on tap-pours a retaining thin light brown head and dark brown color. Aroma is medium malt-licorice. Taste is medium malt-licorice/cocoa/some coffee, faint hops. OK/mild carbonation.

on tap-pours a light tan head that bubbles and copper color. Aroma is sweet medium malt, yeast. Taste is sweet medium malt-bubblegum, yeast, peat. OK/mild carbonation.

Draught pint at the brewpub on 3/21/2007, about 3 hours after the previous 3 beers
Dark beige-amber with some rusty-golden hues and a small, beige head that recedes to a ring. Clarity is high with moderate carbonation.
Munich malt sweetness is strong, with plenty of breadiness and a high amount of melanoidins, creating a very boisterous fruitiness of golden raisins, prunes and nectarines. Moderate acidity can be felt from the nose. Basically it’s their modified bock, amped up a little and is right on the borderline between pale and dark. Careful lagering shows, as there is no flaw to be found, nor any alcohol present. Lots of breadiness and acidity though. Could use some stronger hoppiness to break things up and give a bit more lively nose. As is, there’s only a touch of earthy hops. Still, a very well-executed doppelbock that, despite the style demanding it, I still think goes a bit overboard on the maltiness. Gets a little sluggish/sloppy. Good strength to the aroma, however.
Breadiness and melanoidins are most of the flavor profile, with heavy sweet/sourness from the munich malt and an undertone of very sweet, simple caramel. Interesting acidity on the finish dries things out to some extent, while pleasant yellow fruitiness (golden raisins and even a light citric element) provides more complexity. But the melanoidins and breadiness seem to overwhelm, and as this is just their house yeast at lager temperatures (ale yeast), there isnt any of the lager yeast crispness to be found. Hallertauer hops would be very welcome here. Instead it seems like it’s something like crystal or spalt/strusselspalt. Too much earthiness piled on to the breadiness. No flaws or alcohol noted. Moderate carbonation, smooth, malty texture.

Draught snifter at the brewpub on 3/21/07
Thin wisp of tan head vanishes immediately. Body is dark, cocoa brown but has a strong maroon tint to it. Clarity is medium-low.
No hops in the nose. That’s a relief. What is this, one of ten malt-focused barleywines brewed in the United States? Nice to see something different for a change. Spicy phenols (cinnamon, clove) and light notes of Spanish coffee congregate on the nose, but are dispersed by thick, gooey-sweet malts that deliver notes of raisins, prunes and milk chocolate. There’s a strong vanilla note mixing with light alcohol that helps dry things out on the end while the overall strength of the aroma is medium. Chocolate covered raisins, with almost a bourbon-like spiciness are released much more strongly, upon warming and the beer gains a lot of character.
I’ve got to say after about 2 sips all I could think of was Lost Abbey’s Angel’s Share. It’s got the huge, thick, chewy-sweet dark malt profile with tons of chocolate, raisins and toffee, that’s for sure. But on top of that, this one seems to gather plenty of bourbon/brandy-like character as well (not sure from where). Must just be the interplay of phenol, alcohol and sweet malt, but is has that very flavorful, vanilla dryness with lots of rich woody character. It definitely stuck with me through the rest of the glass. Very low carbonation, but still enough to give a bit of zestiness to the otherwise incredibly sluggish palate. Obviously not the mouthfeel that the bottle conditioned Angels Share has, but nice for a brewpub draught beer. Some burnt/char notes emerged on the end as well, adding a light acidity that further helped attempt to balance the malt. But the toffee lays on thickly as the beer warms, with a slight syrupiness as well, that defies much of the balance. Alcohol and phenols coarse through it, giving some complexity while light prunes and strong raisins further intensify the toffee-caramel sweetness. I enjoyed it quite thoroughly, despite it being quite sweet. I really think these are the best barleywines (the toffee and raisin combo, with no hops and plenty of interesting yeast character). I just wish I could try Angels Share before it’s barrel-aged.

Draught pint at the brewpub on 3/21/07
Unlike usual, this one actually had a head (small, dark tan) and showed light lacing (slight ring at the top). Body is a very deep dark-brown mahogany but shows magenta highlights on the edges. Clarity is medium.
Controlled roastiness nicely melds with layers of both dark and milk chocolate to create a very lovely complexity and ample malty aroma. Quite a high strength of aroma, as well, being served from a shaker at a crowded brewpub and quite cold to start. Light vanilla and just a hint of licorice-infused coffee dot the finish, adding a bit of poignancy. Soft, mossy/earthy hoppiness adds freshness and further complexity without any bitterness or acids. No alcohol or flaws in the nose.
Deliciously rich body is surprising for its gravity. Strong, unfiltered mouthfeel with medium-low carbonation really accentuates the malt, and there’s lots of malt. Mostly chocolatey, but with a dry roasted edge to balance and just a pinch of char and coffee on the finish. Opens up very sweet, but pleasingly so, with light hop bitterness adding to the roast to further balance things. Very velvety, chocolatey and smooth with no alcohol or flaws apparent. Never gets syrupy, sticky or even very chewy, which helps keep the drinkability high. Drank this one down quickly. Nothing groundbreaking on the flavor or aroma, but one of the better balances between rich malt and easier drinkability I’ve come across recently.

Draught pint at City Steam on 3/21/2007
Moderately hazy, golden body has strong amber-auburn highlights and a small, quickly receding white head that leaves behind no lacing.
Strong hoppiness in the nose is wet and juicy, but seems to have to work a bit too hard at freeing itself from the malt behind it. Sweet caramel malts add a strong sugariness that really lessens the impact of the hops and creates too much interplay, leading to a candied orange-like nose. Some lemon-grapefruit notes break free on the finish, and begin to dry things out, while a distinct amarillo catty/hay/grassiness lingers on (actually seemed pleasant here). I appreciate that there was a solid malt backbone, and I think, within reason, too much is better than too little (creating what essentially smells/tastes like hop juice/tea), but for perfection’s sake, it needs less malt sweetness. No alcohol noted, nor any flaws.
Sweet maltiness in the flavor is immediately balanced by a strong showing of bitterness, though not going overboard, and certainly not too acidic. This wonderful hop seems to always impress me with its ability to create tons of aroma and flavor without all the obnoxious acidity. But as in the aroma, a bit too much pale/caramel sweetness wears on the palate, disturbing the light orange-lime-mango notes that are otherwise so delightful in this hop. Seems to be too much yeast and/or sediment still left in the beer, as well, as evidenced by the haziness, but also the lack of head retention and most importantly, a somewhat slippery/slick mouthfeel. Unfiltered dosent have to mean hazy, still think this stuff would be better bright. Enjoyable drinking, though, with no flaws or alcohol in the flavor. Low carbonation.

on tap-pours a creamy brown head that laces with brown color. Aroma is dark malt, chocolate. Taste is dark malt, chocolate, coffee. A light sharpness, vinegar like, without the taste. Medium body.

on tap-pours without a head. Color is dark brown with red tint and effervescence. Aroma is dark malt. Taste is very dark malt, medium bodied. Minimum carbonation.

on tap-pours without a head and with copper color with effervescence. Aroma is very sweet, fruit, malt. Taste is plum, sweet, syrupy, lots of medium malt. Finishes with good carbonation. Too sweet for me on a regular basis, OK for one & sipping it.

on tap-pours a creamy, light brown head that laces with black color. Aroma is cocoa, dark malt. Taste is cocoa, coffee, dark malt, bitter, dry. OK carbonation. Not my taste.