Barleywine Review #5 - Great Divide Old Ruffian

Posted by: Tyler Rippeteau

Nov. 10, 2011

There wasn’t a whole lot of excitement in obtaining the bottle of Great Divide Old Ruffian.  I just went to the liquor store, paid $8 and brought home the bottle.  So here’s the review: 

Location: Williams Village Liquor

Cost: $8 (22oz. bomber)

Glassware: Pint Glass

ABV: 10.2%

IBUs: 90

Brewery Location: Denver, Colorado

Style: American Barleywine

Average Beer Advocate Rating: A-/423 – Excellent

My Beer Advocate Rating: B/3.55 – Good

Current Number of Reviews on Beer Advocate/Current Rank in Top 20: 926/3^rd

Brewery Description: Great Divide Old Ruffian

Bottled On: Nov. 23, 2010

APPEARANCE:  (4.5 out of 5) If there is one thing I have learned about Great Divide since moving to Colorado it is that they have a knack for creating some great looking beers.  The Old Ruffian is no exception, when this beer is poured a gorgeous, stark-white, inch-thick head rests on top of a pretty Mahogany colored, opaque beer.

SMELL:  (3.5 out of 5) Giant, sweet malt in the nose.  The aroma is moderately strong, but it could be a little stronger.  Brown sugar and molasses dominate the malt aromas, but hints of yeast and a touch of wood comes through as well.

TASTE:  (3.5 out of 5) The taste follows the nose with big malty flavors.  Sweet molasses, nutmeg and a touch of honey fill out the malt bill.  A big dose of hops lurks just beneath the surface up front and slowly makes its self known as the sip finishes.  By the end of the sip, this Barleywine tastes a lot more like a big, double IPA with some notes of pine, citrus and some floral flavor as well. 

MOUTHFEEL:  (3.5 out of 5) Silky and smooth with just a hint of sparkle.  A small amount of sweetness hits the palate up front before a dryer than average and hoppy finish washes it away. 

OVERALL:  (3.5 out of 5) I like the Old Ruffian, but it isn’t the best Barleywine I’ve had.  There is something just a little bit off.  The body of the beer is a little thin for me.  I expect bigger, bolder and richer flavors from the style. 

The Barleywine Project

Posted by: Tyler Rippeteau

Oct. 6, 2011

Last month I announced the Avery Project and began the process of reviewing 20 Avery Brewing Company Beers here at 20 Beers in 20 Nights.  In that announcement I also mentioned that I would simultaneously work on another project – The Barleywine Project.  Well, I have finally reviewed the first beer on that list and it is time to officially launch the project.

The Barleywine Project will be very similar to the DIPA Project.  Like the DIPA Project, the list of beers for the Barleywine Project will consist of the Top 20 Most Often Reviewed American Barleywines on Beer Advocate, in other words, the 20 most popular Barleywines according to one of the largest and most informed beer communities on the planet.

Just as was the case with the DIPA Project, the Barleywine Project consists of a number of seasonal brews, beers which are not distributed where I live and even two beers that are no longer produced.  In fact, none of the beers on this list are available year-round, they are either seasonal or available on a rotating basis.  So this list will be much harder for me to complete than the DIPA Project and a ton harder than the Avery Project. 

Just in case you were too lazy to click that link above, listing which Barleywines will be on this list, here you go:

           1.       Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale – Sierra Nevada Company

           2.       Old Horizontal – Victory Brewing Company

           3.       Old Ruffian Barley Wine – Great Divide Brewing Company

           4.       Third Coast Ale – Bell’s Brewery

           5.       Olde School Barleywine – Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

           6.       Hog Heaven Barley Wine – Avery Brewing Company

           7.       XS Old Crustacean – Rogue Ales

           8.       Olde GnarlyWine – Lagunitas Brewing Company

           9.       Flying Mouflan – Troegs Brewing Company

           10.   Founders Nemesis – Founders Brewing Company

           11.   Doggie Claws – Hair of the Dog Brewing Company

           12.   Backburner (Imperial Barley Wine Style Ale) – Southern Tier Brewing Company

           13.   Behemoth Blonde Barleywine – Three Floyds Brewing Company

           14.   30^th Anniversary – Jack and Ken’s Ale – Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

           15.   AleSmith Old Numbskull – AleSmith Brewing Company

           16.   Barleywine Style Ale – Green Flash Brewing Company

           17.   Smuttynose Barleywine Style Ale (Big Beer Series) – Smuttynose Brewing Company

           18.   John Barleycorn Barleywine Ale – Mad River Brewing Company

           19.   Bourbon Barrel Barleywine – Central Waters Brewing Company

           20.   Old Boardhead Barleywine Ale – Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub

Of these 20 beers, about six or seven of them should be easily attainable for me here in Colorado, a few others might require some extra hunting in the local liquor stores and bars and still a few others should be attainable for me through trips back home to Chicago over the holidays, but it will undoubtedly take some trading and/or travelling for me to complete the list.  So, if you have access to any of these great beers (particularly Founders Nemesis) or know where I can find them, please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email to StoneTSR@gmail.com.  I will be happy to work something out for some of our great CO beer.

As mentioned above, I have already reviewed one beer on The List, so stay tuned to 20 Beers in 20 Nights for the next few days to find out which one it is.