Panda at home, thanks to Kenneth, 07/03/2026.
Extremely dark mahogany brown topped with a light beige cap that dissipates to the edge.
Nose is caramel, dark malts, toasted brown sugar, nutty, booze tunes, dried fruit rinds.
Taste comprises dates, figs, toffee, light spice, booze, fruit cake mix.
Full bodied, fine to light oily feel, drying close with a balanced rising boost.
Tidy sipper.

7th February 2026
There is not a super shortage of barleywines these days, not a super abundance, just a decent steady trickle. That said, it's hard to find one that is not barrel aged or adjunct laden. I really don't dislike either of those options but, it would be nice to see brewers test their mettle by brewing good tasty straight barleywines a little more often. This barleywine is almost that, aged on oak staves but no spirit barrel or adjuncts. Just a light haze on this deep amber brown beer, small bubbly pale tan head. Airy smooth palate, mildly dry, good fine carbonation on the back end. The malts bring an aged tasting ripeness, familiar from any number of beers tasted from the 1960s or 1970s. Some fresher caramel toffee over a fountain of malt cream, not oversweet. The oak staves do provide a little wet wood and mild oak induced vanilla. Back end is a fairly rich and ripe smorgasbord of ripe and bruised fruits. Light finish. Well, not quite the layerer straight barleywine I had hoped for but, rich and fully flavoured.

Bottle from my brother: pours dark brown with beige head. Aroma is caramel, wood. Sweet, woody, caramel, dark fruits, raisin. Nice aftertaste.