Midas Touch

Look: Golden honey color with no head

Taste: Strong honey and melon tones, with grape coming through if gulped.

Conclusion: I have been looking for this beer for over 2 years, and had all but given up my search. Then, one glorious day, I received a phone call from my fellow beer compatriot excitedly telling me he had found THE MIDAS TOUCH! I could not hold in my excitement. I not asked, but politely demanded he get me at lease one bottle. No worries, he had picked up a four pack; and believe me when I tell you that the contents of the worlds oldest recipe for a “brewed beverage” was well worth the wait.

My initial reaction when I poured the beer was not as thrilling as one might think, given my excitement to finally have this fabled beer in my hands. It has a very Belgian aroma to it, save for the over the top citrus aroma. It had a sweet aroma, for sure, but the sweet mixed with a slight yeasty smell. Curious, but not thrilled with the aroma… then my first taste. JOY!!

It is very subtle, and smooth as silk. It is an easy to drink beer… dangerously easy to drink, if you catch my drift. At 9%, you can kick back a few of these, and next thing you know, you cant walk ten paces without leaning on the bar or a person to maintain your balance. It is very refreshing, which I thought strange for a barley wine, which usually are a bit more heavy and not as refreshing, but offer greater depth in flavor. This beer has both depth in flavor and is refreshing. At first drink, the strong honey tones come through, with a melon and papaya accompaniment that cools the tongue. If you want to get a taste of the grape flavor, I recommend you take a nice gulp, as opposed to a sip or drink, and the grape aroma will rise up to your nose. Such a nice trick; like two beers in one.

I am familiar with DogFish brewery, and some of their offerings, but this one is probably my favorite of their brews to date.

I give this golden beer a 9 out of 10.

(for more information on the history of the Midas Touch brew, visit DogFish’s site)

Oskar Blues Brewing, Gordon. Ale

Look: Maple brown with a hefty amount of creamy tan head

Taste: HOPS, sweets

Conclusion: This was an 8.7% mystery of a brew. Never have I heard of this brewing company nor have I ever laid eyes upon the beer can. It caught my eye is a refrigerator full of bottles. The lone can was standing alone in a see of bottles...like the Lone Ranger on top of trusty old Trigger, ready to spring into action.

So I picked up this odd little can and again my interest grew when I saw the 8.7% ABV marking on the side. The can itself is friggin hilarious! Apparently, in the wild, this brews scientific name is [Can'o bliss, satisfy ya]. On the back you can also find a little recycle symbol. Another reason to love this beer even before I've tried it! Also has my favorite mountain biking motto: "Pack it in. Pack it out."

The beer itself is a sticky icky blend of hops, what tastes like caramel, and some sweet but subtle fruit flavor. Gawd!! What an amazing beer! This thing is thick as maple syrup and is hearty like a sonofabitch! An unbelievably powerful and savory drink. Apparently it's in named after Gordon Knight who won gold brewing awards at three different breweries and brewed beer in Colorado, only to die in a plane crash while trying to put out fires. Damn, this guy could be the Paul Bunyan of our time! Makin' beer and saving lives...well, better than Paul Bunyan.

I give this one an excellent, top notch score. WOW!

9 Brews!

Anchor Brewing, Old Foghorn Barley Wine

Look: Reddish oak color with a short-lasting lacy tan head

Taste: Sharp initially with spices and carbonation throughout

Conclusion: Anchor Brewing has been going since 1876 in San Francisco. Their Anchor Steam is a delicious light ale. I was enticed into buying this one immediately but thought it strange for a brew dubbed a barley wine to have only 8.8% alcohol.

The taste is initially sharp but gives way to hearty barley and spices. It finishes with a warming prune and thick nutty malt finish.

The dry-hopping adds offsets the alcohol and makes the lasting flavor pleasant and non-offensive.

As I sipped I could imagine myself in the soupy fog of the San Francisco bay, cruising on a tugboat with an Old Foghorn in hand. I was curious about the "low" alcohol content for a barley wine but what this brew lacks in alcoholic power it makes up for in robust and amazingly delicious flavor. It has a warming, almost rum-like, quality to it, and I'd love to have this one on a cold winter day by a fire. Just a spectacular barley wine, that I enjoyed thoroughly.

9 Brews!

**After a talk with my friend, we decided to give this brew a perfect 10. Its just that good.**

Magnolia - Old Thunderpussy (seasonal)

Look: Dark brown/maple with a small silky light tan head.

Taste: Hoppy initially with a warm fruit, oak, and nut finish.

Last year my brew reviewing compadre and I had a discussion in which this beer was mentioned. This beer is brewed yearly at Magolia Pub & Brewery on Haight St in San Francisco, during Strong Beer Month. He went to 21st Amendment(the other of the two breweries that hold the event) last year so we decided, to our benefit, on Magnolia's menu.

This 11.3% barley wine is named after the head mistress of the whore house that used to be where Magnolia is today. It starts with a very nice and deep hop charge that's followed by fruit and oak or nut tasting flavors that finish the drink. There is a decent amount of sweetness but it never feels sickeningly so. This is deceptively drinkable too. You're half way through before you realize your head isn't quite right...it sure feels good, but things got hazy for me at that point. Every part of the drink is delicious and it certainly is a relaxing beer. It'll drop your pants and steal your wallet before you know what hit ya!

We found no faults whatsoever with this one...and, as our 100th beer reviewed, we hearbye dub it 11 out of 10!

11 Brews!

Moylan's, Old Blarney

Look: Mohogany with a light brown silky head

Taste: Caramel malts and hops with a rich, sweet, and heavy mouthfeel

Conclusion: This is a massively brewed drink that packs 10% alcohol. It goes down thick and sweet and has aged and flavorful aromas.

This barley wine was amazingly satisfying and was just rich as could be. I'm finding I just can't hack a whole bottle of these barley wines in one sitting though. Take your time and sip this to your hearts content. Throw on the slippers, turn on a good movie and reeeeelax. A great barley wine that would be perfect as an after-meal meal. I liked this one a lot but had to take it slow, much due to the sweetness. It's like eating candy. You want to eat the whole bag, but if you do you'll be paying for it. Still delicious though...Yum!

7 Brews!

Avery Brewing Co., Hog Heaven Barley Wine

Look: Brown with a foam, medium sized tan head

Taste: Bitter, strong and smooth hop flavors with citrus fruit in the background

Conclusion: This barley wine seems more like a double IPA to me. Yep, lots of hops here plus a nice, light kick of citrus/fruit type flavors. This one will slowly massage your face into a state of relaxation. Although the bitterness and hops are powerful, you just don't see this one creeping up on you. When I looked at the label I was amazed to see it was 10% alcohol. It hides it well.

I gotta say, I've gradually become a lover off hop filled brews and enjoyed this one very much. This one could become a staple in the normal rotation. It's a two-faced, barley wine/double IPA love child that tastes lighter than it really is. Careful! I like the soaring pigs on the label though. Lucky pigs...wish I had wings.

7 Brews!

Green Flash, Barleywine Style Ale

Look: Opaque brown with a yellowish brown head

Taste: Oak, strong malts, and a brown sugary taste

Conclusion: This barleywine is a 10% beast of caramelized malts with subtle oak/smoke flavors following along in it's wake. The label says they boil the massive amount of caramel malts and hops for 3 hours to up the intensity.

This barleywine has taught me not to judge a beer by it's label. All Green Flash Brewing Co.'s brews have simple, plain labels like this one but I like to think it's camouflage to hide this barleywine for the those who are certain to reserve judgement. The high alcohol content brings a very slight warmth but you're distracted more by the delicious malt, and hop flavors that dominate throughout the drink. There's also a hint of spices and fruits but they play backstage to the main show. This is one of the best barleywines I've tasted to date. You have to look closely through the tall grass to find it, but it's there trying to hide. Sneaky little bugger.

9 Brews!

Eggenberg Brewery, Samichlaus

Look: Auburn with absolutely no head

Taste: Pure malty sweetness with a warm spice and fruit filled flavor

Conclusion: Let me start by noting that this is THE strongest beer in the world. It's actually in the Guinness Book of World Records. At 14% alcohol it must be. Even though it says 14% that is the minimum. This brew will vary with the alcohol content...some bottles reaching almost 15%. Unreal. Watch out for this beer! After drinking this I was quickly paid a visit by the Sandman. Goddamit this brew lives up to it's name. It is as powerful as any brew you'll ever drink and sweet as all hell.

At first I found myself cringing from the sweetness. It's almost a syrup. But despite it's 14% alcohol content, it actually doesn't have that nasty burn that a lot of barley wines with similar content claim. The finish is warm and comforting. Don't forget this beer is actually named after Santa Claus! Bless your soul Santa.

It's unbelievably powerful and sweet but the fruity and complex malt flavors will leave you yearning for more. Or is that the alcohol screwing with your head? You may never know, but you will enjoy the experience. Quite the interesting drink. This one gets extra points for it's title alone. I submit to your greatness oh Samichlaus! I'm no match for you.

8 Brews!

Unibroue Maudite

Look: Mild oak brown with a light, silky white head

Taste: Spicy with with fruit flavors and finishes with a sour bite

Conclusion: While I never took French in high school and can't even begin to pretend knowing how to say its name, this is still a nice drink. It has some really mouth watering spices that tantalize the tongue. A great tasting....barley wine? I'm not sure about that but it was considerably strong and served in this nice little snifter glass. Oooh...look at me...fancy shmancy.

A very intriguing and satisfying brew. Yum!

7 Brews!

Belzebuth

Look: Golden, little to no head

Taste: HARSH!! It tasted like a shot of moonshine mixed with cheap beer. Some where in there, there may have been a hint of roasted barley, some hops flavor, but the burning sensation pretty much killed any flavor the “beer” may have had going for it.

Conclusion: The French barley wine was 13% alc. And 80% cr@p. I’ve had cheap alcohol go down more smooth. I guess there is a reason the bottle was so small. By the time you finish the small bottle, you will be plenty messed up. I highly recommend you stay away from this mess. It was ungodly. I don’t know what sick man would come up with this and think it sellable, let alone drinkable.
Something tells me they were going for pure strength at the cost of flavor. It is one of the strongest beers I’ve ever had, and one of the worst.

2 out of 10

Stone, Old Guardian Barley Wine

Look: Light brown with a goldish coloring. Creamy and slightly cloudy

Taste: Strong, smooth, hop filled IPA flavor

Conclusion: The flavor of Stone's barley wine mirrors their double IPA Ruination. It is initially slightly bitter but extremely smooth on the palate. At 11.26% alcohol and with 95 IBUs(International Bitterness Units), this barley wine is incredibly powerful. But don't let the bitterness units fool you though, this barley wine is quite smooth. There is almost no alcohol burn and it coats the tongue. Rich and flavorful. As Mr. Burns says...."Eeeexcellent".

8 Brews!