Really nice but it took the full 4 pack to really grow on me. Its hard not to compare this to guinness and so it presents initially as drier, roastier, and the roasted malt really comes through. A very different less sweet profile than Guiness. But after the 2nd one I thought "yea I want some more of that" and found myself happily taking down the 4th one. Cans from Cavallari Gourmet, Oviedo FL. Not sure its entirely worth the $16.99 price tag for the 4 pack but hey.

My can (from UCF Publix Oviedo FL) is just labeled Graphic IPA with no mention of "hybrid" but everything I can find online suggests there is no variant, its all the same beer, so I'm putting this rating here. Golden color, slight chill haze, really presents more as a west coaster than anything else and thats fine by me! Nose is a bit of citrus rind, some tropical fruit. Flavor gets more resin and grapefruit, lingering bitterness is nice. Malts are dry, bready, crackery. Clean overall, light to med bodied and exceptionally drinkable. This sixer will likely disappear before it gets even mildly acquainted with the inside of my fridge.

Wow I sure am glad I bought this. I've been staying away from the high priced barrel aged stuff because mostly its not worth it to get a beer that I will only sort of like but there I'm really just referring to the glut of over the top stouts esp the pastry stouts. But when I saw this wasn't that, just a barleywine and stout combo, I figured I'd give it a go, and yea. First the barleywine side of this is really the dominant presence, it has an old ale character that sort of reminds me of Thomas Hardy's Ale but its been so long since I've had one of those. Figgy for sure. Lots of dark fruit, fairly sweet but balanced by a nutty figgy oaky presence. The oak or bourbon elements are overall pretty restrained but that just means this is a nicely balanced beer as far as big big beers go - as in, no one component dominates. For $35 for the smallish bottle I'm not sure I can say it's worth that, but its a really good beer nonetheless. Dark murky brown color, initial brown head faded super fast.