Newport Storm 02

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

A vigorous pour produces a fat-one-finger thick, frothy, tan colored head. The beer is a dark cherry stained color, but shows a clear, cranberry stained, copper color when held up to the light. Rich, oxidized malt aromatics are by far the most noticeable thing in the nose; sherry, fruity port, some musty cardboard, oxidized caramel and a rich nuttiness. After sitting for a bit some aromas of maraschino cherries, brandy and raisins become noticeable.

Lightly carbonated, which causes this to have a very creamy texture, especially when coupled with the thick, viscous body that this brew naturally has. Upfront sweet flavors of dates, raisins and prunes mix in the finish with a light spice character reminiscent of cardamom and liquorice. Has a slightly woody taste to it towards the finish almost like a tannic, spicy oak flavor (much of this seems attributable to the oxidation influence). Brandy flavors meld with oxidation driven sherry notes and some touches of port-wine. A slight note of menthol and herbs as well as a lightish, though noticeable and lingering bitterness in the finish are what is left of the hop character. The oxidation really accents an interesting spiciness in this beer, I almost think that some of this spiciness is some residual hop flavor (which makes some sense to me). Actually this spiciness is definitely hop derived as it becomes more apparent as the beer warms up. Really it is surprising how hoppy this beer really still is (you really need to let it warm & open up first though), spicy and lightly herbal with a significant (though not dominant) hop presence.

A bit too oxidized in the nose, but the oxidation adds to the complexity and isn't overly cardboard like in the flavor. This beer is still doing pretty well, though I would guess it is on the downward part of the slope. It should last for quite a few more years, but I am glad I drank my only bottle now. Definitely an enjoyable beer to spend an evening with; it is one of those beers that grows on me more and more as I work my way through the bottle.

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

Pours with an orangeish-red body topped by a medium thick head with a good amount of lacing. The aroma is slightly sweet and malty with a touch of smokiness, slight alcohol esters and a little piney hops. The flavor is sweet and malty with a slight candy sugar and toffee note. Full bodied and smooth with a slight warming.

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

Pours extremely cloudy dark brown. It's very thick, seems to move in slow motion. The head is slow to form, but not because of lack of carbonation, but because the liquid is so vicious that it take a while for the bubbles to reach the top to form the head. The head is unusually dark for a beer this color. I'm both excited and frightened to taste it. The aroma is thick sweet malt backed up by fruit rind bitter hops. The alcohol just barely tickles the sinuses and only if you're smelling really hard looking for it. That's impressive for a 12% beer. The flavor is just as slow moving as the liquid. Begins with sweet caramelly malt, slowly builds in intensity, then in comes the bitter hops (some citric rind, but no coniferous flavors and little citric qualities other than the peel). As the malt leaves the palate the bitterness of the hops lingers.

Unfortunately, the qualities that impressed me early on (the thick sweet maltiness) quickly become cloying and syrupy and it was a struggle to drink both glasses. The overwhleming thick sweetness is a real drawback to this beer.

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

Clear amber color, moderate carbonation, this is a smooth barleywine. The aroma is sweet and malty, the flavor is slightly sweet. Very nicely done. At three years old, it's smooth and silky. Nice looking blue bottle too, for whatever that's worth

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Poured a hazy orange color with a thin, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of oak, caramel malts, nuts, citrus (notably orange) and some light whisky as well. Taste was very fruity, lots of citrus fruits, more caramel malts, grapefruit bitterness, and a hot alcohol finish.