16 ounce crowler into snifter, filled on 9/26/2019. Pours crystal clear dork ruby red/brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with solid retention, that reduces to a minimal spotty lace cap that lingers. Minimal lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big orange, grapefruit, raisin, plum, prune, fig, date, apricot, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, biscuit, and brown bread/crust; with lighter notes of licorice, molasses, leather, tobacco, cocoa, smoke, pine, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness. Mild booze in the aromas as it warms, but not overwhelming. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/bready/light roasted malts, citrus/earthy hops, fruity yeast, and bourbon barrel notes; with big strength. Taste of huge orange, grapefruit, raisin, plum, prune, fig, date, apricot, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, biscuit, and brown bread/crust; with lighter notes of licorice, molasses, leather, tobacco, cocoa, smoke, pine, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness; and bourbon/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of orange, grapefruit, raisin, plum, prune, fig, date, apricot, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, biscuit, brown bread/crust, licorice, molasses, leather, tobacco, cocoa, smoke, pine, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts, citrus/earthy hops, fruity yeast, and bourbon barrel flavors; with an awesome bitter/sweet and bourbon/oak spiciness balance; with no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness and bourbon/oak spiciness. Light carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready/grainy, fairly sticky/resinous/tannic, and lightly slick mouthfeel that is great. Light increasing warmth of 12.6%, with mild lingering barrel booze after the finish. Overall this is an incredible barrel aged American barleywine. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts, citrus/earthy hops, fruity yeast, and bourbon barrel flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the huge ABV, with the mellowly bitter/tannic/drying finish. Amazing balance of rich malts, citrus/earthy hops, fruity yeast, and bourbon barrel presence/integration. Light residual sweetness with lingering bitter/tannic dryness. Not overly sweet/heavy for the ABV. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing American style example all around.

Sample at the Bell’s tasting at Brews Cafe on 3/6/08: This beer is a hazy dark brownish-orange color with a compact beige head that recedes slowly. Small patches of lacing on the glass. Chocolate malt, oak, and rich caramel in the nose. Full body with sweet malt and caramel flavors offset by bourbon and hops. The finish is oak and vanilla with a lingering malt aftertaste. Pretty enjoyable overall.

On tap at Graydon’s Crossing, Grand Rapids. Murky orange-brown body, thin, tight cream head. Heavy oak dominates the aroma, which warms to sweet breads, musty caramels, and alcohol. Big oak body, the oak tending to dominate the flavor profile. Sweet, musty caramels kick in over time, in addition to oxidized hops. Dusty. A thin red wine or brandy character also becomes apparent after the palate is coated. And, a touch of plum pudding and bubblegum. But, the predominant characteristic is oak beginning to finish. Just a touch of prickly alcohol reminds the drinker of its potency. Very good.