XXXK Vintage Ale
(has 2 batches)
Wimbledon Brewery in London, Greater London, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Special|
Score
7.39
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Back in the Middle Ages, the rate of illiteracy was high and those wishing to drink beer were advised of its strength by the simple use of an ‘X’ to denote its strength. The more Xs, the stronger the beer! The K in our XXXK stands for ‘keeper’ and is a beer which, whilst delicious to drink now, may also be laid down like a fine wine, for several years, maturing and evolving over time.
The inspiration behind the brew was the discovery of a late 19th-century poster from the Victorian-era Wimbledon Brewery, advertising ‘XXXK Strong Ale’. This is a style which also came to be known as barley wine – that is, beer of alcohol by volume typically ranging from 8-12%.
The inspiration behind the brew was the discovery of a late 19th-century poster from the Victorian-era Wimbledon Brewery, advertising ‘XXXK Strong Ale’. This is a style which also came to be known as barley wine – that is, beer of alcohol by volume typically ranging from 8-12%.
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7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 8
Bottle at JB's. It pours clear rich amber with with a thick,.fluffy white head. The aroma is rich, sticky, sappy, oily, work, resin, fruit cake, booze, dried fruits, raisin, sultana, marzipan and panettone. The taste is soft, smooth, bitter - sweet, raisin, sultana, fruit cake, warming booze, wood, leather, honey cake, candied orange, tangerine, marzipan, custard, leather and cognac with a smooth, warming finish. Fulsome body and high, foamy carbonation. Has aged gracefully. Really enjoyed it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 May 2026
at 17:47
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Cask at The Ealing Beer Festival 2024, Ealing, London. An amber coloured pour with a medium off white head on top. Sweet, boozy, orange, caramel, dark fruit taste and aroma. Tasty enough barley wine but incredibly sweet.
Tried
from Cask
on 12 Jul 2024
at 08:36
7.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
750ml bottle - 2017 Vintage. Pours a hazy dark honey amber colour with a small diminishing frothy off-white head. The aroma is caramel, brown sugar, fruit cake and oranges. A sweet smooth taste, sweet malts, caramel, fruit cake, candied citrus fruit, dates and rum flavours with a warming alcohol finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Dec 2023
at 18:12
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Gravity cask at the 31st Ealing Beer Festival, Walpole Park, 15/07/22. Clear amber with a decent off white covering that clears to a swirl. Nose is fruit cake, dates, caramel, figs, sugars, light booze. Taste comprises caramel fudge, nutty, toffee, dates, raisins, stewed fruits. Full bodied, soft carbonation, semi drying close with a balanced warming boost. Solid cask barley wine.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Jul 2022
at 15:37
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Cask at GBBF 2019. Cloudy orane color. Nose is honey malts, esters, orange, caramel. Sweet honey nd orange flavor with some booze, esters citrus and apple, big hops. Very fun, would like to try it in a year.
Tried
from Cask
on 09 Aug 2019
at 11:34
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
6th August 2019
GBBF Day 1. Keygeg. Hazy gold beer, small pale cream colour head. Smooth palate. Modest fine carbonation. Sweetish malts. Little cream. Modest and honey dried fruits. Light finish. Decent if lacking maturity.
GBBF Day 1. Keygeg. Hazy gold beer, small pale cream colour head. Smooth palate. Modest fine carbonation. Sweetish malts. Little cream. Modest and honey dried fruits. Light finish. Decent if lacking maturity.
Tried
on 06 Aug 2019
at 18:32
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask (gravity) @ #RHBCF2018 🧙🍻🇬🇧 [ The 11th Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival (The 43th. Nottingham CAMRA Beer and Cider Festival) ], The Motorpoint Arena, Bolero Square, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England NG1 1LA.
[ As Wimbledon XXXK Vintage Ale ].
ABV: 10.0%. Light cloudy medium orange yellow colour with a small to average, frothy, fair lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, bread, cookie, rich malt, pale malt, malty, alcohol. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet with a long duration, rich malt, sugary, pale malt, sweet malt, cookie, light dried fruit. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat, finish feel is warming and light alcoholic. [20181018]
7-3-7-4-14
Tried
from Cask
on 22 Oct 2018
at 16:55
7.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
18/10/2018. Cask at the Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival 2018, Nottingham. Pours dark amber with a small off-white head. Aroma of caramel, fruit, hop, malt, hint of spices and wood. Medium to heavy sweetness, moderate bitterness. Full bodied, sticky texture, very soft carbonation, with lasting toffee and warming alcohol. Very nice!
Tried
from Cask
on 18 Oct 2018
at 12:39