The 2008 is everything you expect from Old Crustacean Barleywine. It pours a deep amber with some brown thrown in and gives off a medium sudsy / bubbly head that falls to almost nothing. The aroma is big caramel and cherries with just a hint of chocolate. The flavor, as always, has a tongue twistingly bitter hit to it from the Centennial and Chinook hops along with their grassy floral flavor. The smooth sweet caramel comes in at the middle only to be taken over by another wave of lingering bitterness at the finish. There are few barleywines that age better than the Old Crusty. I for one like to age out some of the up front bitterness so it starts smoother but still ends bitter and dry. Put some down for yourself and see what I mean.
# posted by Beer_Matt @ 5:06 PM
