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Friday Brew Review – Raspberry Barleywine Ale

September 25th, 2009 by Rendar Frankenstein

Friday Brew Review

Friday again – another week of possibility subtracted from my life, and thus another excuse to drink! Oh, how I love doing these Friday Brew Reviews.

Coming home from a high school football game, Mrs. Krueger and I took a detour at the liquor store. Trying my best to be a gentleman, I offered that she “pick out something to get yourself drunk off of.” Always one to party, she found a “raspberry beer – that sounds fun” and we were on our way.

I was halfway through the original brew I planned to feature when Mrs. Krueger finally opened up her choice for the evening. The fair lady took one sip, grimaced while choking it down, and asked to switch. Initially I laughed, but then remembered the promise I made to myself to be more chivalrous – you know, some straight-up King Arthur shit.

Taking the fatboy-sized bottle, I began to pound the Berkshire Brewing Company’s Raspberry Barleywine Ale. Big mistake. I had (for one reason or another) anticipated being treated to a fun beer with a light aftertaste of fruit – wrong on all accounts.

First and foremost, Raspberry Barleywine Ale should advertise its alcohol content somewhere on the bottle itself. The first sip, heedlessly poured into my gullet, saw me almost gag on the unexpected flavor of alcohol. While the company’s website told me of the product’s 9% alcohol content, this information would have been much more useful beforehand.

Secondly, these folks need to downplay the “ale” aspect and highlight the Barleywine component. This stuff tastes much more like wine than any worthwhile beer, ale, or lager I’ve ever consumed. Also, with an oversized bottle, doling this shit out like wine just seems like it would make more sense.

Lastly, I suppose the Berkshire Brewing Company might want to consider working on the actual flavor. Maybe I’m being harsh, but this just doesn’t taste that great. It’s decent and was put out at a fair price, but it certainly isn’t a beverage I can recommend as being worthy of spending time or energy hunting down.

Maybe the fact that the brewery’s website lists the drink as being a FEBRUARY (not Autumn or October) seasonal condemns it to suckiness. Or maybe I should have found a store that rotates its inventory more frequently.

Oh well. I’m started to get lifted and am done complaining. Perhaps I’ll fare better next week.

For its alcohol content and relatively low price, Berkshire Brewing Company’s Raspberry Barleywine Ale squeaks out with a C.

  • Pepsibones Krueger

    Just as an update – I woke with a headache and it persisted for most of the day.

    I blame the vile raspberry-juice.

  • Sam

    Barleywine is a sub-style of ale. Here is an online style description.

    “Despite its name, a Barleywine (or Barley Wine) is very much a beer, albeit a very strong and often intense beer! In fact, it’s one of the strongest of the beer styles. Lively and fruity, sometimes sweet, sometimes bittersweet, but always alcoholic. A brew of this strength and complexity can be a challenge to the palate. Expect anything from an amber to dark brown colored beer, with aromas ranging from intense fruits to intense hops. Body is typically thick, alcohol will definitely be perceived, and flavors can range from dominant fruits to palate smacking, resiny hops. ”

    “Also, with an oversized bottle, doling this shit out like wine just seems like it would make more sense.” –> Pouring it into a glass would be a smart choice to really appreciate it.

    “Maybe the fact that the brewery’s website lists the drink as being a FEBRUARY (not Autumn or October) seasonal condemns it to suckiness. Or maybe I should have found a store that rotates its inventory more frequently.” –> Barleywines can be aged for a very long time (years) with positive effects. The harsh edges will often mellow, while the complexities come to the forefront a bit more.

    Sorry you had to experience this vile raspberry-juice, but maybe barleywines just aren’t your thing.

  • Pepsibones Krueger

    Sam – Good call. Different strokes for different folks!

    As it’s been well over a year since I wrote the review, I can’t recall perfectly but I think I just didn’t know what I was getting into. I mean, I love soda but if I think I’m drinking milk and it turns out to be Coca-Cola, it’s not going to taste good.