Alaskan Brewing Co - Barley Wine Ale (2010)

Hump day. I sort of hate that term. Hump day.

No, I hate it a lot.

I'd prefer to just call it Wednesday, you know, like an adult. But I digress. Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you're enjoying something delicious tonight. I know I am.

If you read my review of the Stone Brewing Oak Smoked Old Guardian, you'd know that I kind of like Barleywines. Just a little... (I can't lie, I love them)

The last time I visited the local liquor store I happened to come across tonight's beer. Tonight I'm drinking Alaskan Brewing Co's Barley Wine Ale. Now, it wasn't until I got home that night that I realized that this wasn't just a regular barleywine. Oh no, this was their 2010 barleywine. So I managed to score a 2010 Barleywine in 2013. I'll take that any day of the week and twice on a hum.... Wednesday!

Let's get this beer poured cause I for one want to get this thing in my mouth. You can take that anyway you'd like... (that's what she said)

The Alaskan Barley Wine Ale pours out a perfect ruby red with some nice dark, almost blood red, hue around the bottom of the glass. There was a finger and a half of a pretty white head that dissipates a little bit is lingering around for a while. Like a relative that just won't shut up and leave... although I'm OK with that in this case. The head that's decided to hang out with us gives the beer a nice two tone look. There is a crazy amount of carbonation coming up from the bottom of the glass. It's pretty cool looking. Let's get the nose on this beast.

Immediately hit with some sweet malts. A lot of caramel and vanilla notes on this as well. I'm getting quite a bit of dark fruits. Raisins, figs and some really delicious cherry notes as well. Like fresh cherry juice. There's a sweet bread kind of character that's really playing off the cherry notes. Smells a little like a cherry danish. It's not overly sweet. It's very subtle, very enjoyable. There's a slight bit of alcohol on the nose but it's more of a sweet alcohol. Maybe a brandy character perhaps even a cognac kind of note. It's really enticing. One of the better smelling barleywines that I can remember.

Time to drink! First thing I notice is that dark fruit character. Very much getting the fresh cherry type of notes I was getting on the nose. It's very bread like, and sweet. Like that danish I mentioned (I love cherry danishes). There's a lot of caramel on the tongue as well. It's a bit sticky. Very smooth. You get a little bit of the alcohol at this point but it's nice. A lot like a brandy, not just an alcohol burn. It's got good flavor. Back of the mouth I'm getting a ton of roasted characters. Big chocolate espresso sort of character. I didn't get any of this on the nose so to have it here is really great. As the flavors sort of linger and dissipate I'm left with more caramel and those vanilla characters I was getting on the nose.

So overall, the Alaskan Barley Wine Ale is incredible. I wasn't expecting much from this because I'd never had an Alaskan Barleywine. I was very impressed with their Smoked Porter and this is definitely right up there with that. It's incredibly smooth and balanced and often times with Barleywines, they can be too hot and just a malt bomb. I didn't get any hop character which is fine. I don't like my barleywines to be too hoppy.

Rating: A, bordering on A+

Wife didn't think it tasted like beer, but didn't like it either.