21st Amendment Lower de Boom Barley-wine Ale

21st Amendment Lower de Boom Barleywine. 10.5% ABV, 92 IBUs.

And here we have a brew they've only kegged, never canned, and I was lucky enough to snatch one up. Have to take notes before it's gone.

Looks fantastic. Beautiful dark brown/ruby coloring, under a thick, pudding-ish creamy white head, lasts long, and leaves lace. Lovely. Love it.

Aroma: bright ripe fruit, rich malty complexity. Leading into something good.

Taste: Mmm! Mix of chocolate and rich dark fruits, leather, cognac, port wine, and cigar smoke. Medium bodied, a bit woody. Cherries, grapes, figs, with a fierceness that grows. The alcohol can't hide very well, as it's on the large side. A trifle smokey, as well, with growing complexity. Terribly tasty, and utterly indulgent.

Just a touch on the bitter side, and never too sweet. This is a large and in charge barley-wine that doesn't ache at the sides. Plenty of what I look for in a barley-wine, not missing a thing. Good balance, but not too balanced, if you know what I mean and I hope you do.

Here's what they say about it: "Deep, mahogany color, rich malt candied, rock sugar flavors with sweet burnt currant and fig aromas. It’s strong alcohol content is tempered by a clean bitterness and complex flavors. This Barley Wine is named for Cornelius de Boom, the San Francisco Belgian Consulate General (1850 to 1851) and surprisingly the name of the alley along-side the 21st Amendment on 2nd Street.