Wednesday 15 October 2014

Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn

Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn
Style: Barley Wine
Alcohol Content: 10%
From: San Francisco, California, USA
Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney, United Kingdom
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/

A while back, me and Kevin decided to spend a lazy afternoon "researching" at one of our favourite pubs, The White Horse  in Parsons Green. After a few opening beers, he tried a cracking Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar and I indulged in a warming Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn Barleywine. Now there are not many beers that stick out in my mind that day (due to the quantity!), but this was one of them. Since that day, we have scoured each and every beer shop we've visited for it but to no avail, until last wednesday when Kev surprised me with a lovely bunch of flowers and- you've guessed it- the highly coveted Old Foghorn Barleywine. What a guy!

Upon researching this beauty, it transpires that Anchor Brewing comes from San Francisco and is apparently Old Foghorn is handmade in small batches, following a Ye Old English recipe. This was the very first Barleywine style beer to be brewed in the US which helps to make it a pretty appealing. According to their website, all three malt-mashes are needed to make just one barley wine brew, and they only use the "first wort" which is the 'first runnings' of said mash. I am intrigued to see if this beer still stands up to my fond first impressions of it- so lets have a try!

Old Foghorn

Colour: This beer pours a murky mahogany colour with a tan head. The head disappears quickly to the sides of the glass, and the cloudiness clears to a reveal a rich, ruby red depth.

Aroma: This beer smells like autumn and it takes me a few seconds to work why. It reminds me of Halloween Toffee Apples and the slight smokiness of Bonfire Night. Notes of spices, orange and rum soaked raisins emanate from its surface.

Body: It has a gentle level of carbonation which washes the flavours from the front to the back of the tongue pleasingly. You can feel it coat the roof of your mouth and warm your insides. The alcohol is not overwhelming despite its high content, and blends perfectly with the dry finish to this beer.

Taste: Spicy, sweet notes of cinnamon, toffee and rum-soaked raisins dominate the palate. This is a great after-dinner beer, or perhaps even a mid-afternoon beer, as I can see it going very well with a slice of carrot cake. The malty sweetness cuts through its dry edge and culminates in a beer thats very easy to drink indeed. The taste of the alcohol is still there, but just serves to give it an extra 'kick' in my opinion. By the end of the bottle I am smiling and remembering just why this beer has been on my wish list for some time now. If I was giving out gold stars then this would get one for sure!

Old Foghorn

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/nogne-o-100.html
Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/redchurch-brewery-soreditch-blonde.html

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2 comments:

Unknown said...

Good review anything that strong would be too much for me personally, but I like the way you have worded your review of this beer.

Beefsbrewery said...

Thank you David for your kind words. Emma is currently grinning from ear to ear due to your feedback

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