Mendocino Imperial Barley Wine Ale '10

Tonight I have a bottle of Mendocino Brewing Company's Imperial Barley Wine Ale. I've never had this barleywine before, and I'll be sharing my impressions with you - sip-by-sip.

Aroma:

This is an amazing smelling beer. I spent a while just inhaling the friuty, nutty, and almost bran/cereal type aromas, in anticipation of the first sip...

Head Rentention:

This barleywine lost it's head within about 20 seconds, but the level of carbonation feels just right on the tongue.

Sip #1:

Cereal. Fruit. Light and pleasant hop bitterness. Clean finish.

Sip #2:

Slight estery/fruity notes. Pleasant mouth feel. Firm and lingering but with no lingering aftertaste.

Sip #3:

The fruity and subttly nutty qualites are what seem to keep coming through. Seems slightly astringent, but not unpleasantly. Slight warming. Very subttle cogniac type notes.

Sip #4 & beyond:

Can't a guy just enjoy his beer? Let me be! lol

I was surprised by the complexity of this barleywine. Having never tried it before, I had no idea what to expect. I've had Mendocino's 'Red Tail Ale', their ' Bule Herron Pale Ale' and their 'White Hawk Select IPA' (All good beers in their own right), but I never had the opportunity to try their barleywine until now.

It almost has a port wine type quality. Lingering on the tongue - in a very pleasant way. It has a fruity/wine grape type quality with a firm mouthfeel and a clean finish.

If your local bottle-shop can get their hands on a bottle, I highly reccommend it. Now excuse me while I get back to my beer!

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there!