Burly Wine

Brewed by: Half Pints Brewing Company
Brewed at: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Type: Barley Wine
10.5% A/V

First Impression
Sealed with golden wax and with a nice hybrid wine/beer label it certainly looks the part from this small Manitoban brewery. Cracking the seal, the aroma of this special brew floods the air... Amazing. Typically low effervescence and a luxurious ruby hue tantalize...

First Sip
I had forgotten how much I enjoy barley wines! Though technically beer, and generally served cold, barley wines in many aspects otherwise resemble wines more than they do beer. The smell is more prominent and the flavors lean more toward rich and complex like wine than crisp and fresh that we generally find in beers. Though properly chilled, the depth of flavor and strong alcohol content combined for a warmth that was just incredible.

Halfway
Just busted out some mozzarella and a little prosciutto. Leave me alone.

Bottoms Up
This particular bottle of Burly Wine was a gift. From what I understand it was released by Half Pints Brewery somewhere around 2005 so it's not terribly likely that you'll be fortunate enough to find one. However if I'm not mistaken the good people at Half Pints release an annual edition of Burly Wine so there is hope! This bottle was aged perhaps longer than might be called for but it was still brilliant nonetheless.
82/100