We end our journey by coming back to Michigan, this time to Battle Creek (home of Kellogg's!), to visit Arcadia Ales Brewing (the website is currently under construction) to drink their Cereal Killer Barleywine Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.
This is brewed in the traditional English style of Barleywines. Having a high alcohol level allows this beer to be great for aging. As it ages, the beer will develop more sherry-like flavors and aromas similar to a cask-aged port. It has 70 IBUs and is 10% ABV.
Overall average rating: 7.0/10
This is a translucent cloudy amber beer with a quickly diminishing, frothy off-white head. We smell yeast, barley, grapes, brown sugar, and a little clove. The flavors are a little hop, a touch of banana and chocolate, as well as a sweet wood flavor - maybe cherry wood?
Shawn- It smells more like a Belgian than a Barleywine to me. The flavors are somewhat muddled, almost like they aren't individually added. It could have been amazing, but it lacks palatability and needs blended better, 7/10.
Angela- To me, it tastes like a Barleywine, which is not my favorite style of beer, 6.5/10.
Chris- When I think of a Barleywine, I think of Hog Heaven from Avery.I might mistake this for a Belgian dubbel more than a Barleywine. I think if it were aged, the flavors would become more defined and I'd give it a higher rating, 7.5/10.
Our next porter is Arcadia Ales London-Style Porter purchased at Vintage Estates.
I had a hard time finding a direct link to this beer. All I could find was this article from examiner.com. We really like the label, particularly the Union Jack bar sign that says Churchill's. It is 7% ABV.
Overall average rating: 6.0/10
It pours opaque with an off-white carbonated head that leaves good lacing on the glass. The aroma is rich, with dark roasted malt and coffee essences with an additional sweet scent, maybe molasses and black cherry. The taste is thin, with a light cherry flavor. It has a front tongue bite with a linger on the side and a touch of bite on the back of the tongue.
Shawn- This reminds me more of a black IPA* than a porter. I would have liked it better had there been less hop and it had followed the fruit flavor, 5.5/10.
Angela- This is interesting with the cherry/hoppy flavors together. I expected a lot more of the rich coffee/chocolate flavors because of how it smelled, but I was pleasantly surprised, 6.5/10.
Chris- This is hoppy for a porter, although the flavor fades fast; I'd say it's a black pale ale at best. It is traditional for an American-style porter, being fruit forward, while London-style porters are generally maltier, 6/10.
*According to beeradvocate.com, American black ale, also referred to as a Black IPA (India Pale Ale) or Cascadian Dark Ale, range from dark brown to pitch black and showcase malty and light to moderate roasty notes and are often quite hoppy generally with the use of American hops.
