The great Kees Bubberman, arguably one of Holland's most bold and brilliant 'postmodern' brewers, treats us to an ambitious and boastful 'Bubberman' beer every two years, with this dark barleywine - partially 'eisbocked'! - representing the 2024 edition. Thanks to Martijn for sharing this beast at Proevertjesdag! Open, thin, pale greyish ring of foam dissolving over a misty deep bronze robe with ruddy-reddish glow, notably dark for a barleywine but in any case still fully translucent. Aroma of 'boerenjongens', raisinbread, caramel, my grandmother's elderberry jenever, toffee, vanilla from both the bourbon and the oak, dried apricot, medlar, cooked pear, port sauce, hint dusty attic. Dried-fruity onset, dried blueberries and plums, raisins, sweet but not too sticky with softish carb and very full, vinous, smooth body; deep layers of toffee, hazelnut, nougat and dry caramel ensue, even displaying a slight toastiness (in line with the dark colour of the beer) which I do not expect in any kind of barleywine. Bourbon-like alcohol becomes evident in the finish, with a plum liqueur-like side note and vanilla-like effects also coming from the oak wood itself; hops remain behind the curtains so bitterness remains limited, but the toasty effect does survive in the finish and brings some balance against the sweetness - and just because this sweetness refrains from sticky sugariness, does that all too well. The alcohol is obviously very noticeable and provides a great deal of finishing, soothing warmth - but even less so than what would be the case in e.g. a fortified wine of equal strength. If you must still play this outdated Eisbock game, then this is apparently the right way to do it: apply the technique to only part of the beer and blend in the Eisbock part later. The result is impressive, with the alcohol (also from the bourbon of course) being well-integrated without overtaking everything else - something I was not expecting at this ABV, to be frank. Intense for sure, but deliciously satisfying as a 'digestif' of sorts - and still very beery and drinkable. A 'tour de force', as we say, glad I got a taste of this majestic brew.

Sample at Mikkeller Baghaven, Copenhagen, during MBCC Gold Event bottle share event.Colour is Very dark brown with very small brownish head
Chocolate, Cacao, whiskey, some alcohol...

Thick. Rich. Oily. Sweet. Boozy. Warming.

#barleywine #vatgerijpt niet heel erg gerstig

From bottle. Really heavy with soy sauce, alcohol, chocolate. Big boozy bittersweet, alcohol. Wow what a big unit, maybe a bit too much....

Scherp, alcoholisch, bourbon, chocolade, cacao, ok-ish,