That’s quite the name for a beer… and what a beer. Susan and I split Left Hand’s Widdershin’s Barleywine (vintage 2007, just came out). I have to say it was more a strong ale than a barleywine. I was really hoping for a barleywine, but got all ale. It pours a light brown color with a nice light tan head (most barleywines are a little red in color). Smells of hops and some slight fruitiness and maybe a little vanilla/oak. The taste was more oaky, vanilla-y and hops and some malt sweetness (caramel malts perhaps?), but none of the barleywine fruitness that I would have expected. There was no taste of alcohol, which was good for this 10% ABV brew.
I had high hopes for this one and it let me down. Maybe it was just me, but it wasn’t much of a barleywine. I am pretty sure they release it every year. Hopefully, next year it won’t be aged in oak.