Schlafly Barleywine

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

medium brown, light sturdy lacing .. molasses, burnt sugar, burnt meat, burnt finger, and sweet burnt hops .. . a big barleywine that is perfect for aging .. . I saw this commercial on late night TV, it was for this thing you attach to a garden hose, it was like "You can water your hard-to-reach plants with this product." Who the fuck would make their plants hard to reach? That seems so very mean. "I know you need water, but I'm gonna make you hard to reach! I will throw water at you. Hopefully they will invent a product before you shrivel and die! Think like a cactus!" So it said, "You can have this product for four easy payments of 19.95." I want a product for three easy payments, and one fuckin' complicated payment! We can't tell you which one, but one of those payments is gonna be a bitch. The mailman will get shot to death, the envelope will not seal, and the stamp will be in the wrong denomination; good luck, fucker!

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

Man, I wish I could have this fresh, since it was still amazing after a few years in the cellar. Great and massive malt presence, thick and syrupy mouthfeel that coats all the way down. A fine and mellowed hop balance. Not the bite I believe it once had, but has held up well, nonetheless. Nothing short of great. RERATE: After having this fresh, multiple times, I've concluded this is one of those big American Barleywines best consumed within a year or less to take advantage of their massive hoppiness. While not as harsh as Bigfoot, this is still loaded with hoppy flavor and aroma, very well balanced. Bravo.

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

Copper color, full body, thick syrupy mouthfeel, sweet malty aroma, very malty with a nice hop bite.