alaskan Barleywine Festival ’06. Ok nose, fruity. Fig, date, raisin. Cloudy orangy brown color, no head, small bits of lacing. Bittersweet. Like aroma, but soapy too. Medium body, sticky mouthfeel, bitterdry finish. Eh? This just didn’t hold up with others that were available.

On tap at the 2003 Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival. I had the 2002 vintage, and it tasted a little young. Cloudy orange with a thin beige head. Heavy sweet taste of caramel and raw sugar. It seems that it may balance over time. I hope they have it next year to compare.