Pours a clear light red-mahogany. Small dark banana-yellow head that fizzles away quickly. Strong aroma of hops and malt, quite alcoholic and surprisingly fresh smelling. Starts out sweet and I am tasting alot of caramel that is medium sweet and has a slightly candied sugar flavor with some fruit flavor (definitely not citrus fruit). This isnt really much of a barley wine. I am tasting only a little bit of dry dry barley malt on the finish. Flavor is predominantly caramel malt. At this point, I would call it an English Strong (lots of fuggles, alcohol, caramel malt) Good amount of fuggles hops kick in and are subtle yet evident. More malt coming through followed by an intensely dry finish with a good amount of alcohol present. Good balance in hops and malt, but the lack of bottle conditioning provides for a medium body and lacking complexity. It seemed like the flavor goes back and forth between fuggles and caramel/toffee. Still, quite drinkable and a good solid malt presence with a strong medium body makes this a good beer. As it warmed to room temp, the body turned salty and the alcohol really provided a warm fuzzy flavor. The beer became one of the better scottish ales I’ve had, proving to me that this wasnt a barley wine. Great carbonation level (very light) in the bottle. If only this was bottle conditioned. sigh. . .

Great dark amber colour with red highlights and a very dense tan head. The smell is very nice, hints of malt caramel and some fruit. Medium bodied, malty flavour with some other fruit highlights. The taste isn't too great, especially considering the style. The aftertaste is very drying and bittering, but not horrible at all. I think this is more of an English Strong than a Barley Wine, but whatever...it really doesn't matter. It's a decent beer, not great for either style...but if you like their other offerings, its worth a shot.

This beer isn't as potent as I typically like my Barley Wines but it is still a decent brew. I think this would be a good transition beer into the Barley Wine world. Pours a dark brownish-red color with a thin beige head. Thin lacing. Aroma of malt, toffee, and hazelnut. On the sweet site with a big malt flavor, along with caramel/toffee and nuts. Finish is sweet, smooth and unassuming. I think this beer could be improved with more hops and a little more alcohol.

A dark brown beer with a light brown fine head that disappears quite quickly. The aroma is slightly fruity with hints of the alcohol. The flavor is powerfully fruity - a very nice malt blend - with definate notes of the alcohol and smoked malt. A good beer for a cold winter night with a snowstorm howling. A very nice beer.

Substantial head that shrinks rapidly, but leaves a nice lacing. This beer is a murky brown, which suggests a complexity of flavors (and it doesn''t disappoint). Although it is low in the alcohol department for a barley wine, it is very heavy and has a lot of complex flavor to offer. I taste lots of toffee and caramel, with hints of apples and chocolate. The finish is were I taste the banana aspect indicated in the description. In short, even with its low alcohol content, this is a great barley wine.

thick creamy brown head. Reddish brown color. Tinny smell. Burnt toffee malt taste. Long hop finish

Perhaps the best beer from Young's - who generally fail at subtlety and flavor integration, and this barleywine is more forgiving of those flaws. This is a strong rich malty ale with strong fruity esters and a solid bitter finish.