Iron Hill Old Tom Barleywine

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

This barleywine pours a medium brown color forma 750ml bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is brown sugar, molasses and brown sugar. Medium bodied barley wine. Malts are caramel and sweet. Hops are earthy and floral. Nice carbonation. Good balance. Hides the 10% alcohol fairly well, there is a touch of a bite at the finish. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

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

Had a 4 oz sample from their sampler (so not the best foundation for a review)...but I thought this was very good. Strong alcohol aroma but the taste was surprisingly smooth...especially compared to the other barleywines I've had. They do it right at Iron Hill. Very good...I'd have this one again.

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

Not a bad beer at all. Not aged. Poured a dark red-brown color with a noticeable but not overpowering head (more than I expected at 10% ABV). Aorma was sweet, alcohol, with a slight flowery hoppy touch. Hops were not prominent in the flavor, which was malty with a touch of alcohol. I enjoyed the malt balance more than SN's Bigfoot.

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

Not only did I get to drink this on a working day during lunch, my boss paid for it! It's a good thing this was the only beer I drank or I wouldn't have gotten anything done in the afternoon. I was a little hesitant to try this one because I'm going to a barleywine fest tomorrow, but I was very pleased that I did. Has a dark reddish brown color with a very nice, creamy, off-white head. Aroma is spicy and sweet. Barleywines come in all sorts of hop levels and this was definitely on the sweet end. However, despite being so sweet, it was very nice.

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

One of the Top 5 beers I had at GABF. I do know that some of the "buzz" that was created at the fest about Iron Hill, was by me. I was camped out trying all 15 beers a few times over the sessions. This stuff was candy sweet, unlike anything I’ve tasted with huge vanilla and caramel flavors. I could have drank this all night. Freakin awesome.

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

2004 sampled Wilmington 3/05... Poured a dark amber color with a small, of white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of carmel malt, port, raisins, citrus hoppiness, and a touch of alcohol. Still rather young, the dried fruits, grapefruit hops, and sweet caramel dominated, alcohol is also pretty hot. Decent now, but so much better in a couple years, I may need to buy a keg and cellar it myself.