Name: Old Crustacean

Brewer: Rogue

Style: Barleywine

Vintage: 2006

Cellared On: September 21, 2007

Original Tasting: October 28, 2007

Trust me here - prepare yourself before you take your fist sip of this beer. Close your eyes, take a deep breath. Clear you mind, and try to be ready for the assault on your taste buds that Old Crustacean is about to deliver. This is one big beer that delivers a huge hoppy blast.

Old Crustacean (or OC from now on) also has to be one of the best looking beers I’ve ever poured. It’s a beautiful dark ruby red in the glass, and the surprisingly high levels of carbonation built a thick cream-colored head on top. Wisps of sweet (honey?) malt smells rose up, carrying along with them a bouquet of floral hops.

My first impression of this brew as I sipped was very much in line with other barelywines - sweet malts with flavors of caramel, honey, and dark fruits. But then the bitterness comes crashing in, and completely dominates the party. We’re talking slam-your-head-in-the-wall bitterness that rivals any IPA out there. I would say that the hoppy flavor adds a certain citrus quality to the beer, it impresses me as somewhat lemony. The body here is thick and somewhat syrupy. As the beer finishes, some warming alcohol starts to come in, but that too is quickly overwhelmed by the astonishing bitterness.

This was a great beer to try, I absolutely loved it. I wish the price was lower (cost me around $16.00), but it was definitely worth it.

Six Month Tasting: April 2nd, 2008

OC is still one heck of a bitter beer after six months. The malts (with dark fruit, caramel flavors, and a thick syrupy body) seemed to be more prominent now - but not too much. There’s no doubt that citrusy hops are still ruling here. There’s the slightest hint of papery oxidation on the very bitter finish, but it’s barely noticeable, and doesn’t take anything away from the great, complex flavor of this brew.

Cellar Outlook: OC has been known to cellar very well. Yes, the hops will diminish over time, but there is plenty of malty flavor to come to the front as the bitterness pulls back here. I can’t wait to see how the flavor profile of this beer progresses.

Six Month Cellar Outlook: Even though the slight oxidation on the finish worries me a bit, this brew should continue to progress just fine. I can’t wait for the malt flavors to assert themselves as the bitterness subsides.

Next Tasting: September 2008

Jason

jason@brewbasement.com

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