Backburner (Imperial Barley Wine Style Ale)
Poured from a bomber bottle into a tulip glass. A: A dark reddish orange color with a thin off white head. Nice glass lacing. S: Dark fruits, sweetness and floral herby hops. T: First hint is dark fruits with some floral herby spicy hops, then the malt honey caramel sweetness flows in. A bit spicy but the sweetness overtakes the hops to the point of being cloying IMO. Finish is sweet and really over the top. Where are all the dark dried fruit flavors I love in my barleywines? M: Medium with a coating prickly mouthfeel. Some bitterness but sweetness is lingering. D: Low, this wore on me at the end of the bomber. Overall this barleywine just didn't do it for me. Too honey sweet and not enough dark fruit flavors. I'll take an Old Guardian, Bigfoot, Old Ho or Old Ruff over this any day. Sorry, misses the mark for me.