Blithering Idiot
From a 12 oz bottle with no freshness date into a chalice, it's a plum wine color with a small fizzy cap and ring. Any hint of carbonation quickly fades leaving only a tracing around the edges of the pour. On the nose there are hints of alcohol and yeasty banana bread. In the mouth, it's immediately clear that alcohol will be a major factor as it's warm right up front, preceding the sweet malt and bananas flavor with some cherries or other dark fruit muddled in there. Fairly dry with a healthy dose of warming alcohol that blankets any other flavors. Definite alcohol burn at the end. Mouth is smooth with a hint of thin syrup and fine carbonation, but a bit too watery overall. Drinkability is so-so; other than the alcohol there's not much to bring me back. Overall: I'm sure this barley wine would age well, but I don't cellar beer so it's lost on me. As it is, alcohol is too pervasive and overwhelming, killing what might otherwise be a very good brew. Worth a try.