What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Vanilla, caramel, rummy spice notes. Light coconut and cocoa, mild tobacco. The party is a little subdued by oxidation that hovers between cardboard and sherry.”
Flavor: “Dark fruits, leather, a little tobacco. Plenty of vanilla character from the barrel. Some rum-like molasses and spice. Nice alcohol support, with lots of esters. Strong bourbon/rum avor. Oxidation is more sherry than cardboard. Sweet and smoky—the barrel character is pleasant but sometimes overpowers the base beer.”
Overall: “Malt is good but not overly complex. The vanilla from the bourbon barrel grows a lot as it warms. More malt complexity and dialing back the barrel character could take this beer to the next level.”
What the Brewers Say
“Our first Anniversary barleywine, was born out of the spirit and ethos of this brewery: no boundaries, no limits, punk as f**k. Aged for a year in bourbon barrels, it’s hardly something to take lightly.”
