Great Divide Brewing Company Old Ruffian - Barrel Aged

Old Ruffian - Barrel Aged

 

Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver, Colorado, United States 🇺🇸

  Barley Wine - Barley Regular Out of Production
Score
7.75
ABV: 11.8% IBU: 88 Ticks: 99
This special release of our acclaimed, hefty barley wine has been aged for over 9 months in Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey barrels. The process tempers Old Ruffian’s edges for a mellowed version with heady whiskey flavors and subtle oak notes. Each limited edition, individually-numbered bottle is special in its own right. This rounded wonder clocks in at 85-90 IBUs.
 

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4.3
Appearance - 5 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 18

Another well appreciated heavy weight. A classic caramel malt BW, but backed up by a hefty 80-plus IBUs of American hops. The barreling adds warmth and taste. Dark berries underneath the stronger tastes adds to the balance. Thick,heavily roasted malt remain the core of this excellent, rich BW.

Tried from Can on 23 Sep 2025 at 20:04


8.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5

(Bottle) Dark reddish amber colour with creamy, beige head. Malty, vinous nose with notes of caramel, black-currant, toffee, rye bread, resin, dried apricots, orange peel, vanilla, wood and a touch of anise. Malty, fruity taste with caramel, toffe, resin, black-currant, dried fruit, raisins, vanilla, wood, bourbon and a vinous and warming finish with a balanced resiny, citric bitterness. Full body, with a certain sweetness. Solid and well made barley wine with a good hop presence, well balanced bourbon notes and a generous malt profile to balance. Great beer.

Tried from Bottle on 23 Jan 2021 at 21:54



8.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle picked up from Biervana, München and consumed at Camping Resort Zugspitze, Grainau, Nr Garmisch Partenkirchen, Thursday 11th June 2020, listening to Gideon Coe on 6Music. Pours reddy brown with a light tan head. Aromas of wood, slight whisky hints and beer soaked dark fruit. Fruity in the mouth, but think more dark dried fruits than citrus etc. A little whisky, warming, a slight stickiness, molasses. This is smooth and really easy drinking for the abv. Excellent beer.

Tried from Bottle on 12 Jun 2020 at 04:15


8.3
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Bottle. Pours hazy dark brown with a small brown head. Aromas of hops, vanilla, bitter hops, malt, caramel, fudge. Taste is malty, caramel, orange, hops, vanilla, fudge, earthy.

Tried from Bottle on 06 Nov 2019 at 16:54


8.1
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

2017 Bottle at home. Deep amber with beige head. Loads of caramel, toffee, vanilla, chocolate biscuits. Well balanced with a touch of resin. Good stuff!

Tried from Bottle on 31 Aug 2019 at 19:35



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

Bottle. (thanks Tom) Reddish/amber with a small head. Sweet with caramel, dried fruit, oak and malt. The body was full and the finish with warming alcohol. A pleasant one to sip.

Tried from Bottle on 02 Dec 2018 at 18:33


7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

How: Botte.
Where: Tasting 2018-06-16.
Appearance: Hazy amber-red colour with a small tan head.
Aroma: Malt, sugary, alcohol, vanilla, bourbon, dried fruit.
Body: Full body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Caramel, vanilla, bourbon, alcohol, dried fruit.

Tried on 29 Jun 2018 at 07:16


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

Bottle at barley wine share. Mahogany pour, tiny ring of beige head. Boozy, warm aroma, sweet malts, vanilla, barrel notes. Taste is up front caramely malts, plenty of alcohol warmth too. Syrupy, slick

Tried from Bottle on 02 Apr 2018 at 00:37