Pours with slight haze and a bit of shrapnel floating around. White foam is thin, wavering quickly, leaving no traces.
Aroma is malty. Caramel, toffee, dark fruits, and hints of molasses fill the nose. Earthiness seems to be there (part of aging?) while the the high ABV is masked perfectly.
Taste is surprisingly bitter in the finish: possibly either herbal or spice hops but this could be the remnants of citrus hops as well. The malts are there but not in the same force as the nose. There are sweets but the hops seems to balance well.
The body is lighter than I expected from a 10% barleywine. The carbonation is mild and there is a slight drying of the mouth.
If the taste lived up to the aroma, throwing in a bit more body, this would be one heck of a barleywine. As it is, this is an above average offering. The alcohol is well hidden. Enjoy!