Old Ruffian Barley Wine
What a nice way to close a Monday evening... served at just over fridge temperature in an imperial pint glass, I've got a solid hour ahead of me to sample this gorilla. Appearance- This pours a fiery sunset orange, clear with just a hint of subtle haze. The head is a monstrous, fat four fingers that billows from beneath and doesn't *ever* go away. Five minutes later I'm still staring at a gargantuan beer... and the lacing is incredible. Clingy and sticky, this foam clearly has some abandonment issues. Two thumbs way the f**k up. Smell- I'm not sure how even the most learned, renowned expert would be able to differentiate this nose from a DIPA, but one thing's for sure... it's juicy, saturated, and sweet like a fresh squeezed grapefruit. There's definitely some malt and alcohol buried in there, but the hops are the main attraction. Taste- OK, now it's clear... where the aroma could've been mistaken with the nose of a big IPA, it wouldn't ever happen on the tongue's watch. Clearly a beautifully structured barleywine, the balance here is nothing short of exquisite. Upon entry into the mouth, there's the lush, malty caramel sweetness that preps the palate for something unexpected... almost immediately, the hops burst with their green, sudden attack and finish with a huge and everlasting bitterness. The wickedly deceiving strength soon kicks in, and the obligatory hop burps take their hold. Mouthfeel/Drinkability- A beer with balls of plutonium requires care in drinking it. This is *extremely* difficult to get a mouthful, explore its potential, and then swallow it... it's way too extreme for me personally. The texture is light and pleasantly prickly, leaning more towards thin than slick. But without a hunk of sharp cheddar or a friend to share this with, it's unimaginably rough to finish. This bomber is going to have to go to its grave with its pants still on... I love this beer, but don't expect it to play nice in the sandbox.