Beer Geeking

I usually drink fairly simple beers, such as fruited ales, IPAs, Porters and Stouts.

I do not usually drink complicated beers, but I am suddenly on a barleywine kick.

Here are two:

Dogfish Head Olde School

Drinking at room temperature,

Pours a golden color with a half-inch cream-colored head.

Looks different than the others I have had.

Doesn’t fill the mouth at first, but a long, long finish, warm down the throat. Settles in the back of the mouth.

Gets more complex as you wait, and it hits hard. Finish is 25+ seconds.

This is a lot of beer (15 percent). Two hours later, after drinking no more beer, the heady feeling is still there.

At $4.99 a bottle, it’s worth a trip. I am unsure on the year.

Rogue Breweing: Old Crustacean

Drinking at room temperature.

Pours a dark, dark red, light brown head.

Deep, sweet, malty nose.

Almost heavy taste. Sweet and full. A lot at the top of the palate for a long time, and at the middle-front of the tongue. Finishes of up to two minutes at points.

Much less sweet on second and third taste. Holds a long, long time.

A very long finish, typical of what I have found in barleywines.

$3.29 for 12 ounces, so a good treat.

2004 vintage. I should get another and cellar it.