Boulevard / Three Floyds Deep Flux Barley-wine Aged in Rye Whiskey and Medeira Wine Casks

Boulevard / Three Floyds Deep Flux Barley-wine Aged in Rye Whiskey and Medeira Wine Casks.

14.3 % ABV. 20 IBU. Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO, in collaboration with Three Floyds Brewing. 

Clear-is, rich, reddish hue, slim white head above. 

In the nose: Cherries. Dates. Oak. Red, red wine. Whiskey. Massive malt. Caramel. Vanilla. And the threat of big alcohol on the horizon. Whoa. 

In the mouth: Woo! More of that miss-mash invades the palate. Caramel, toffee, wine, whiskey, intense sweetness, immense malt flavors, vanilla, fruit, barrels, sweet, but deadly. Slightly bitter. Overblown, and surprisingly balanced. This beer is kind of crazy, but it works. It's big and busy, brash and outlandish, and  damn if it doesn't do the job. 

The doom of incoming alcohol starts its slough. Time to surrender to the onslaught. 

A while back, we took the brewers from 3 Floyds on a long walk past thousands of our bourbon, rum, tequila, and red wine barrels. We stopped to rest next to a collection of rye whiskey and Madeira wine casks. After a few beers we agreed that yes, these were the chosen ones. A couple more beers and we heard them tell us they wanted to be filled with barleywine – and when barrels speak, we listen. But when collaborating with 3 Floyds, predictable just won’t do, so we made this barleywine different, lighter in color than you might expect. It’s a rich, malty brew that beautifully complements the resplendent flavors of rye, Madeira, and oak lurking in the barrels.

AROMA: Vanilla, butterscotch, whiskey

MALT: Roast, caramel