Black Raven Old Birdbrain Barleywine Ale
Vital Statistics
Type: Barleywine
Aged: Aged in Barrels, Whiskey
Release: Limited Rotating (vintaged)
ABV: 11.5%
Bitterness: 85 IBU
From the brewer
This robust strong ale features pale malts and generous hop additions. After primary fermentation, several American rye whiskey barrels are filled and cellared to age. The remaining beer is then cellared in a stainless steel tank. After many months of aging, the barrels are then blended into the remaining batch aged in the stainless steel tank.
Average Scores
Overall: 
(logged 18 times)
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(logged 10 times)Who's been drinking this
2011 release
Still pretty hoppy but I feel like this is very close to my memory of this beer despite the fact that it’s probably been aged eight years longer than the most recent time I’ve had it. Light caramel, booze.
2012 release
Has continued to age in new and appealing ways. Quite mellow, with bourbon on top, burnt-caramel sweetness following through to raisin/date and what remains of the hops, dissipating in to a clean finish. Tastes like a warm home on a winter's day.
2015 release
Powerfull dark fruits (raisins, dried cherries), roasted nuts and caramel flavors. Quite sweet and boozy.
2012 release
Scent of whiskey soaked fruit, perhaps cherry skins. The whiskey flavor overpowers anything I might find redeeming in the beer.
I'll note that since I drank a fifth of whiskey during an episode of Simpson's in college, I haven't been able to bear even the scent of it.
2012 release
Sweet honey molasses smell. Sweet and bitter start with a moderately pleasant hoppy finish. Good cereal body.
2012 release
I didn't like this at first but i think it opened up a bit later on and went really well with the a sharp aged cheddar. Do beers open up? Or is that just a wine snob term?
2012 release
Really nice, the only thing I could live without is the bitter buildup.
2012 release
Quite strong on the whiskey barrel with a nice woody caramel mellowness and a fiery bite. Finish is bitter but not out of place. An easy winner.
2009 release
Strong, strong, strong. Nice toffee-oaky complexity in the middle and a hoppy bite. Very mellow. But strong. Did I mention this was strong?