Mince Pie Barley Wine - Bourbon Barrel Aged
Elusive Brewing in Finchampstead, Berkshire, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Regular Out of Production|
Score
6.98
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Loaded with the fruit and spices found in everyone's favourite festive treat, this Barley Wine has decadent notes of candied orange and caramel with comforting spice and a warming finish.
This barrel aged edition has rested in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for 12 months to add notes of smooth vanilla and juicy berries.
This barrel aged edition has rested in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for 12 months to add notes of smooth vanilla and juicy berries.
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3.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 2.5
Flavor 2.5
Texture 7
Overall 2.5
Can from Against The Grain, 2025 edition. Hazy ruby/brown body with a thin beige head. Low carbonation. Patchy lacing. Aroma of harsh booze, lemon, nutmeg, orange peel and dried cranberry. Flavour of bourbon and lemon with a boozy, harsh finish. Medium body with a slick mouthfeel. Soft fizz. I wanted to love this but I really didn’t. Elusive are great but this is my easily my least favourite of their beers. The flavours are kinda all over the place - the lemon sharpness doesn’t gel at all with the spices or the notes from the barrel. Everything clashes in this beer and the result is boozy and heavy.
Tried
from Can
on 11 Nov 2025
at 22:47
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
On tap at Elusive brewery, Finchampstead, Friday 29th November 2024. Pours a murky brown with a rim of beige bubbles. A little tangy but there is a spiciness and fruitiness throughout, a woodiness barrel taste is showing. I like it but would have liked a touch more sweetness.
Tried
from Draft
on 29 Nov 2024
at 14:15
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Panda at home, thanks to Kenneth, 19/05/24. Deep chestnut brown topped with a beige cap that thins to a swirl. Nose is stewed fruits, spice, herb, sugars, orange marmalade, booze trace. Taste comprises toffee, herb, minced meat, raisins, figs, spice. Medium bodied with bite, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a kiss of alcohol. Okay sipper but wouldn't want too much ... a little overly spiced for me.
Tried
on 19 May 2024
at 14:09
7/10
Tried
on 16 May 2024
at 20:33
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
3rd May 2024
Can. Just a light haze on this reddish amber beer, small and short lived tan head. Light palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. The malts retain their light malt cream and darkish toffee streak. Similarly the Mince Pie fruits and spices are still clear. So, so far, so base beer. What does the Heaven Hill barrel add. Quite a light touch really, nice fruity bourbon and a little oak induced vanilla. Good stuff. Retains everything good from the base beer and the bourbon is just another layer rather than the main event. Tasty stuff.
Can. Just a light haze on this reddish amber beer, small and short lived tan head. Light palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. The malts retain their light malt cream and darkish toffee streak. Similarly the Mince Pie fruits and spices are still clear. So, so far, so base beer. What does the Heaven Hill barrel add. Quite a light touch really, nice fruity bourbon and a little oak induced vanilla. Good stuff. Retains everything good from the base beer and the bourbon is just another layer rather than the main event. Tasty stuff.
Tried
from Can
on 03 May 2024
at 23:07
8/10
Tried
from Can
on 26 Apr 2024
at 23:30
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Can ordered from the brewery. Aroma has booze alongside dark fruit and molasses. Opaque dark brown. No head. Medium bitter. Smooth booze. Sour edge. Fruit. Liquorice. Shy dark doughy malts. But it's the booze that hogs the spotlight. Medium bodied. Creamy. Flat carbonation. Long somewhat astringent finish. Can't remember what the original version was like but what we have here is a beer that's all about the barrel. Warming if nothing else.
Tried
from Can
on 26 Dec 2023
at 21:44
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8.5
Tap at Elusive with Dad, 23rd December 23. Pours a clear red brown. Aroma is caramel, barrel, vanilla. Taste is caramel, sweet, bitter, barrel, vanilla, light spice. Quite nice
Tried
from Draft
on 23 Dec 2023
at 17:36
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Can at Ellen's. Pours deep reddish amber, nose is coconut, vanilla, caramel, malty, citrus, taste is sweet toffee, vanilla, coconut, fruity. Barrel dominates here.
Tried
from Can
on 22 Dec 2023
at 20:33
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
On tap at The Green Goddess, Blackheath Royal Standard. Mahogany coloured pour with a beige head. Aromas of glacé cherries, dried fruit, bourbon, raisin, red grape. Rich flavours of caramel, spiced fruits, bourbon, port, toffee. Boozy malty sweet malarkey. Christmas in a glass. Lovely!
Tried
from Draft
on 18 Dec 2023
at 21:26