Green Flash 2nd Anniversary Ale 2004

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

I enjoyed this. The 2nd time I've had a Green Flash product and this time it was actually pretty darn good. A nice hoppy, piney aroma, a sweet( albeit thin and watery in the mouth) taste with a nice hoppy citrus bite to it with a mark of alcohol to it. I definitely enjoyed it.

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

Bottle #4507 out of 6000.

I've had some decidely mixed feelings about this brewery, to be honest. I mean, I know I should be throwing my love around as many deserving local breweries as possible -- especially the ones such as Green Flash, that come from a diehard homebrewing background. But with a rather dull line-up of beers, it made it hard for me to take this outfit all that seriously.

But for the most part, I've only recently learned to at least throw this brewery some respect, with generally improved offerings showing up in their roster. And while I don't recall being overally impressed (or disappointed) with this particular Anniversary offering when I had it at the San Diego Strong Ale Festival, I have to admit that it's much more interesting that expected -- and a good value for $5.49/22-oz bomber.

Wonder how old this really is? Or, rather, how long it was aged at the brewery before seeing the light of day? Has a rather appealing wine-y vibe, that I have to admit that I kinda like to see in Barleywines.

Hops? Yep. Lots. Can't venture to guess the varities, though the standard here in San Diego county has been an even mix of Chinook and Centennial. Last year's anniversary was made with Hallertau and Chinook, and I don't think this is too far from that.

At least I feel confident is saying that this isn't simply the 2003 Anniversary aged a year and rebottled as the 2004. Much more interesting and refined than that particular off-kilter mish-mash of a beer, IMO....

Big in the malt body, the hop bill, in the mouthfeel, and in the entire charcater of the beer -- but not too unweildly, overall. An approachable Barleywine, which may turn-off some die-hard fans of the style -- and I highly doubt that it would cellar very well -- but for me, I think it works for the here-and-now.

A brewery I've slowly warmed up to over the past two years. Here's hoping that Green Flash continues to spread it's wings...

Music: Halford's "Resurrection".
//TB

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Poured a reddish brown color with a small, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of lots of caramel malt, dried fruits, tobacco, and wood. Taste of citrus, chewy caramel malts, nuts, bitter citrus hops, and a nice alcohol burn.

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

22 oz bottle. Bottle #1609 of 6000. Very dark amber read color. Medium sized tan foamy head. Strong long lasting lacing. Aroma is dark fruit, dark malt and sweet. A medium bodied Barley wine. Malts are fruity, caramel and sweet. Hops are grapefruit and piney. Nice balance. A maltier barley wine. The 10% alcohol is only slightly noticeable. Nice sipping beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

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

This barley wine pours with an amber body topped by a medium thick head with some lacing. The aroma is slightly sweet adn caramelly/toffeeish with a slight grapefruit note and a touch of alcohol. The flavor is sweet and malty with candy sugar notes and a nice hoppy bitterness. Full bodied and dry.