TOPIC:

"tim.culhane":1ph2c0pk wrote: I was hoping for something along the lines of Eight Degrees Zeus double IPA or the more recent My Name Is Vladimir from Brewdog.
I appreciate that this is a barley wine and not an IPA, but even so, it just doesn't deliver anything even remotely interesting to me.
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As you said, neither of the beers you listed are barley wines, or even close.

For one thing, you are drinking a beer that shouldn't even be opened for two or three years. Barley wines are rarely in your face, they are usually very subtle. One exception to that might be bigfoot and that sounds like more the kind of barley wine you are looking for and again, best left for at least a year if not more.

Hi,

Well I suppose you live and learn. This is the first barley wine I've drunk so I probably was misguided as to what to expect.

As regards your comments on aging, the O'Hara's barley wine was recommended by a couple of people and as I needed a dessert beer for last Saturday night, it wasn't likely to get aged too long ... unless O'Hara's had aged the bottles already?

Having said all that, if barley wines are generally subtle in flavour then perhaps they aren't for me. I normally like beers and wines with strong aromas and flavours. I prefer not to have to search for hints of things that may or may not be there!

When I'm reaching for an 8% plus beer next time I'll hopefully find something with complexity and character ...

Tim

Hi Tim,

Sorry I didn't see the thread before because I would definitely have suggested a Belgian Ale for the dessert you were serving. A nice dubbel or quad would go absolutely perfect with a banana and raisin strudel. Again, sorry I'm late to the party on this but I hope that the dessert was a success even if the barley wine was disappointing.

James