Barleywine 2010
A: Reddish brown opaque beer with tan head. The head looks creamy, has really good retention and lacing. S: Yoonisaykul described the aroma pretty perfectly. To quote him: "Smells very good. Rose water and Bottlecaps candy. Some of the most delicate Barleywine smell I've encountered. Root beer. Little bit of woodiness in the back." I'd only add that there seemed to have fresh mint in the smell as well as some caramel. T: This is where the problem is at. Massively sweet with a very very strong caramel malt backbone followed by vanilla and maple syrup. As with their Belgian IPA, there is really a big imbalance between bittering hops and aroma hops. Way too bitter for the sake of the beer. The hops are very dry, herbal and earthy, which do not fit at all with the big sweetness of the beer. Also, too much alcohol in the taste. Some molasses, woody tannins, nuts and leather. M: Sticky medium body with medium to heavy carbonation (stinging like carbonation). Really off base here, would need more like an heavy and smooth carbonation which would have might reduced the perceived intensity of the bittering hops. O: A beer I won't have ever again. Not impressed at all with this beer except for the fantastic smell.