Style: Barleywine (American)

ABV: 12.3

94/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	19
Mouthfeel:	5

Pure Project Forgotten Brilliance

What the brewers say

“Features Centennial, Amarillo, Cascade hops, and Maris Otter and English crystal malts.”

What our panel thought

“Piney forest aromas dominate the nose, with brown sugar, light figs, wet grain. Heavy tones of caramel malt wrapped in vibrant dark-fruit notes. Sweet malt finish with a warming alcohol presence.”

What our editors thought

“Bold American hops nose with classic notes of citrus and pine. Softer in the sip with subtle caramel notes that intertwine with those C-hop notes for a juicy yet structured barleywine.”

Review printed in: Rethinking the Classic Pale Ale (Winter 2023) (View All Issues)

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REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Pure Project Built to Last

“Mint, sage, and savory hop bouquet dominates the aroma. Medium-low bready and crackery malt balanced with a hint of corn sweetness on the finish. Dry and soft on the palate. Clean fermentation. So much fun in a crushable little beer.”

Protagonist Beer Galileo (Barrel Aged)

“A hop-forward (pine and orange citrus) barleywine in aroma, flavor, and bitterness. Hop notes intersect with bready/leathery, caramel, toffee malt notes that carry the beer forward and don’t leave a lot of lingering sweetness, contributing to the overall surprising and confident drinkability.”

Verboten Brewing Pure Imagination

**Aroma:** “Chocolate, cherry, and coffee with some decent alcohol heat. Rich roasty character of cocoa, coffee, and chocolate. Sweet fruity cherry esters. Dark licorice and burnt sap. The aroma promises the world.” **Flavor:** “Sharp black coffee with a serving of brown sugar. The malt complexity is nice, with toast and caramel joining the roast. Smooth. The esters are toned down a little but that’s okay. Good hops flavor. Nuttiness and toffee. Alcohol heat is noticeable in the finish.” **Overall:** “An intense beer with wild roasty, sweet notes. I’d only be able to tackle one pint, but I’d enjoy it thoroughly. A larger example of an oatmeal stout, this beer is a bit of a beast. The alcohol heat is significant and the high carbonation slams all the flavors into your palate at once, but the creaminess rounds out the experience well. Nice job.”

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