Beer – #1019 – Raindogs – Disintegration

Raindogs Disintegration Barley Wine . It is neither desert time, nor do I have a cigar, but there is something compelling about having a Barley Wine because for me they are the peak of beers.

This is a 2014 vintage. It deserves to be let free.

Don’t rush

This is a 330ml bottle of a beer that is 12% ABV, which is around the 360 calories, and this bottle would be 3.12 standard drinks.

Raindogs Disintegration Barley Wine is obviously brewed as a Barley Wine / Wheat Wine by the lovely people at Raindogs Brewing Co who are in Christchurch

Cellared and ready to be enjoyed

Disintegration is a strong, malty beer designed to be cellared to allow complex flavours to develop with time.

Don’t rush this one, put away for a year or two and bring out for a special occasion.

So, What could possibly go wrong?

The aroma on opening is a thick dense chocolate over some rich steeped fruits.

The pour is of a muddy brown of a beer that looks really flat, there does not seem to be a lot of life in whatever escaped.

It sits in the glass like a cold coffee.

In the glass the aroma moves to a more milk chocolate note.

It isn’t totally flat, but it has a punch like a mule in the taste department. An outrageous slam of flavours. A Barrage

Carried on a warmth of alcohol tang there is sweetness and softness, a full explosion of toffee richness a really extravagant taste.

Almost enough to make you wince with fear and cower, but not that much that it scares you away, you revisit to check and savour, ponder and muse.

This is extraordinarily deep for a beer.

I let this warm a little and it got even more legs! A lovely deep rich beer, a properly decent Barley Wine and despite my thinking otherwise a sunny afternoon is a perfect time for this, as I contemplate the slip into a more relaxed state of mind to enjoy the late afternoon sun whilst sitting in a shaded pat of the garden.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. I really would like to have seen at least an effort at a head, even a dirty film would have made this the best beer. But looks deceive and this is a startlingly good beer, deep, flavourful and glorious.

The double dip review

Where did I get it? The Fine Wine Delivery company had some, but they’re in good places all over.
Am I enjoying it? It it outstanding
Would I have another? Yes, no questions
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, this would be a perfect contemplation and shooting the breeze beer.

Music for this: ” Good Times! by The Monkees on the Spotify player, with the outstanding Me and Magdelena

BARLEY WINE

A Barley Wine is a strong, top-fermenting ale, with an alcohol contents of at least 9% and up to 13% (or more) by volume. Hops may be hardly noticeable at all or very noticeable. Sip them out of the special glass, that will concentrate the aroma. They are excellent with cigars or with dessert.