Yet another strong beer (both in alcohol content and quality) from Great Divide. They are becoming my “go to” brewery when I just want something that’s just plain good. I have yet to have something from them that wasn’t all around great. While they might not be the best of the best, their beers are some of the best of each style I’ve had. The Old Ruffian is no different. Thus far, it’s my favorite barleywine (out of 2 which I’ve had entire bottles, the other being Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot, which is just way too hoppy, and I like hops, but it wasn’t balanced at all).
The Old Ruffian pours a nice ruby amber color with a thick creamy white head. It smells of a light floral hops mixed in with some malty scents and a little fruit quality. There is also a noticeable alcohol scent, but it actually adds rather than detracts from the quality. The beer has a nice warming quality to it. It’s thick, mildly hoppy without the hops aftertaste of IPA’s, and all around great. There’s a nice balance of malt sweetness to it and a slight fruity/sugary quality to it. This is a perfect beer for a cold night with snow on the ground. You can taste a bit of the alcohol, but this it to be drunk more like a liqueur rather than a beer. And at 10.2% ABV, it’s not overly surprising to get a little alcohol burn to it, but it’s more of a warming feeling than a harsh burn.
If you want something stronger with a nice flavor and nice warming quality for a cold night, this is the beer for you. The only reason it’s not drinkable is because of the alcohol content, but that doesn’t bother me. I love it!
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