26th July 2011
Opaque black - brown beer. Good sized fluffy pale tan head. Nice oaky nose. With 7 years worth of Jewbelation blended I was expecting a thick black tar of a beer, but the palate is surprisingly light. Also smooth and soft. Nice oaky vanilla dark malt with mild coffee. Creamy malt and a little rye spice. Sweet mild whisky. Subtle generic fruits in the undertone. Smooth finish. Really nicely joined up and very drinkable.

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled 9/7/2011. Pours an extremely dark brown/almost black color; with a 1 finger foamy khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a ring of lace and spotty bubbles that linger. Slight foamy lacing on the glass, but at 13.4%, this is expected. Aromas of big caramel, raisin, prune, fig, toast, toffee, grape, molasses, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, oak, earth, leather, and light rye spiciness; slight alcohol as it warms. Damn nice aromas with great complexity and balance of maltiness and barrel character. Taste of huge toffee, caramel, raisin, prune, fig, molasses, toast, oak, bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, earth, tobacco, leather, and light rye spiciness. Minimal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of toffee, toast, raisin, prune, fig, caramel, molasses, oak, bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, leather, and light rye spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity of malty flavors with a great complimenting balance of the barrel character; with nearly zero cloying flavors noticed after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and very full bodied; with a very creamy, slick, and fairly syrupy mouthfeel that is fantastic. Alcohol is insanely well hidden at 13.4% with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly fantastic barrel aged barleywine with fruit juices! The flavors from the fruit juices are not overpowering, and the malt complexity of the barelywine is highly complex. Very smooth to sip on as well for the gravity. An incredibly enjoyable offering.

A dark reddish brown ale with a thin dark brown head. In aroma, beautiful dark fruits, molasses, chocolate, woody notes and licorice. Wow! In mouth, a smooth licorice laden vinous malt with plums, bitter herbs, ricolla, tons of alcohol, yet balanced. On tap at Datz, Dec. 9 2012.

22oz bomber pours with a really dark brown body that supports an impressive lasting half inch mocha colored head of foam. The aroma is boozy, chocolate, faint toffee and then date to fig esteriness as well as some black strap molasses and a mild hodge podge of earthy-piny-sugary citrus hops. The taste is slick and sweet to start with. I get dark roasted malts, spicy black strap molasses, chocolate and oven burnt brownies to go along with some sweet dates, prunes and figs. To midway and on to the finish modestly bitter hops are joined by some booziness that helps out the other notes to close out the sipping experience. 16%, a real sipper. Nice stuff where the hops are more noticeable than prior editions.