Brasserie McAuslan St-Ambroise Barrel Collection Blonde Barleywine (2017) Barley Wine at 10.1% ABV (C$12.96 at NLC Howley Estates, 750 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 8-Nov-2017, reviewed 3-Oct-2018)
Appearance: clear deep gold with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin skim and ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel and toffee, bourbon, vanilla. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)
Fairly simple, but I don’t mean that as a criticism. Rich (but not cloying) caramel/toffee is completely dominant, with mild bourbon and vanilla in the background. The body is relatively light for the style, as is the carbonation, and there’s very little alcohol presence, except as a gentle warming. Solid, if not precisely exciting. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
