Backburner (Imperial Barley Wine Style Ale)
A new barleywine from Southern Tier??? I've been pretty impressed with their big beers since they became available here so I had to try it. Here goes. 22 Ounce bomber bottle poured into a snifter glass. A - Very nice look. A dark mahogany that glows a bright red when held up to light. Two finger head of cream colored foam, probably due to hard pour. Head has some staying power. S - Hops coming up here along with some sugary smell. T - A whole lot of fruity/sweet malt flavors here. This brew really has the flavors of an English Barleywine. The alcohol is well hidden in the taste. Lots of sweetness. M - A nice chewy, thick sticky feel. D - I found the sugary flavors to be a bit overdone. Still pretty good if you're looking for a really sweet barleywine. Notes: This one's gotta be mislabeled. It's an American brew but it's got the characterstics of an English BW. Still quite tasty.