Isle Of Arran Brewery Sleeping Warrior

Sleeping Warrior

 

Isle Of Arran Brewery in Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  Barley Wine - Barley Regular
Score
6.69
ABV: 8.3% IBU: - Ticks: 18
Barley Wine is a style of strong ale originating in England and was normally kept for the aristocracy. The use of the word wine is due to its similar alcoholic strength of a fine wine, However since it is made from grain rather than fruit it is in fact, a Beer!

While suitable for drinking now this classic ale will continue to develop in the bottle for up to four years. Over time this vintage ale will mature and its flavours mellow, rewarding you for your wait. All you need to do is decide when.

The Sleeping Warrior is a view of the mountains connected with The Island of Arran, which it is claimed resembles that of a sleeping knight with his shield laid across his chest, resting from battle.
 

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7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Old rating - This 330ml bottle was a gift from a friend who visited the Isle of Arran. I've kept it in my dark cellar for 2 or so years. I've not been a fan of barley wines so far, but this one might change my mind, as it was outstanding, very tasty with the 8% ABV very well hidden. Different bottle of beer in my home No. 1936

Tried from Bottle on 31 May 2025 at 20:46


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

500ml. bottle pour. @Arran Brewery, Arran (Scotland). 08/08/2023 [#6.704 Global - #238 Scotland - #6 Arran] Pours brown with a small creamy tan head. Aroma: ripe fruits, dried fruits and caramelly malts. Taste: toffee and dried fruits leading to a woody mouthfeel. Next one please!

Tried from Bottle on 06 Sep 2023 at 12:56


7.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle from the brewery shop. Deep orange-brown with a tall, fine head. Tangy, fruity nose, treacle, caramel, citrus and grassy hops, pine. Rich, malty, piny, citrus. Malty and slightly estery in the UK style, but hopped in the US way. Not heavy. Nicely fruity, raisin, plums. Good.

Tried from Bottle on 22 Aug 2023 at 15:41


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle 330ml. @ Craig’s House - Edinburgh. [ As Arran Sleeping Warrior ].Unclear dark brown amber color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, caramel, bread, dark malt, sweet malt, dried fruit. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and bitter with a long duration, bread, sweet malt, caramel, marmalade. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20160320] 7-3-7-3-14

Tried from Bottle on 02 Feb 2017 at 03:38


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

9th June 2016
Level 42 Bottleshare. Thanks to Paul. Light haze on this brown beer, patchy cream colour head. Palate is airy and fairly dry. Reasonable fine carbonation. Smooth cremy malts but there is a bit of dusty something as well. Some odd cellar dankness, not the hop kind of dankness. Ripe fruits, dried fruits and some bruised fruit. The finish brings a touch of wet wood and leaves a mild bitter linger. A mixed bag for sure but overall it was tasty enough.

Tried from Bottle on 21 Jun 2016 at 13:08


5.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Bottle shared on Level 42, 09/06/2016. Many thanks to Paul for this one. A mostly clear caramel brown coloured pour with a fading loose dirty head. Aroma is sweet funky fruits, plum, tangy raspberry, hint of funk, sweet caramel. Little musty on the nose. Flavour is composed of sweet, toffee caramel, powdery dusty, tangy apple. Some age. Palate is medium sweet, sticky, moderate carbonation, tangy dusty finish.

Tried from Bottle on 11 Jun 2016 at 06:03


5.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Bottle shared in London - many thanks to Paul. Pours clear golden brown with a frothy, beige head. Big nose, some tangy ripe fruits, caramel, wood, toffee, dates. The flavor is a bit sour, a bit boozy, a little acrid, has some really drying wood, ripe berries, earth. Medium to full bodied, oily, with fizzy carbonation. Lightly warming on the finish, mossy and earthy, with more woody dryness, tangy berries. So so.

Tried from Bottle on 09 Jun 2016 at 12:48


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Bottle shared at level 42. It pours hazy deep mahogany brown with a small off-white head. The rich, bitter - sweets, coal cubes, toffee, toasted brown sugar, sugared plums, marmite and wood. The taste is smooth, bitter - sweet, toasted action, sugared plums, toffee, dates, fruits cake, charred wood, leather and distant tang with a dry, woody finish. Medium body and fine carbonation, a bit chewy and boosty after a while. Fair.

Tried from Bottle on 09 Jun 2016 at 12:47


6.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle at Level 42, thanks to Paulo, 09/06/16. Chestnut to mahogany brown with a moderate beige swirl. Nose is soft fruits, toffee, nutty, sweet malt, light spice, light must, toasted brown sugar. Taste comprises toffee, lght herbal notes, wooded, spice, tangy fruits, faint yeast strains, noughat. Medium + body, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a light alocoholic kick. Ok ... not the most graceful but I could sip on this juan.

Tried from Bottle on 09 Jun 2016 at 12:46