Moments Before Impending Doom
What Our Editors Thought
“Caramel with marshmallow and a spirits-filled Christmas-store nose evoke particular memories while striking a unique pose. Rum-soaked panettone, aging barrel cellar, light buttered toast, and a pervasive woodiness that doesn’t overwhelm. The flavor evokes warmth with more buttery rum cake and a sharper boozy spirit edge that cuts the sweetness. Bold and unique.”
What Our Panel Thought
“An intoxicating dance of rich malt, booze sweetness, and richness in the aroma. Like a very complex cocktail, with some toffee and cigar in the background and a very pleasant semisweet finish. Sweet, woody, and bourbon in the nose, like a Manhattan. Murky dark amber or light brown in appearance. Very well integrated barrel flavor—the wood and spirits are a major component but don’t overpower the base barleywine, which is a pleasant, if sweet, caramel-forward classic English style in the vein of Hardy’s.”
What the Brewers Say
“A 2.5-year-old barleywine aged in rum barrels.”
