The Drunken Polack

I believe this is the first beer I’ve ever drank that was brewed in Alaska. How many breweries are actually in Alaska anyway? If you know the answer let me know. It just so happens that the first beer I’ve ever had is from one of my favorite styles of beer. American Barleywine. I reason I love a good Barleywine is because they pop with flavor. Whether it be hops or any other ingredient, to me the good ones are just packed of flavor.  This one starts off great.

This Barleywine pours a dark red color.  The head on this one is pretty big but quickly disappears.  As soon pop the cap on this beer, you’ll be hit by a good amount of hops.  It actually smelled like the amount of hops you would get in a nice big Double IPA.  But when you pour it, the smell turns into a totally different story.  The hops are still there but mixed in with a sweet fruity flavor.  I also got a good amount of caramel and alcohol.  Nice and big. 

Now this is where the beer falls apart a little bit.  Like I said above, the smell is pretty big.  But the taste is really muted.  Disappointed me a little bit.  The taste has a little bit of everything that I found in the smell.  Caramel malt, grapefruit, and the hops.  What I also didn’t like about the beer was the mouthfeel.  While it was a nice smooth beer, it was a little thick and syrupy.  The beer actually stuck to your lips.  Made your lips stick together.  The alcohol in this beer is not really a big part of the taste but it is for the feel.  It burns your throat and chest as it goes down. 

I will say this.  All is not lost.  The second glass of this brew was better than the first.  The flavors started to come together a little bit more.  It wasn’t because the beer was warming up, I let it sit for more then 30 minutes before I drank it.  I just think the flavors started adding up more and more.  This beer gets an A- on BA.  I can’t give it that but overall it’s not bad.  It’s just not fantastic to me. 

Found: South Bay Drugs, Imperial Beach, CA (Mail Order)
Price: 8 dollars a bottle
Website: http://www.alaskanbeer.com/
What the company says: Alaskan Barley Wine is a full bodied ale, deep mahogany in color and brewed with an array of complementing malts to achieve its high original gravity. Multiple hop additions in the boil and dry hopping during fermentation provide contrast to the big malt character resulting in the smooth balance that distinguishes this specialty brew. Like many fine wines, Alaskan Barley Wine may be aged in the bottle and gains deeper malt complexity and smoothness over time.
ABV%: 10.40%
Other beers to try from this brewery: Alaskan Smoker Porter, Alaskan Amber
Other beers to try within the same style: Lagunitas Olde Gnarly Wine, Stone Old Guardian
Rating: B