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.

Smelled odd, I sipped with trepidation. Tasted pleasant but different from any barleywine I've ever had. Reminded me of a soda or root beer. It has to be the cardamom. Noticed it in the flavor more as it warmed. Really interesting, in a delicious way. Very unique and distinct. Heavy hitter at 12.5%.

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.

Very malty for an IPA. Obviously it explodes with hops. I'm going to hold on to at least one of these for a month to see what happens. Not worth the $15 price tag, but maybe that's just a mental thing since it is a 6-pack.

Fully chilled, this is a great "with dinner" scotch ale. Unfortunately, it's too expensive at $7 a bottle.

It's fine. I think I like the Jacobite better. But very easy to drink at 7.2% and good smoky, peaty flavor. I need to reevaluate the wee heavy for drinkability. It doesn't have to be extreme. But at lower abv would I rather have an IPA? It's a dilemma.

Doesn't taste a lot like Double Bastard anymore. More like a SUPER hoppy barleywine. Really good, though. Surprisingly smooth for how aggressive the base beer is. I need to try the rye version.

Cork & Cage 750. Huge pop when I pulled the cork but no gushing. Massive, ridiculous head when poured. Seemed like a ton of carbonation but it settled down and had a pleasant creamy mouthfeel. Very dark head. Everyone loved it. A very good Imperial Stout. Oddly, it took me a bit to identify an aroma but it smelled a bit like a can of olives immediately after pouring. This faded and I didn't notice a corresponding flavor but interesting nonetheless. I got another whiff of it on my second pour, too. Taste was more in the roasty, coffee side of stouts, not chocolaty. Real smooth for 11%, hides it well. Not a lot of depth of flavor. Very drinkable. A crowd pleaser.

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.

I like this vintage a little cooler. Surprisingly, that's where the barrel character comes to the fore. Less distinct and balanced as it warms. I experienced something similar with the BA Silhouette, so maybe it's my palate changing with all the big beers I've been drinking this winter. Really good when it's good, at those lower temps. Not refrigerator cold, but cooler than I typically drink by high gravity beers.

Kind of a mess right now, honestly. Boozy, harsh and thin. Carbonation overwhelms. Nice vanilla flavors but way too fresh at 8 days old. Should be nice later, though.

Really solid scotch ale. Along the lines of Scotty Karate but at 7.5%, presumably. Shows the alcohol, could be much smoother. But lots of great flavor. I'll keep an eye on this brewery.

Really good sour. Enough pineapple, didn't get any rum but my kind of sour. But pricey.