Pike Old Bawdy Barley Wine
Expected big things from this beer. The recipe is from the men who "wrote the book" on barley wines: the Classic Beer Styles from the Association of Brewers (Fal Allen and Dick Cantwell). Served in a snifter with a very thin, white head. Dark gold color and just a bit hazy. Big malty aroma with some Englishy hops. Taste is perfect for barley wine. Quite close to Old Ruffian with nicely balanced hop bitterness and a huge malt base. The flavor lingers on the tongue and leaves an aftertaste of hops. A very big beer! Mouthfeel also was right on. Good body, texture and carbonation. Lightly carbonated as you would expect for a high-gravity brew. This is a sipping beer; not the kind you swill down in big gulps. Perfect for a cloudy Seattle winter.