Vintage 2007
Beautiful stone bottle from Kensington Wine Market Beer, Calgary
Hazy light amber color, the head reduces to a thin layer. It has a nice aroma of barley, at times reminding a Bock; later, almonds come to mind. Good body, with strong caramel flavor and fairly good bitterness, but still concentrated on the sweetness; maybe a touch of sweet vanilla too. Not vibrant, but solid; again between a classic barley wine and a doppelbock.

Terracotta-like bottle, 500 ml, 2007, purchased at the LCBO, savoured on April 30 2008; eye: orangey caramel, hazy, light effervescence, white head that falls rapidly but leaves a carpet on the beer, lacing; nose: orange, citrusy hops, caramelized malt; mouth: bitter hops, lots of caramel that arrives just as a second wave of bitter hops arrives, caramelized malt then leaves its place to the hops, orange, alcohol is there though difficult to perceive but its warmth is sure present, finale in bitter hops with a good presence of malt, creamy texture, rather bitter, mildly sweet, full body, sticky texture, average carbonation, light astringency; overall: quite likable FRANÇAIS Bouteille à effet terre cuite, 500 ml, 2007, achetée à la LCBO, savourée le 30 avril 2008; œil : caramel orangée, voilée, légère effervescence, mousse blanche qui tombe rapidement mais laisse un petit tapis sur la bière, dentelle; nez : orange, houblon citrique, malt caramélisé; bouche : houblon amérisant, beaucoup de caramel qui arrive juste au moment où une deuxième vague de houblon viendrait frapper, malt caramélisé cède le pas à tout ce houblon, orange, même si on perçoit à peine l’alcool on sent sa chaleur, finale en houblon amérisant avec une bonne présence de malt, texture crémeuse, plutôt amère, moyennement sucrée, corsée, texture collante, carbonatation moyenne, légère astringence; en résumé : bien aimé

(Bottle 34,1 cl) Courtesy of presario. Bottle #6612, vintage 2005. Slightly hazy, warm amber golden with a nice, off-white head. Fat aroma of caramel and overripe fruit. Very rich and full body with lots of caramel and fruit - overripe fruit. The mouthfeel is soft and smooth. Some hops in the finish. 200507

From 34.1 cL bottle (no. 6612). Pours slight hazy orange with a little head. Aroma is malty with a wineous alcohol note, which takes some dried fruit with it. Flavour is cane sugar, malty, roasted, and clearly alcohol warming into a dry finish.

2005. Bouteille. De couleur ambrée cuivrée et voilée. Nez malté (caramel toffee sucré aux notes terreuses et rôties, léger de sucre brun, notes de butterscotch, de chocolat et de miel), fruité (raisins aux notes vineuses, notes de prunes, de pommes et d’agrumes), léger d’alcool doux, de houblon herbeux et de vanille ainsi que des notes de noix. Moyenne-ronde en bouche avec un pétillement bas et une texture liquoreuse, légèrement sirupeuse et crémeuse. Goût fruité (moyen de raisins aux notes vineuses, léger de prunes, notes de pommes, de cerises, de figues et d’agrumes) avec un léger goût de vanille lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût sucré de malt du genre caramel toffee moyennement rôti et légèrement terreux avec un léger goût de butterscotch, de biscuits et de chocolat (notes de sucre brun) parallèlement à un moyen goût d’alcool liquoreux et réchauffant puis en finale, l’on retrouve une moyenne amertume de houblon herbeux (notes terreuses) aidé par l’alcool ainsi que des notes de noix. Post-goût long, moyennement amer d’alcool de houblon herbeux et légèrement terreux et de rôti avec un goût fruité (moût de raisins et de prunes, faibles notes de pelures de pommes et de zest d’agrumes) et des traces de noix.

Bottle 2005 courtesy of Hogtownharry: Poured a slightly hazy deep amber color ale with a small foamy head with minimal retention. Aroma of sweet malt with some dry figs and raisins. Taste is quite sweet, maybe a bit too much for my liking, with some discernable trace of dry fruits with a small alcohol touch at the end. Body is above average but could have been more full. Alcohol is still well hidden for such a high-level of alcohol. Without being ultra complex, this is a well balance barley wine that I would drink again if it were available to me.

Bottle #6626, 2005 vintage. Coppery body, medium creamy light beige head. Sweet, heavy aroma of caramel, candied fruits, toast, and abundant alcohol notes, plummy with hints of apricot juice. Somewhat raw and harsh. Sweet, fruity body with brown sugar, caramel, toast, plum, and a touch of cherry, bitter, medicinal finish with hot alcohol. Somewhat butterscotchy with soy and honey that seem to come along for the ride with high alcohol-yielding yeasts. Not as extreme as something like Avery Samaels Ale, but still a syrupy sweet malt-and-alcohol medley, and not the most pleasant one. Nevertheless, thank you blankboy for the bottle!

2005 vintage. Red copper ale with no head. Sweet caramel and raisin in aroma. Dry malts in mouth, with light caramel notes, raisins, and pleasant floral hops. Smooth alcohol warmth. Nice canadian BW. Enjoyed at YEHa!05 Christmas Party on Dec. 17th, 2005.

An orange beer with a small white head. The aroma is sweet malty, while the flavor is more complex with notes of alcohol and malt, as well as a slight touch of hops - just enough to give it a dry hoppy end. The alcohol gives a slight burn.

Bottle 554, courtesy Doug Shoemaker - cheers!

Light golden-amber colour. Small amount of yeast in suspension. Very low carbo - looks dead. Aroma is appley (not acedaldehyde), honeyish and lightly spicy (nutmeg). Strong alcohol presence up front makes the beer quite peppery and dry. This sits overtop of honey-sweet pale malts like a sumo wrestler on a midget. Slightly thick body. I’ve only had a couple of pale barley wines but I don’t really see the appeal, especially without hops, as you only get a one-dimensional malt flavour rather than a multidimensional one.