Style: Barleywine (Wood-Aged)

ABV: 12.5

89/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	18
Mouthfeel:	4

Black Spruce Brewing Company Basil Hayden Bourbon Barrel-Aged Reginald Van Horn Barleywine ('21 Vintage)

What the brewers say

“2021 barleywine barrel-aged in Basil Hayden barrels for 12 months.”

What our panel thought

“Pronounced bourbon, vanilla, toffee aroma with hints of dried fruit—dates, raisins. Flavor offers more chance for the underlying barleywine to show its character with richer toffee, dark fruits, notes of red apple, and warming alcohols. Well balanced, with a clean finish.”

What our editors thought

“Aromatic floral note with lavender and grape, and an almost cognac-like spirits element. Clean and direct in the flavor, with notes of leather and tobacco accentuating relatively light body.”

Review printed in: The Malt Is the Message (Spring 2024) (View All Issues)

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REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Alvarado Street Brewery Fine Adjustment

“Dark-fruit and toffee aroma with notable alcohol. Complex flavor with layers of toffee, dark fruits, bread crusts. Finish is slightly sweet with earthy hops.”

Grimm Artisanal Ales Last of the Steam Powered Trains

“Grape-like, green-apple aromas, followed by whiskey-soaked raisins as it warms. Grape-like flavor, raisins, vanilla, toffee, followed by apples, roasted coffee, milk chocolate, caramel. Boozy warmth.”

Black Spruce Brewing Company Reginald Van Horn

“Raisin, malt, oak, alcohol. Sweet dark caramel up front slides into a toffee-like note, with classic bourbon and fresh oak. Bitter and sweet in balance. Toffee and caramel in the middle with more leather.”

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