Woolly Bugger
Howe Sound Brewing in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦
Barley Wine - Barley Winter|
Score
7.54
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A rich dark amber barleywine brewed in extremely limited quantities.
1100 bottles produced in 2010, brewed in August, released in December.
It has previously been brewed in 2001.
1100 bottles produced in 2010, brewed in August, released in December.
It has previously been brewed in 2001.
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9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 10
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
Powerfully rich nose with caramel, roasted malt and rich dark berries. The current version is a much bigger, American style barleywine than the original more European version a few years ago. This version is rich with dark, heavy flavours. The caramel malts are heavily roasted and sweet. Ripe dark fruit and raisins support the taste. Hops balance the rich, thick and full body. One of the best barleywines I have ever tasted.
Tried
from Can
on 23 Sep 2025
at 19:59
7.3/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
12oz pour at Devil's Elbow. Pours very murky brown with a light beige head. Sweet malts on the nose. Flavour has plenty of barley, some pine, a boozy finish. Not a particularly refined barley wine, but certainly not bad.
Tried
from Draft
at
Devil's Elbow Ale & Smoke House
on 26 Jan 2025
at 02:37
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
375ml bottle from the Bainbridge LRS. Vintage 2014. Pours an opaque dirty brown with a beige head. Aroma is sweet with dark fruits and caramel notes. Similar taste, maybe with some oxidation. Fairly dry aftertaste with some bready notes and noticeable hoppy bitterness and candy notes. Good and fairly complex stuff. I wish the barrel aged version of this would be available.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Feb 2018
at 06:59
8/10
Tried
on 23 Sep 2017
at 01:48
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle shared at Ratebeer awards show. 30/01/2016. .Many thanks! A hazed orange brown coloured pour with no head. Aroma is tangy red berries, woody malts, grapey, hot alcohol. Flavour is composed of nice cakey malts, toffee, red berries, wood. Palate is sweet and sticky, moderate carbonation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jan 2017
at 15:17
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle shared at RBWG: Poured a brown with a tan colored head. Aroma is weird mix of malts and spice. Taste is malty with candy sugar and sticky on the tongue.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Aug 2016
at 12:57
7.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
2011 edition. A murky dark amber ale with a thin off white head. In aroma, sweet dark fruity malt with loads of vinous notes, treacle, dark fruits, molasses, light oxidation, alcohol warmth, very nice. In mouth, a nice sweet fruity malt with light vinous notes, treacle, light butterscotch, alcohol warmth, nice and smooth.
Tried
on 31 May 2016
at 20:17
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle split at RB Best bottle share, 30/01/16. Hazed chestnut brown with a decent tan head. Nose is dark fruits, toffee, dates, spice, light plastic. Taste comprises bitter fruit, no plastic notes, sticky toffee pudding, biscuit, rich malt. Full bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Ok barley wine.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 May 2016
at 14:46
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
375ml bottle. (2014 release) Pours a cloudy, dark reddish brown with a small, short lived, beige head that fully dissipates. Sweet aroma of caramel malt, bread, overripe fruit and wood. Sweet flavour of caramel malt, roasted malt, overripe fruit, bread, wood and a hint of chocolate malt with a dry, bitter, warming alcohol finish. Full body with a smooth, oily texture and soft carbonation. Very nice, a pleasant surprise.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Feb 2016
at 23:46
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
[1/30/16] Bottle sample at the Encomium bottle share, after RateBeer Best awards ceremony at Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa. Thanks everyone who shared bottles! December 2012 bottle. Murky amber. Malt, fruits, sweet, caramel.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Feb 2016
at 07:59