AVERAGE BUT PROMISES WITH AGE
Trip in the Woods Barrel-Aged Barleywine (2026) from Sierra Nevada. 16.9 fl oz cork and cage bottle, $ 31.11 (Including shipping), $ 1.84/fl oz. Ordered from Sierra Nevada online, received 10/08/26. Stored at 40 degrees F at home. Reviewed 16/08/26, review 3766. Served at 55.0 F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 60.9 F. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol. Left edge of label embossed “2026”. Cork emerges by hand with a load “POP”. Appearance – 4.25 First pour – Pale Amber (SRM 9), clear. Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lit, ruby and clear. Head – Average (Maximum two cm, aggressive center pour). Brandy, fizzy, short duration, dropping to a 0.05 – 0.1 cm crown constantly being renewed by carbonation, and no cap. Lacing – None Aroma – 4.25 – Sweet malt, caramel/toffee, no hops, no alcohol. Flavor – 4 – Begins moderately sweet with light toffee. Ends slightly bitter with some tannins. No alcohol (10.0 % according to the label). No bourbon. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Vague gastric warming. Palate – 3.75 – Less than Medium, slightly more than Watery: Edging toward syrupy: Soft but lively carbonation. Style: Follows the BA style description. Final impression and summation: 4.25 Uncredited label art. Body is less than expected, distinctly on the lighter side. The flavor is average for an English barleywine – sweet and mild – lacking the aggressiveness of an American style barleywine. Surprisingly no fruit notes, just toffee/caramel and eventual tannins. Overall, I’d suggest cellaring a couple of bottles for a few years – fresh is disappointing. Rating 4.10, rDev -4.9%