Old Dominion Oak Barrel Aged Millennium

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

Not sure where exactly I received this beer, but I believe it was from either Immy or Jasonmech77. Either way. Big thanks for this excellent offering. The appearance of this beer is almost rust water in color, cloudy with some off-white head action. The aroma is quite the stunner. Clear notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel lead the way with some subtle honey and light fruit notes underneath it giving it enough complexity to get high marks. Mouthfeel was syrupy, full with a smoothness that was quite enjoyable. The flavor of this beer was pretty much on par with the aroma notes with a heavy dose of sweetness (brown sugar) coming on strong. An absolutely incredibly tasty beer that I enjoyed sip after sip. If it were only available in California.

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

Bottled on 110405. Pours a hazy dark amber color with a thin head that fades rather quickly to very thin wisps and ring leaving behind minimal lacing. Not much of a looker here. Smell; very nice oak and vanilla aromas right out of the gate. After letting it warm a bit some caramel, honey and cherries come out, along with just a hint of some hop bitterness. Taste; the vanilla really comes to the fore on the first few sips as well as the woody flavors from the oak barrels. The sweet honey and caramel mix nicely with some cherries and raisins, and just some touhes of bittering hops. There's a definite alcohol burn present, but not as strong as I was expecting with the abv being %11.4. Very port like with the barrel aging, the dark fruits and the alcohol presence. Mouthfeel is full bodied, with pretty low carbonation, but still very good. Even though this is a sipper, it goes down surprisingly easy.

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

This is my 1000th beer and I’m glad I had it around for that milestone. The sad part is that I’m drinking this in honor of my grandmother, who passed away this morning. The beer is a gorgeous hue somewhere between amber and copper. The head’s a bit weak, but I’m very lenient in that area when it comes to this style. The aroma is excellent: barleywine butter, dried stone fruit, molasses, oak, bourbon and a touch of smoke (probably from the barrel). The flavor is very smooth, only giving a hint of the strength without letting you forget that this is a barleywine. The body is slick with just enough heft to remind you that it’s there. Not too bitter. It’s not really that old, but tastes like it’s been aged for a while. I love you Granny. Now go break up Granddaddy’s poker game with the angels before he gets them all kicked out of heaven.

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

12oz bottle. Medium brown color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is fruity and sweet, touch of oak. Medium bodied barley wine. Malts are fruity and sweet. Lots of brown sugar, bourbon and vanilla flavors. Some oak highlights. Very sweet. Very smooth. Hides the 10.4% alcohol well. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

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

Bottle: Poured a reddish/orange color ale with a small off-white foamy head with good retention. Aroma of honey, strong malt and bitter hops. Taste is sweet caramel with a full body and a creamy texture. Lots of bitter hops can feel at the end with a warming feeling. Very good barleywine but maybe a tad too sweet for my liking.

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

Man o' man.... where did this come from...?

Now, to step back a second, yes, I do know what brewery this came from -- save your BeerMails, tks! And yes, I also know that Randy made it a point to bring out bottles of this for me and few other San Diego locals -- much tks there, mate!

But I guess my slight confusion stems from the fact that this is so much bigger and bolder -- and perhaps less drinkable, to be honest -- than I remember from just a few months ago.

A sipping beer, to say the least. The fruity (mango?) highlights coincide with the overall "oak'y hotness" of the beer. Malty as all get-out, with barely enough hops to cover the spread, so to speak.

Have never had a beer such as this actually get rougher and more rugged around the edges with a few months worth of ballel aging, but I guess anything is possible!

Many Cheers! to Randy, for not only bringing this out from VA, but also introducing the SD crew to the Old Dominion Spring Brew (damn tasty!), *and* a growler of the excellent High Desert Imperial Stout... :)

Music: King Crimson's "Three Of A Perfect Pair".
//TB

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

Pours with an amber body topped by a thin head with little lacing. It’s slightly sweet yet oaky and bitter with a slight caramel note. Full bodied and warming.

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

Poured a reddish amber color with a small off white head and left light lacing on the glass. Sweet vanilla, oak, caramel malt aroma. Bitter citrus (grapefruit), sherry, dry oakiness, and finishes with burning alcohol.