Schooner's Olde Woody Barleywine

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

I have probably had this beer, in all its various vintages and permutations twenty times in the last 5 years. After sampling the 2004 edition at the April Northern California Beer Tasting I realized I have never rated this gem. Sorry to Sean and Craig, but I will now rectify this situation. This barley wine poured a amber gold color from the bottle, Small sized white foamy head. The aroma was caramel, brown sugar and dark fruit. A medium to full bodied Barleywine. The malts are caramel, toffee and fruity. Sweet but not cloying. The hops are earthy. Very smooth. Lots of complexity is this beer, there are hint of oak, vanilla and dark fruit. Hides the alcohol very well, there is that warming feeling and a touch of alcohol bite but not much. Excellent beer. This stuff ages wonderfully. Mouthfeel is very full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Another extraordinary brew from the guys at Schooners. This is a HUGE friggin' beer. There is nothing small about it. Enormous malt bill, with a woody nose too. Very soft mouthfeel that is incredibly misleading. The alcohol is hidden somewhere. Flavor is woody, whisky, toffe/caramelish. There's notes in there that I'm not even sure what they are. I don't really care either because this is one fantastic beer that should be enjoyed and not anylyzed. Wow!