Big Sky Brewing Company Olde Bluehair Barley Wine Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Big Sky Brewing Company Olde Bluehair Barley Wine Ale - aged in American Oak Bourbon Barrels. This is bottle 2150 of 3240 – vintage 2012.

From the Big Sky Brewing Company website: “IMAGINE A TANGO, A MAN AND WOMEN DANCING, THEIR EYES LOCKED UPON ONE ANOTHER, THEN TAKE YOUR FIRST TASTE OF OLDE BLUEHAIR, BIG SKY BREWING COMPANY'S BARLEY WINE ALE. LIKE MANY THINGS IN LIFE, OLDE BLUEHAIR JUST GETS BETTER WITH AGE.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a hazy caramel color with a dense tan head and lots of lacing.

Aroma: Vanilla, oak, bourbon, caramel, molasses, toffee, brown sugar, toasted malts, fruity and floral.

Taste: Vanilla, bourbon, caramel and sweet malts, toffee, dark fruit, brown sugar, floral and hop bitterness, oak and a touch of booziness.

Overall: Expertly balanced and enjoyable, Big Sky Brewing Company Olde Bluehair Barley Wine Ale is a super solid barley wine.  At 12% ABV it goes down a little too easy.  I wish I had bought a few more bottles.  It is fantastic!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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