This review is actually part one of two.  I ended up drinking Old Foghorn and the Anchor Small Beer.  Small beer is the second running of a beer, which means that the first beer is the way stronger version.  Historically, those who were more wealthy could afford the good beer, whereas those with less financial means were relegated to the secondary beer, which came from the same grist used to make the first running.  

I have discussed something similar to this in young vs. old ales in my article on Porter Ale.  To date, it seems that Anchor is the only one who does this small beer tradition, although one might argue that the major American lager brewers are making small beer by virtue of few and inferior ingredients.  But they are not exactly the same thing or principle as small beer because they are not doing the second running on good ingredients.  Anyhow, this first review will be on Old Foghorn and the next review will be on their small beer, which is the second running of Old Foghorn.

Old Foghorn is a Barleywine, which is a very strong Ale (you might guess that from the name), and had a very deep and rich Copper red color to it.  There was a clean and very active body shimmering through the glass. On top of the active body was a nicely maintained, foamy head.  Lovely in the glass ’twas this Ale.

Aroma wise, this beer had plenty going on, not quite as much as the classic Thomas Hardy Barelywine (but plenty).  There were tons of Cascade Hops on the nose (this attribute was more in Old Foghorn than in Thomas Hardy Ale), which most often come through as a citrusy grapefruit aroma or a spruce pineyness.  There was a hard alcohol aroma or whiskey and vodka on the the nose.  More than anything there was a very present perfume hop smell and taste.  Hints of fruit (not near what Thomas Hardy was) and a toasted nuttiness could also be noted.  

When taking a drink, grapefruit hoppiness was certainly the first thing that I noted.  Alcohol warmth definitely popped through the brew next.  About the middle of the taste, a wonderful toasted nut and (especially) caramel dryness came through all the way to the end of the brew.  Yet, the hop taste and bitterness ran consistently through to the very end.  I felt that the taste was pretty balanced, but a little more malt on the front would have been nice.  Very good, though.  

Mike’s Rating: 

Overall Satisfaction: ★★★¾☆ 

Among other Barleywines ★★★½☆