Barleywine from this Manchester brewery, aged in amontillado sherry barrels; from tap at Bar Beenhouwer. Quite densely moussy, pale yellow-beige, membrane-lacing, medium thick head, quite stable and firm for a barrel aged barleywine; misty orange-amber robe with deeper copper glow. Aroma of orange zest, dried apricot, candied cherry, tamarillo, mandarin, wormwood, peanuts, crackers, hard caramel, sweet sherry, cognac, peach liqueur, green peppercorns, some onsetting oxidation already – but quite flattering in this case, often a sign of a good barleywine. Very sweet onset, candied orange and candied peach with hints of persimmon, mandarin and vague papaya; moderate carbonation, finely tingling with slight minerally side effect. Full, vinous and slick, oily mouthfeel, lovely caramelly and peanutty maltiness with cracker-like edges, quite some candied fruit and honey sweetness continuing – until this sweetness is suddenly interrupted by a firm, rooty, grapefruity and wormwoody hop bitterness spreading out over the back of the mouth; woody tannic effects remain fairly subtle but the amontillado as such is more present, adding a vinous, fruity sweetness and something lightly tangy to a warming, long, powerfully bittersweet finish which lasts and lasts. Pungent, rich barleywine in American style – with both the sweetness and the bitterness played out powerfully and colourfully. I love it when a barleywine comes together well and that certainly is the case here, at least in the two year old vintage that crossed my path on a rainy Sunday afternoon in beautiful old Ghent.

Relativ süffiger Beginn, stark holzig. Süßlich werdend, holzig bleibend, nicht übermäßig harmonisch. Ok. 9/10/8/9//8

Sinaasappel