Odell Brewing Company - India Barley Wine

Darker copper color, with a light brown head that laced slightly in the glass. Some sweet malts presenting as banana, but the primary aroma is from the hops, grapefruit mostly. Taste is crisp pine followed with sweetness and some alcohol. Initially very carbonated but by the second pour carbonation was mostly gone. Enjoyable beer, abv limits repeatability, though i will drink again. Would like to try this aged several more months.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.7%

Avery Brewing Company - Hog Heaven Barley Wine

Deep dark copper color, clear, with ample tan head and some minimal lacing on my snifter. Great pine and citrus aromas, followed with some definite malt sweetness. Taste is again hoppy with pine and grapefruit, followed by some brown sugar and caramel on the finish. Great feel, with a nice carbonation, and some oiliness on the finish. Overall great, very balanced beer with great character, abv the only thing keeping this from sessionability.

Rating: Best

ABV: 9.2%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

2010 Vintage poured a golden brown into a tumbler, head was average with minimal lacing. Aroma is very well balanced, with sweet malts and citrus hops leading the charge. Taste is nicely balanced as well, good sweetness from the malts with some citrus flavors on the finish. Medium to full bodied feel, little syrupy, with some oilyness to complete. Very drinkable Barleywine with great characteristics.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.6%

Lagunitas Brewing Company - Olde Gnarleywine

Poured from the bottle into a goblet. A dark ruby color with a one finger tan head that dissipated quickly. Laced pretty well throughout. Initial alcohol aroma doesn't last long, as the malts take over. Flavors have an initial strong malt but the hops balance nicely on the finish. Feel is definitely warm from the alcohol with some distinct oiliness in this medium-bodied beer. Overall very good barleywine with great balance and appropriate flavorings.

ABV: 11.0%

Rating: Better

Great Divide Brewing Company - Old Ruffian Barley Wine

Poured an amber-brown almost copper color with ample tan head that dissipated quickly to a crown. Very balanced aromas with the malts and alcohol leading the way and a bit of a hoppy citrus following. Malty backbone in the flavor that follows with the piney hops and alcohol. Chewey medium bodied feel with a bit of crispness and definite alcohol warming. Everything is as it should be with a great balance, relatively smooth feel and a nice warm finish.

Rating: Best

ABV: 10.2%

Stone Brewng - Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2009

Poured a nice caramel/amber color with a light tan head and good retention. Laced pretty well, with the head dissipating to a nice crown and a bubbly island in the middle. Sweet malts on the nose, with some fruity hop presence. Tasty sweet maltiness gives way to some alcohol spiciness. Feels well with light carbonation tickling the palate, and some oiliness on the finish. Drinkable for the style though the ABV prevents mass consumption.

Rating: Better

ABV: 11.3%

Avery Brewing Company - Hog Heaven Barley Wine

Poured from the bottle into a rounded tumbler. Pours a deep dark copper color, clear, with ample tan head and some minimal lacing. Great pine and citrus aromas, followed with some definite malt sweetness. Again hoppy with pine and grapefruit, followed by some brown sugar and caramel on the finish. Light carbonation with a medium bodied feel, some oiliness on the finish. Very balanced with great character, abv the only thing keeping this from sessionability

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.2%