Alaskan Brewing 2007 Barleywine Ale - Tasting and Aging Notes
By jason on Feb 7, 2008 in Barleywines & Strong Ales, Reviews
Name: Alaskan Barleywine Ale
Brewer: Alaskan Brewing Company
Style: Barleywine
Vintage: 2007
Cellared On: February 1st, 2008
Original Tasting: February 8th, 2008
Talk about a beer that has a lot going for it! Just consider the following.
Take a brewery renowned for it’s quality. Add in its multiple-award winning barleywine. Be sure to consider the fact that this is the very first time that said beer has ever been bottled. And did I mention that this brew has been cellared in an abandoned gold mine, of all places?
Let me present to you the first bottled vintage of the Alaskan barleywine. Dark oak-brown in color, this beer had almost no carbonation to it. Big hoppy smells greeted me as I poured, smelling of both pine and citrus.
A big malty sweetness filled my mouth as I sipped - not too overwhelming of a sweetness, yet still enhanced with notes of dates and raisins. The malt flavors smoothly gave way to a burst of piney hops which quickly dominated the beers flavor profile. The long finish started off bitter but gradually gave way to the sweet malts (with maybe a touch of chocolate?). This is a very well crafted beer, extremely complex, and very easy to drink.
Cellar Outlook: High in alcohol, with a big malty base, this barleywine should be great for years to come.
Next Tasting: August 2008
Jason
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