Union Craft Brewing Company Chessie

Chessie

 

Union Craft Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland, United States 🇺🇸

  Barley Wine - Barley Special
Score
6.53
ABV: 9.8% IBU: - Ticks: 12
Emerging from the depths of the Chesapeake Bay, this rarely experienced brew has surfaced in honor of the 1st Anniversary of our brewery...and she’s a Monster! Packed with nearly 2,000 lbs. of malted barley per batch and generously hopped in the kettle and in post-fermentation, this legendary barleywine-style ale has layers of complex flavor to wash over your palate. Drink her fresh to experience all the hoppy, bitter goodness of the dank and piney Columbus and Centinnial hops or let her retire to the depths of your cellar to later reveal her dark fruit and rich malt character.
 

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2.7
Appearance - 3 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 3 | Overall - 11

A cask version on tap at the ChurckKey in DC. It is hard to believe this is a 9.8% BW - a thin, slightly metallic taste with some sweetness and roasted malt. The body is thin as well. I know cask versions are often not as punchy as their keg brothers, but this is a big disappointment.

Tried from Cask on 23 Sep 2025 at 20:05


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Tap at the Wine Source. Gold color. Lightly sticky lacing. A little sweet, a little diesel alcohol, not astringent. Just thick malts that aren’t tasty. Not a horrible barleywine but whack anyway.

Tried from Draft on 28 Jan 2017 at 14:22


6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle at RBWG Grand Tasting. Pours a hazy copper with small off white head. The aroma is caramel and earthy hop. Medium body, caramel, raisin, light citrus, boozy finish, good.

Tried from Bottle on 14 Dec 2016 at 17:11


6.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

4oz draft pour at the sneak peak before the Union 4th Anniversary Party. Light cardboard, boozy caramel malts. Bitter finish. Not sure barleywine beers are my thing anymore. Improved as it warmed, bringing out a very rich, sweet caramel malt character. I would love to have a bottle of this to age a bit to see how it holds up.

Tried from Draft on 05 Aug 2016 at 11:59


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Another big boozy beer at the cellar cleaning good thing I’ve been training my liver the last 30 years. Orange khaki color. Nose is some fruity booze. Tastes of pine, leather, stone fruit, mango, some woody tones amd malt. Fine barley finish.

Tried on 05 Apr 2016 at 18:33


6.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Bottle - pours gold white head - nose/taste of old hops, citrus, alcohol and caramel - medium body

Tried from Bottle on 03 Apr 2016 at 20:00


7
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Pretty big citrus dose here. Pours golden with great lacing. Caramelized malt and some light oak. Light sweet and astringent finish. Tap at Brookland Pint.

Tried from Draft on 16 Dec 2015 at 17:45


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle shared at RBWG ’15 Grand Tasting @ Coppertail, thanks to whomever shared this one, 21/02/15 #384/1000. Hazed orange amber with a moderate off white top. Nose is tangy citric, pine needle, yeast notes, caramel. Taste comprises sticky tropicana, mango, grapefruit, toasted notes, marshmallow, caramel. Medium + body, fine carbonation, semi drying close. This was more like a DIPA than a barley wine to me, lots of sticky trops and pine resin. Ok stuff none the less.

Tried from Bottle on 30 May 2015 at 10:37


7.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle shared at a tasting. Pours a hazy amber with a thin fizzy tan head. Decent head retention. Aroma of toffee, raisin, herbal hops, smoke. The taste is toffee, raisin, smoke, stone fruits. Medium bodied, mild lingering bitterness.

Tried from Bottle on 13 Mar 2015 at 00:49


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle I brought to share at Coppertail Brewing during the RBWG 2015 Grand Tasting. Clear golden orange with off-white head. Aromas of floral hops, toasty notes, toffee. Tastes of caramel, toffee, floral, dark fruit. Medium body with a dry finish. Slow gusher after it sat for a minute or two.

Tried from Bottle on 01 Mar 2015 at 18:52