Once again, your ethanol-charged brewers at Cambridge Brewing Company have thrown caution to the wind in our annual effort to create the biggest, baddest, strongest, bestest beer around. Barleywines are generally the strongest style of ale, with an alcohol content to rival most wines. In fact, it is this high alcohol content coupled with extensive aging which contributes to the very complex nature of our Blunderbuss. A beverage such as this is meant to be savored and appreciated much like a fine brandy or cognac, or, in the world of wine, a fortified sherry or vintage port. (But a barleywine is all beer!)
The process of creating our barleywine begins by cramming our mash tun to overflowing - twice! - with American and Scottish pale malt and German Vienna malts. We then extract only the richest first runnings from each mash and boil extensively to further concentrate the sugars in the wort. During the boil a touch of honey is added to the kettle, along with Warrior, Simcoe, Centennial, Cascades, Columbus, and Amarillo hops to provide balance for the sweet malt. It is then fermented, dry-hopped, cold aged, then dry-hopped again with five more hop varieties before its release.
The result is well worth this painstaking ordeal. A lace of tan head rests atop this beautiful amber liquid. Captured within the rim of a snifter, the first aromas to greet the nose are of alcohol’s fruity esters, then notes of hops, rich caramel, and sweet malt. As it warms, more distinguishable notes of burnt sugar and toffee, vanilla, and spicy hops are detectable. The flavor more than meets the prelude of aromas. Its rich, full body contains myriad complex toasty malt, sweet caramel, tart flavors of berries and dried fruits and herbal hoppiness, followed by a warming alcohol sensation, and a lingering, dry-hop finish. This ultimate after-dinner drink pairs well with many desserts, but is also a dessert in and of itself.
We hope you enjoy this phenomenon of the beer world as much as we enjoy the annual process of brewing and nurturing this example of the brewers’ art.
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