Style: Barleywine (English)

ABV: 12.7

94/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	18
Mouthfeel:	5

Black Spruce Brewing Company Reginald Van Horn

What the brewers say

“Barleywine aged in 95 percent rye whiskey barrels for 12 months.”

What our panel thought

“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.”

What our editors thought

“Butterscotch, pepper, lime zest, and banana-nut bread in the nose make for a quirky mix, but the flavor toasts that bread with a slab of butter, gently singeing the crust for a sweet-savory blend with just the right bitter jolt.”

Review printed in: Beyond Barley (April-May 2022) (View All Issues)

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REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Black Spruce Brewing Company Ice and Magic

“Robust orange aromas with bits of peach. Alluring flavor: peach, orange, layers of pineapple, light passion fruit. Begs a second sip. Sweeter finish with drops of hop juice. Although the bitterness is lacking, it delivers on its hop decadence.”

New Anthem Beer Project The Broken Tree

“Medium toasted bread crust, toffee, and caramel aroma with ripe apricot and low floral hops. Caramel and toffee notes are equally pronounced in the flavor, and light peach notes linger into a long finish. Moderate sweetness.”

Art History Brewing Inc Levitáce

“Nice bready pilsner malt aroma with a touch of spicy hops. Despite the malt-forward aroma, the flavor delivers a strong hoppy message. The malt is still present but lurks behind a moderate spicy hop flavor and assertive, but clean, bitterness. Not quite as pronounced as a German pils, but it’s approaching the border.”

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