Howe Sound Brewing Co. – 2013 Woolly Bugger Barley Wine

Howe Sound Brewing Co. – 2013 Woolly Bugger Barley Wine Review

The Woolly Bugger is back for another round in 2013 in a new bottle style. This Barley Wine comes in a small, painted 375ml bottle just in time for the holidays (2012 was 341ml). The beer is a slightly clouded, deep copper colour that pours with 2 thick fingers of lacing, slow to settle head. The beer smells as a quality Barley Wine should. There are notes of toffee, chocolate and of course a slight booziness with its 10.5% alcohol rating (2012 was 11%). There is a defined sweetness that parallels the hop bitterness making for a tantalizing aroma. The Woolly Bugger’s flavour starts off with toffee, caramel and chocolate flavours before building into an oaky, well hopped center with lingering toffee sweetness. The finish is a strong hop bitterness with an alcohol tone along side. The toffee notes also linger until the final cord adding a touch of sweetness to the mix. The Woolly Bugger is a fantastic tasting Barley Wine and personally I believe that the 2013 is top of the heap and slightly better than the 2012 which was also very good! Even better yet though, cellaring this beer for a year or two will likely result in something astounding. Pick up a few bottles of this one and enjoy one each coming winter.

See the 2012 Howe Sound Woolly Bugger review

Alcohol – 10.5%
IBU – 75
Size – 341ml
Price – $7.20(Craft Retailer)
howesound.com (2012 is listed)