Samael ( ) is the accuser, seducer and destroyer—the fallen angel and chief ruler of the fifth heaven. He‟s also one hell of a barleywine. Part of the “Demon Ale Series” from Avery, Samael is true to its namesake by being simultaneously good and evil. With powerful plumes of malt that flow into a vinous blend of caramel and vanilla with a good dose of oak, this barleywine is ripe with malevolent potency. If you‟re going to be consumed in flames, you might as well consume this first.

This lively barley wine brewed under the watchful eye of master brewer and beer author Garret Oliver is an accomplishment to be savored with every sip. A complex nose of toffee and citrus announces the arrival on the palate of a medium-bodied, warm and leafy hop body that stays on the sweeter side and finishes milder than its high alcohol content would
suggest.

Thick, warming and heavy on the caramel, Olde GnarleyWine isn‟t quite as hoppy as its American brethren, which makes it a pretty amazing experience for folks who long to see malt take the centre stage in their bigger beers. Think of a bowl of ripe fruit (skins included) topped with a brown sugar-coated burnt marshallow and you‟ll have a bit of an idea of of what to expect here.

Okay. I‟m going to break out of the wholethird-person-narrative thing here and address you directly. I love this beer. I‟m not going to tell you anything about it. But if you like this book, and you like the things that I write, then just trust me. Drink it..

This is not a beer to be trifled with. When young it is a powerful mix of rich malt, extreme
hoppiness and high alcohol. As it ages, however, this monster of an ale also mellows, becoming less bitter and aggressive and more balanced and harmonious in both aroma and taste. What is also astounding is how different this beer drinks from year to year. Currently, we get an herbal, rooty and citrus quality from the „04; and meaty, less sweet body in the „00 with just a hint of tobacco leaf and soy.

Vintage 2004 | Vintage 2000

Although the alcohol content of Peter McAuslan‟s annual winter seasonal has been steadily decreasing over the years (from 10.2% in 2000 to 9.2% in 2006), we think his grand plan is to achieve a finer balance from previous versions. This is one of the „cleaner‟ tasting barleywines on our menu, in that it finishes nice and dry with just a hint of honey hanging on at the end. It‟s a bit young right now, but if you want an extra burst of fresh hop bitterness in a mild barleywine, why not give it a go.

Thomas Hardy‟s is a world-renowned barleywine treasured for its depth of character and unrivalled capacity for ageing. The 2006 is a young and bold barleywine with a potent nose of cherries, stewed apricot and hops, giving way to a vinous, peachy body that is at once tart and surprisingly sweet. Try it once now, and come back in a few years to witness the effects of ageing. We expect the carbonation to lighten, and the flavours to calm and meld into a barleywine of astounding character. (Bonus round! While you wait for that experience, see if you can drink everything else on our menu during the ensuing years.).