Just not the part of the spectrum of IPAs I prefer. You can tell it's well-made, but not for me.

SUper malty IIPA. Too malty. Even sweet. Doesn't hide ABV at all. Has a nice bitterness. Hop flavors are more earthy than fruity.

Pretty good. Not too sour, you can definitely taste the peach but it doesn't dominate. A really nice balance. I wish it had more flavor in general but it's refreshing, which is what I usually want out of a sour.

I see that I mentioned sour notes in my previous review but I didn't detect anything like that in this bottle. Not a barrel-forward beer. More barrel in the aroma than the flavor. We all really enjoyed it, probably more than the last time. Very smooth, the 12% didn't hit as hard as last time. Sweet but also bitter, surprisingly so for an English Barleywine. Not sure what to make of that but I would like to get my hands on more of Clown Shoes' barrel stuff.

Very different than bourbon barrel aged barleywine. Some sour notes in the aroma that I couldn't quite place. Sweetens greatly as it warms. Very pleasant but kind of heavy. Every bit the 12%.

Laughably listed at 10.5% ABV. It goes down really smooth but this one hit me hard. must be closer to 13%. If so, it's exceptionally smooth, even if it has a surprising bitterness. But it's a different kind of smooth. Smells bourbony and chocolaty. Tastes the same with a nutty bitterness. Really delicious. Wish I had bought a few more bottles. My favorite part was that "bourbon" was written on the bottle by hand to tell what kind of barrels in which it had been aged. You know it's small batch. Maybe 4 barrels total. No point in seeking this out again unless I return to Steamboat Springs. And even if I make it back, and find another bourbon barrel aged Yukon's Stout, it will be different. Maybe it will be better, though.

Fades pretty fast. Already past its prime, but mostly because I had it so fresh. The fruity juicy notes are all indistinct now and the malt is more apparent. Don't get me wrong, it's still a well balanced, bitter, refreshing IPA. But it's not what it was when fresh. So drink fresh, while it's still great.

Good on Central Waters. This is the first beer I've had with fruity, tropical flavors from them. Good to know they have that range. Smells like pineapple. Has a nice bitterness. Reminds me of Head Hunter. Maybe not as focused of a flavor profile, not exactly sure what I mean by that. I want to do a side by side with Ruination, too.

Just not the part of the spectrum of IPAs I prefer. You can tell it's well-made, but not for me.

SUper malty IIPA. Too malty. Even sweet. Doesn't hide ABV at all. Has a nice bitterness. Hop flavors are more earthy than fruity.

Like bourbon soaked cocoa powder. As good as I've ever had it.

It's nearly perfect. I wouldn't mind a little more viscosity but no complaints other than that. If it's truly 9.5% this is a marvel. And much better than the other 2016 batch. I can't remember which one I gave to Jen, I hope it was this one.

Wow. Chocolate much? So much richer than when fresh. Bourbon has mellowed a bit but more chocolate roast. Very, very nice.

Shared 3 ways, we each had a small pour. Drank with berries and cookies. I noticed more coffee flavors than I ever have with this brew. Holds up well against competing sour and sweet flavors. Best on its own, though.

Fades pretty fast. Already past its prime, but mostly because I had it so fresh. The fruity juicy notes are all indistinct now and the malt is more apparent. Don't get me wrong, it's still a well balanced, bitter, refreshing IPA. But it's not what it was when fresh. So drink fresh, while it's still great.

Good on Central Waters. This is the first beer I've had with fruity, tropical flavors from them. Good to know they have that range. Smells like pineapple. Has a nice bitterness. Reminds me of Head Hunter. Maybe not as focused of a flavor profile, not exactly sure what I mean by that. I want to do a side by side with Ruination, too.

Wow, finally, 6 months after bottling it's finally starting to taste right. That weird, hoppy? flavor has faded and it's sweet and boozy and carmely and buttery.

Something's wrong this year. Last year was as good as any barrel aged wee heavy on the market. This year has a bitter bite the destroys the carmely sweetness. Can't believe I bought so much this year instead of last year.

It's good. But don't age. Still, CW is better at about the same price...

OK, not a great candidate for aging. Still OK. It kind of tastes like a barrel aged Old Foghorn. Of course I hadn't had any OF before drinking the other two bottles of Barrel Chested. Has more underlying sweetness. I think the barrel has faded somewhat, or my palate has barrel fatigue. Reasonably priced and solid barleywine.

Carbonation much less pronounced. Still smells AMAZING (though my sister said it smelled like dill? and caramel). Very dark red, alcohol had a bit of a bite. Still tastes great at 6 months but might not gain anything by age. Only 6 months, though.

Garnet red, poured with more carbonation and thinner than I expected. Big malty bourbon aroma, much like a bourbon barrel scotch ale. Carbonation not a problem while drinking. Caramel and pecan notes. Delicious, with some heat. Last 1-2 ounces was very different. Smelled purely of whiskey and not much flavor. Like the watery stuff that runs down the sides of a glass of whiskey, or the residue that collects after finishing a glass? Not sure it would age well. Will see.

Fades pretty fast. Already past its prime, but mostly because I had it so fresh. The fruity juicy notes are all indistinct now and the malt is more apparent. Don't get me wrong, it's still a well balanced, bitter, refreshing IPA. But it's not what it was when fresh. So drink fresh, while it's still great.

Good on Central Waters. This is the first beer I've had with fruity, tropical flavors from them. Good to know they have that range. Smells like pineapple. Has a nice bitterness. Reminds me of Head Hunter. Maybe not as focused of a flavor profile, not exactly sure what I mean by that. I want to do a side by side with Ruination, too.

Nearing 60 days already past it's prime but still pleasant.

Yum. THIS is how a pilsener is supposed to taste. Fresh makes all the difference.

Fades pretty fast. Already past its prime, but mostly because I had it so fresh. The fruity juicy notes are all indistinct now and the malt is more apparent. Don't get me wrong, it's still a well balanced, bitter, refreshing IPA. But it's not what it was when fresh. So drink fresh, while it's still great.

Good on Central Waters. This is the first beer I've had with fruity, tropical flavors from them. Good to know they have that range. Smells like pineapple. Has a nice bitterness. Reminds me of Head Hunter. Maybe not as focused of a flavor profile, not exactly sure what I mean by that. I want to do a side by side with Ruination, too.

Really good. Definitely smoothed out after 9 months. The bourbon was more apparent than when fresh. Even got some chocolaty flavors in the background. Kind of a cherry cordial. Doesn't scratch a particular itch and that's a long time to wait for something that doesn't blow you away but it's not not worth it.

Looking at my previous notes, a couple of years has had the desired effect. Downright drinkable for a barleywine, would go fine with dinner. Dry and bitter, a little astringent but not overpowering. The barrel really does wonders for this but the bare version is fun.

This needs some time to mellow out. Very woody taste, kind of harsh. But you can tell it's gonna be good.