Life Is Round (Batch #4)
(Batch of Life Is Round)
Private Press Brewing in Santa Cruz, California, United States 🇺🇸
Brewed at/by: Santa Cruz Mountain BrewingBarley Wine - Barley Regular
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Score
7.71
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Double barrel-aged barleywine.
Life Is Round is a garnet-colored bourbon barrel-aged barelywine. A trio of barleywine recipes coalesce in this beer to offer aromas of fig, raisins, whiskey caramel sauce, and almond shortbread, while three double barrel-aged threads lend a depth of oak that amplifies a nutmeg, vanilla, and cola character. Allowing the blend to open and breathe for 30-60 minutes invites a distinct honey and deep toffee character to the palate. This release showcases the accumulation of dimensionality and nuance that the cellar has gained in its fourth year.
Blend #4 (PPB-4Q201):
Hutcherson (barrel #289) aged 9 months in Henry McKenna barrels
Hutcherson (barrel #290) aged 9 months in 10-Year Elijah Craig barrels
Mahavishnu (barrel #313) aged 24 months in Willett Family Reserve barrels
Mahavishnu (barrel #338) aged 17 months in Port barrels and 7 months in Subtle Spirits #23 barrels
DeJohnette (barrel #326) aged 7 months in Laird's barrels and 7 months in Heaven Hill barrels
DeJohnette (barrel #328) aged 7 months in Knob Creek barrels and 7 months in Four Roses barrels
2023 Release
Life Is Round is a garnet-colored bourbon barrel-aged barelywine. A trio of barleywine recipes coalesce in this beer to offer aromas of fig, raisins, whiskey caramel sauce, and almond shortbread, while three double barrel-aged threads lend a depth of oak that amplifies a nutmeg, vanilla, and cola character. Allowing the blend to open and breathe for 30-60 minutes invites a distinct honey and deep toffee character to the palate. This release showcases the accumulation of dimensionality and nuance that the cellar has gained in its fourth year.
Blend #4 (PPB-4Q201):
Hutcherson (barrel #289) aged 9 months in Henry McKenna barrels
Hutcherson (barrel #290) aged 9 months in 10-Year Elijah Craig barrels
Mahavishnu (barrel #313) aged 24 months in Willett Family Reserve barrels
Mahavishnu (barrel #338) aged 17 months in Port barrels and 7 months in Subtle Spirits #23 barrels
DeJohnette (barrel #326) aged 7 months in Laird's barrels and 7 months in Heaven Hill barrels
DeJohnette (barrel #328) aged 7 months in Knob Creek barrels and 7 months in Four Roses barrels
2023 Release
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9.1/10
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Appearance 9
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
Bottle. Pours deep mahogany, small tan head, good lacing. Aroma is rich, cocoa, bourbon, toffee, fudge, vanilla, hint of loamy earth, molasses. Flavor is sweet, light plus bitter, rich, decadent. Full body, silky mouthfeel.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Jul 2025
at 02:04
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle, 500 ml shared with MiroB and JFK10000. Dark brown with beige head. Some chocolate, loads of caramel, toffee, intensive whiskey, figs, dates, some alcohol in back.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Dec 2024
at 20:46
7.8/10
Great beer. Boozy, clean, superb barleywine and barrell flavours. 10€ for 15cl at the beertemple
Tried
on 20 Oct 2024
at 15:09
7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 9
Draft. Black beer with a tan head. Caramel and light chocolate aroma. Caramel and rich malt flavor with light chocolate and bourbon. Medium-plus bodied. Caramel and rich malt linger with light chocolate and bourbon.
Tried
from Draft
on 12 Feb 2024
at 19:35
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
On tap at Ale Arsenal as part of SF Beerweek. Clear mahogany with almost no head. Boozy and rich malt aromas and flavor.
Tried
from Draft
on 12 Feb 2024
at 05:31