Brown bottle, 500 ml, from and with Philippe Boutin (merci!), savoured on November 13, 2021; eye: dark brown, semi-foggy, no effervescence, ring of beige head, light lacing; nose: bourbon, malt, light alcohol, light anise, bittering hops, light brown sugar; mouth: bourbon, malt, light alcohol, light anise, bittering hops, light brown sugar, light metallic, finale in bourbon with presence of alcohol, full bodied, average carbonation, quite bitter, lightly sweet, slightly raspy texture; in summary: quite likable FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 500 ml, de et avec Philippe Boutin (merci!), savourée le 13 novembre 2021; œil : brun foncé, semi-voilée, pas d'effervescence, anneau de mousse beige, légère dentelle; nez : bourbon, malt, léger alcool, léger anis, houblon amérisant, léger cassonade; bouche : bourbon, malt, léger alcool, léger anis, houblon amérisant, léger cassonade, léger métallique, finale en bourbon avec présence d'alcool, corsée, carbonatation moyenne, pas mal amère, légèrement sucrée, texture très légèrement râpeuse; en résumé : bien aimé

On tap at Goose Island Toronto, pours black with a medium brown head. Aroma is actually laid back for the style, with gentle bourbon barrels, molasses, and some hop resins. Flavour is on the bitter side for the style, with molasses, bitter dry cocoa, and subdued bourbon barrels. The bitterness is quite high on the finish, which seems to cancel out the malt and bourbon character. This is rather haphazard given Goose Island's reputation for such styles. Still good, but far from, say, Bourbon Country Barleywine.

A reddish brown barley wine with a thin lacing mocha head. In aroma, sweet fruity caramel malt with vinous notes, treacle, pleasant resinous hops, very nice. In mouth, a nice sweet caramel malt with loads of vinous notes, light licorice, alcohol warmth, light plums, very nice. On tap at Toronto brewery.