Gratitude
I've been lucky enough to receive 2 bottles (2006 vintage) of this from 2 very generous BA's jasonm, and EGledhill. Thanks again guys! This one is the most recent bottle I got from EGledhill, bottle 1208 of 1300. I have been waiting for a reason to open this one. And I don't know why, but tonight seemed like a good night to do it. Very attractive paper coated bottle, with nice artwork of a bird on the front. I've had a handful of bottles from this brewery, and they have always been beautiful looking bottles. Pours a dark and cloudy amber color with a big rocky off white head. Aromas are great, and very powerful. Noticed them from the pop of the bottle. Smell is of oak, booze, stewed ripe dark fruits, and some bready and cereal sweet malts. Taste is surprisingly dry and crisp, but still very powerful. There is a very spicy oak flavor up front, a full creamy cereal and grainy malt taste, and slightly sweet. Finish is a bit boozy, but not at all overboard, with some ripe dark fruit flavors and a subtle earthy hop bite on the finish. A well balanced and interesting barleywine. Mouthfeel is not bad, but not quite my style with the strong crispness and overly dry feel, but not at all bad. Drinkability is very good. This is an exceptional beer that could probably sit a few more years in the cellar.