Brickstone Brewery (Bourbonnais, IL)
( http://www.brickstonebrewery.com/ )
Barleywine; Barrel-aged. Limited Reserve Series (2017)
14.2% ABV
Barrel Aging is the Bacon of the Beer world. It makes good things better. A barrel aged barleywine? I'm game. Give me a long and unstructured winter evening, a comfy chair, a remote control, and my notebook, please.....
Served from a 22oz. bomber, poured into a 33cl goblet. Pours dark amber, with little head that disspates quickly, not uncommon for stronger, aged beers. Modest aromas make me think I should have let it warm a bit before I poured it, but you do get a whiff of barrel and rich malt. Feel is rich but not syrupy. Flavors are characteristic of a barleywine, caramel/toffee-like, starting slightly sweet, with a little alcohol warmth from the high gravity, and finishing with a lingering bitterness. Barrel aging has allowed the taste to mature without adding too much oak. Overall a respectable but not amazing example of an American barleywine. With the price of a bomber nearing $20 at some retailers, you might want to try others first.
My Rating: 4.0 / 5
Untappd: 4.02 / 5
Prost!
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