Brimstone Big Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Bottled October 1999; Sampled February 2008
A vigorous pour produces a scant, quarter-finger thick, frothy, tan colored head. The beer is a brilliantly clear, light cranberry color when held up to the light, but is otherwise a dark amber hue. Aromas of aged malt, sherry, a slight woodiness, intense berry aromas and even some cherry are all quite noticeable. The aroma, while clearly aged is quite agreeable and makes me think of a fruit spiked sherry. This really has a vibrant fruit character to it right now. I am really digging the aged character of this brew right now, the mix of sherry and fruit is certainly interesting and even a bit unexpected.

Lightly sweet flavors meld with a fairly substantial body here; this is clearly a sipping brew. The alcohol is quite well hidden at this point. The malt has aged into a chewy, almost meaty / brothy quality (think umami) that adds a richness to this brew. Slight flavors of sherry, perhaps a touch of wet cardboard (more so in the finish), a husk-like grain character and a definite nuttiness are all part of the aged character of this brew. The fruitiness is not nearly as intense as it was in the aroma. The upfront sweetness is actually fairly fleeting, really this has a rich brothiness to it and even a touch of tartness towards the middle and end. A light carbonation is still quite present and provides a mellow offset to the rich body of this brew.

This is clearly still well within the suggested best by date of ten years. This has held up fairly well and is definitely worth the experience; this will remain quite drinkable for many years to come, though I am not certain it will get any better, just different.

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

ruby in colour with a little head and no lacing; cinnamon and alcohol aroma, very sweet and quite full-bodied; cherry and dry aftertaste - a solid, pleasant beer

Aroma: 0 | Appearance: 0 | Mouthfeel: 0 | Flavor: 0 | Overall: 0

I would rate this one as a strong English ale rather than a barleywine. It has a fuller mouthfeel than a barleywine and is not as sweet.