So, this takes 2 or 3 years of aging to get it where I want it. The bite is gone, the heat is gone, so smooth and rich. Tastes unmistakably like a barleywine, and an American barleywine at that, but so well integrated. One of the few worth the cellar space. Sigh, not quite Straightjacket but half the price.

Life.

This was a little more woody tasting earlier on but now the sweeter stickiness is coming out just like you want from a barleywine.

Much better than it was a month ago. Nice and buttery.

Unknown date of consumption. Forgot to record an entry somewhere.

A really enjoyable sour. The apricot added some depth of flavor, as opposed to an unfruited sour, but I couldn't pick out the flavor at all. The ginger was somewhat apparent at the end and blended fine with the sourness, probably unnecessary. Had none of the acetone flavor that ruins sours for me, very drinkable. Not much to look at but I'm used to stouts and scotch ales. It was really good, but really expensive. I pay less per ounce for BCBS. Remind me to stock up on the New Glarus sours when they're around.

Bottom line: too much hops, not enough barrel. First impression wasn't positive, based on the dirty brown appearance like a backed up sink. I was worried it was infected but maybe it just needs a little filtering. Has a green, woody hop flavor that would work with the right malt base. Missing all the sweet, bready flavor. Also, I'm hard pressed to detect the barrel character, I actually pulled the bottle out of the recycling bin to double check it was barrel aged. It's drinkable, but I'm disappointed in this one.

Cocoa powder. Less bourbon than I remember from the other bottle, wouldn't mind a little more. It also needs another month, at least, to settle in the bottle. But maybe the best vintage that I can remember.

The 2016 took a few months to get this good. This one is ready to go out of the gate. Chocolate bomb on the nose and tongue. Some coffee at the backend, too. More than I remember in other vintages. This is simply great. Reaffirms that I don't _need_ any other barrel stout.

Holds up well but doesn't particularly benefit from ageing. Tastes the same as the 2018, which is to say excellent.

Unknown date of consumption. Forgot to record an entry somewhere.

Different than any previous year I remember. Smells like straight up whiskey, tastes like burnt caramel. It's not unpleasant but doesn't have the malty sweet richness I love. It's fresh, though. Needs some time to settle.

Much better than it was a month ago. Nice and buttery.

Unknown date of consumption. Forgot to record an entry somewhere.

Still fantastic. No drop-off but my preference center's around the three year mark. Barrel-aged is great but not what I want all the time. Perfect with beef stew.

Nearly 3 years old and this is in it's prime.

Yep, this is my definition of Russian Imperial Stout.

Mmm. This is really good. Right up there with my faves. Kind of like what I wish the barrel aged version of Scotty Karate was like. Smoky malts, sweet whiskey. Reminds me of the Cahoots a bit but the base beer comes through a lot more. Has a somewhat similar cola-ish flavor from the whiskey that I have also noticed in the Commander barleywine. Seems to be from the barrels, I wonder what their source is. I didn't notice it in Silhouette.

Hops came out much more with the Teku. My first real success with that glass.

Smells great, tropical fruit. But the caramel malt sweetness, as light as it is, is enough to mess with the flavors to the point where it doesn't taste all that hoppy. It doesn't fit the profile for most IPAs, so it probably has a niche. But I don't drink IPAs for the malt.

Too much going on here. Molasses dominates when it's cold, then I noticed some tart flavors and a bit of sweetness came out as it warmed. I expected a lot more whiskey, though. It's still really good. Complex and interesting, but just too much.

Butterscotch. Smooth and easy drinking as I can imagine for 12.5%. Got a little wet cardboard mustiness as it warmed up, sadly. Probably shouldn't sit on this one for five years. Even at its worst, it was delicious. Really a spectacular beer. I'm sold on English Barleywine.