Blunderbuss Barleywine
(has 2 batches)

From tap at the brewpub. Pours hazy to almost murky orange with a small white head. Aroma is malty dense, light overripe fruity note and mild hoppy touch. Sweet, dense malty to caramelish. Light overripe fruity touch. Bitter and lingering sweet caramelish finish.

Tap at the brewpub - hazy red/copper beer, with a foamy, sticky lace - aroma of new french oak (I don’t sense your typical bourbon barrel smell), cinnamon, cherries, a warm, whiskey character - strong, nearly cloying sweetness, with a mellow oak presence and light scotch notes - very mild fruity esters - gets quite hot in the finish, but a warm, spicy, almost cinnamon-like character tries to make the heat a bit more welcome, with mixed results.

On draught at Cambridge Brewery January 2005. Aged four months prior to release. Alcohol listed this year at 12%. FG 1.020. Served in a snifter for $4.50. Aroma of toffee, raisins, molasses (their big beers all smell like molasses), treacle, dried figs and prunes and light toffee. Color is a medium dark brown, with a small light tan head. Though it says unfiltered, the beer is nowhere near opaque and actually quite transparent on the edges. Flavor begins with a mix of hops, spice and molasses with some caramel sweetness resting faintly in the background. Residual sugars take over somewhat, with notes of prunes, raisins and some touches of vinousness. Dry charred wood flavors also apparent in the background. Finish has notes of maple syrup, more raisins, a bitter hops astringency and some oak mixed with alcohol. The hops burn slightly and then are gone. Feels smooth and lightly silky on the palate, very low carbonation, medium-full body. Though this one seems to be undecided as to whether it’s English or American, I would prefer that it be more richly flavored whatever it is trying for. The hops burn noted up front and on the finish is interesting, but I would rather it be more integrated. Smooth as the body is, it is still a touch watery on the finish. Perhaps it just needs more aging. It’s certainly worthy of a rerate soon.