Monthly Archives: October 2019

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Barleywine - American, Beer Reviews, Brouwerij De Molen x Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, Netherlands

De Molen x Hair of the Dog Binkie Claws BA Almond

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Brewery: Brouwerij De Molen x Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Country: Netherlands
ABV: 11.2%
Style: American Barleywine
Other Notes: Malts – Pils, Crystal and Caramel. Hops – Simcoe and Colombus. Adjuncts – Honey and Almond Extract

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Doggie Claws Almond Bourbon Barrel Aged. BA Barley Wine-ish.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.88
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 330ml waxed bottle, bottled on 6th March 2018, and with a best before date of 6th March 2023. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A deep dark copper amber colour with a thin beige head that sticks around while leaving fine spotty lacing.
Aroma: Marzipan, almond flakes, caramel and alcohol.
Taste: Sweet, marzipan, cherry, almond, caramel, brown sugar, syrupy and boozy.
Mouthfeel: Chewy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: I don’t know, I’m a bit unsure about this one. I’d enjoy one sip and the next sip would be just ok, and I’d keep flipping between the two throughout the whole drink. A strange one for me. After finishing, and much thinking throughout the sipping, I think that the almond was maybe too overpowering, and that it made it taste too pastry like for me.

4 - Good (buy), Barleywine - American, Beer Reviews, England, Siren Craft Brew

Siren Maiden 2016

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Brewery: Siren Craft Brew
Country: England
ABV: 11.2%
Style: American Barleywine
Other Notes: 2016 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The first batch brewed at Siren was to provide the base for our first annual release. This barley wine has been aged in many different barrels, and then using expertise from the wine and whisky world, blended into what stands before you in this bottle. The first brew of 2016 is now the base for the next year’s release.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.11
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 375ml waxed bottle, 2016 vintage. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A dark reddish brown copper colour with a thin beige head that stuck around for a bit and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet and boozy, caramel, toffee, red wine, dark fruit, raisin and prunes.
Taste: Moderately sweet, light roast, vinous, red wine, dark fruits, raisin, prunes, and a touch of caramel.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Nice complex flavours. A good sipper.

4 - Good (buy), Barleywine - English, Beer Reviews, Brouwerij Kees x Brouwerij De Molen, Netherlands

Kees x De Molen Frick & Frack

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Brewery: Brouwerij Kees x Brouwerij De Molen
Country: Netherlands
ABV: 11.3%
Style: English Barleywine
Other Notes: Malts – Pale Smoke and Pale Crystal. Hops – Cascade and Bramling Cross

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Smokey Barleywine.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.32
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 330ml bottle, batch 17.28, with a best before date of December 2022. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A clear copper amber colour with a one finger beige head that had pretty good retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Malty, smoky, bacon, fruity, cherry, grape, prunes, raisin with hints of caramel.
Taste: Sweet-ish, smoky, bacon, caramel, toffee, honey, sugar syrup, cherry and prunes.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Surprisingly good since I’m not a fan of Barleywines. But this was very smooth and the sweetness was balanced really well by the smoke.

4 - Good (buy), Barleywine - American, Beer Reviews, Bell’s Brewery Inc., USA

Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale

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Brewery: Bell’s Brewery Inc.
Country: USA
ABV: 10.2%
Style: American Barleywine

Brewer Description: (from bottle) An ale for those who appreciate complexity and vintage character. Fill a snifter and enjoy it now or commit some bottles to the cellar to test your patience.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.24
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. bottle, batch 13615, packaged on 30th October 2014, so almost 5 years. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A careful pour leaving much of the sediment in the bottle, it was a deep copper amber colour with no head but some sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Malty, sweet, dried berries, dark fruit, blackcurrant, plum, prunes, fig, caramel, syrupy and a touch floral.
Taste: Moderately sweet, dark fruit, plum, prunes, raisins, fig, caramel, brown sugar, candied orange liqueur and a hint of mixed berries.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Yes, definitely pleasantly surprised by this as it has aged well. I’m pretty sure I meant to drink this earlier, but I simply forgot about it. In any case I’m not a huge fan of Barleywines, but this was a very nice sipper with great complexity.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, England, Stout - Russian Imperial, The Kernel Brewery

The Kernel Imperial Brown Stout London 1856

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Brewery: The Kernel Brewery
Country: England
ABV: 9%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: ABV varies among batches

Brewer Description: Not much other descriptions I could find.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.21
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottled on 5th February 2016 and with a best before date of 5th February 2021. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A dark dark brown colour with a reddish hue and a thin tanned head that disappeared quickly but left lots of nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, milk chocolate, caramel, coffee, chocolate milk, with hints of nuts and dark fruit.
Taste: Roasty, chocolate, coffee, chocolate milk, slight bitterness, hint of dark fruit and char.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Body was perhaps lighter than I prefer, but despite this, it was still very enjoyable and great to sip.