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0.5L bottle purchased at Heritage Liquor $9.99 - Very deep and dark rustic brown, nearly opaque with a super dull glow of ruby within when put up to a strong light. A tight dark ivory foam stands to about a half inch tall sitting back down to a thick skim and puffy ring. Some light lacing in a few large spots appear to stick for a bit across the glass.

Borderline on the light side upon first wiffs but tends to build as it sits with some brown sugar, lightly figgy sweet heat mixed with golden raisin rummy warmth. Herbal tea, cinnamon, a touch of banana, and cocoa float in from way underneath.

Taste is a moody dark malted, low ended tide of fig, prune, and cherry-esque tang and super warming sweetness. Slightly spiced with some cinnamon, brown sugar,banana fits in there inbetween and earthy bittering hops. Fairly mild overall, sweetly tanged in darkish fruits, somewhat bready with a simple display and tone that slips into some complexity within the finishing areas and quite a heft of warming body behind it.

More of the mild stuff in body and feel as well as its quite smooth, creamy, and soft with a simpe tang building with warmth and malty construction towards the middle and gliding well into the finish where it sticks some banana and caramel on to the cheeks. The 10% is there but not pushy as its warm settles in quickly and sits softly with a boldness and length in every sip.

A fairly solid Barleywine, not all that complex, more of a quick kicker built with more malty warming foundation then hoppy flare. A sipper to be sure and quite good.

Served In: Pint Glass