Bourbon-infused barleywine with an unmistakable nod to contemporary American politics, a creaton by De Meester, enjoying quite a lot of popularity among the somewhat more educated beer drinker in Belgium. Thick and frothy, sparsely lacing, beaten egg-white, pillowy and fluffy, remarkably stable head on a misty deep mahogany brown robe with purplish-burgundy glow, looking much more like a quadrupel than a barleywine. Strong aroma of blueberry crumble, freshly baked cupcakes, raisin bread, sweet and clearly vanilla-tinged bourbon indeed but not too overwhelming, toffee, even a whiff of milk chocolate, nougat (strong even!), amaretto, 'broodpudding', cookie dough ice cream, pear, clove. Sweet onset, brown sugar sprinkled over ripe pear, blueberry and raisin flavours with a dash of baked banana, soft carbonation with indeed rather vinous, very full mouthfeel; slick, 'heavy' toffee-, nougat- and croissant dough-like malts with a thin chocolatey edge and a touch of sweet (Brazil) nuttiness, but also a quite pronounced toastiness, reminiscent of a Scotch. More bitterness comes from leafy hops in the end, adding something earthy too, and of course the bourbon, which eventually cannot resist to display everything I find annoying about this liquor-infusing hype (other than it being a cheap shortcut for actual barrel ageing), namely by being too present, adding an astringent booziness to the root of the tongue and overpowering the other elements in the finish. Sweetness does, however, linger, almost cola-like at a certain point, but certainly nougat- and caramel-like. I guess in respecting brewer's intent, one could show the kindness to call this a dark barleywine, but to me it feels much more like a quadrupel or even a Scotch (albeit in the maltier, fruitier, yeastier Belgian way) - if this deserves to be called a barleywine, then that goes for Gulden Draak, Kasteelbier or Verboden Vrucht as well... Other than style discussions, though, I must admit that this is a surprising ale, packed with taste, but absolutely one for those with a sweet tooth; the sweetness even cloys a bit, and the overdose of wry bourbon cannot cannot prevent that, it seems. Needs a bit of downtuning in sweetness and especially in bourbon, but with some refinement this could admittedly become a truly good slow sipper. Shows potential, I guess is what one says in such cases.

330 ml bottle. Pours a dark reddish brown with no head. Aromas of dark fruit, caramel, baked apples and soft sweet malt. Flavors follow same with some addtional subtle bourbon. Sweet but not cloying. A little light and easy drinking for a barley wine but still quite good.