Maybe it’s finals season and maybe you need something to unwind. Or maybe you’re out of college like me, but when the chill of winter subsides, the instinct to get loose still remains. After about three drinks, your ability to discern some of the deeper subtleties of your beer will have evaporated. Still if you’re in a hurry, you can get there in a single glass provided the right choice of craft beer.

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‘INSANITY’ – WEYERBACHER – English Barleywine aged in oak bourbon casks – 11.10% ABV (Eye Choir’s Choice)

Appearance: Poured a dark reddish-brown with amber highlights and a one-finger, medium tan head. Despite the relative lack of translucence, some sediment and a mild carbonation can be seen in the body. 4/5

Smell: Strong spicy bourbon aroma that has a raw touch of fusel alcohols. This is rooted in a base of rich, varnished oak and spices like vanilla. This wooden inclination continues into the malt, where maple syrup notes flit over a heady toasted caramel base. A few fruit flavors peek through, though not excessively dark ones, with notes of cherry cordial and caramel apples complementing the standard fig aromas. Hard-hitting, with an ethereally sweet aesthetic that isn’t too simple or cloying. 5/5

Taste: Moderate to strong sweetness amply highlights the slightly burnt sugar qualities of the sticky malt, though this only plays into the strong toasty quality underlying the oaky bourbon. Mild to moderate to tartness further unlocks the spicy vanilla and coconut creme behind the raunchy, peppery booziness, as well as port-wine like dark fruits. Eventually this transitions to a mild to moderate bitterness which fades back into the raw earthy oak, with lingering traces of blackstrap molasses supporting some toned-down sweetness. Well-balanced for such a strong selection of flavor, with a refined sense of dynamics that never abandons the woody, spicy core of this beer. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with a fairly smooth but not especially thick mouthfeel that keeps the strong flavors from feeling too weighted. In the finish, a moderate to strong alcoholic heats kicks up the astrigency of the wood, though it is far from being harsh. 4.5/5

Overall: Great depth, with a lot of interesting flavors that are integrated behind a central theme that doesn’t overpower the finer details of the beer. Aggresively powerful though, which makes this one a definite slow drink. 4.5/5

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‘MONSTER’ (2012) – BROOKLYN – English Barleywine – 10.10% ABV

Appearance: Poured a robust orange bronze with slightly lighter peach highlights and a two-finger, light beige head. The body is transparent, revealing a moderate to strong carbonation. 3.5/5

Smell: Rich malt quality is most prominent, with a toffee flavor that rises out of a grainy biscuit, and meets up with a slightly spicy honeyed quality. A mild dark fruit quality works its way in, with notes of dates and raisins that summon the vaporous quality of oaky brandy. Some lighter fruit flavors such as baked apple come in as well and match with the malts as well as a creamy vanilla note. A little bit of leafy herbal hops take of the rear. 4/5

Taste: Moderate sweetness highlights the caramel malt with notes of brown sugar, as well as the flat sugary quality of apple juice. Mild to moderate tartness highlight the toasty oak, while also adding depth to the boozy fruit character. The mild bitterness accentuates the earthiness of the finish, with a combination of spicy and woody notes that also inform a slightly burnt character to the toffee malt. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body, with a sticky quality derived from the syrupy malt quality. A brief burst of carbonation hits initially, but quickly fades to a thick mouthfeel that benefits from a moderate to strong alcoholic heat that highlights the aged liqueur qualities. 3.5/5

Overall: Certainly well-balanced, with a few interesting details, though on the whole a little bit straightforward and not particularly inventive. A satisfying drink, nonetheless, and perhaps an additional year of cellaring may bring out some more details. 3.5/5

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‘IMMORT ALE’ – DOGFISH HEAD – English Strong Ale brewed with maple syrup, peat smoked barley, and vanilla – 11.00% ABV

Appearance: Poured a deep copper-red with a one finger, light tan head. There is a fair amount of carbonation visible and (surprisingly) no sediment. 3.5/5

Smell: Strong heavily caramelized malts intertwine with hints of molasses and toffee, as well as a subtle, counterpoint of vinous raisin with a hint of cassis. This is wrapped up in the context of a strong, smoky maple aroma that integrates well with hints of spicy vanilla and earthy peat. Very complex, despite a distinct heavy-handedness in the malt category. 4/5

Taste: Strong sweetness, which surprisingly brings out some real earthy smoky flavors along with the maple syrup malt. The combination of these flavors with the cakey vanilla give a purposeful dessert-like impression. There is a strain of moderate tartness as well though, which prevent the raisin and fig flavors from being totally overwhelmed. A mild bitterness finally combines with an astringent booziness in the long, still sweet finish. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body, augmented by some intense syrupy creaminess which goes perfectly with the malt character. There is also a strong yet smooth (though slightly puckering) alcoholic heat which gives this beer a very rich mouthfeel. The carbonation doesn’t bite, but rather lends volume. 4.5/5

Overall: Rich and intense yet extremely complex, with a mouthfeel which perfectly complements the flavors and aromas. Definitely a sipper though, almost more due to the sugar content rather than the alcohol. 4/5

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‘OLD STOCK ALE’ – NORTH COAST – Old Ale – 11.90% ABV

Appearance: Poured a moderate reddish-amber with fiery vermillion highlights and a one-finger, light beige head. The body has a moderate quantity of sediment, and between this and the slightly dark color, mild carbonation can only be seen as the beer is held up to the light. 4/5

Smell: Rich malt aromas that begin with toasted biscuits but delve deeper into toffee and treacle. Dark fruits such as from fig and raisin bread come in as well, which complement a distinct spiciness which includes and earthy nutmeg to powdered licorice root, as well as a creamy vanilla. These spices sit on a base of buttered rum booziness. Very precisely, with detail that is noticeable despite the powerful malt backbone. 4/5

Taste: Moderately sweet, with a big hit of malt that stops well short of roasted, with caramelized grains and light molasses that feature hints of butterscotch. This sweetness also adds a syrupy liqueur angle to the plummy dark fruit, even with slightly lighter fruits like dates or red currants peeking through, with the help of a mild tartness. Mild to moderate bitterness highlights a spice profile which borders between earthy dessert spices and a fragrant toasted tobacco. As the palate dries, a bright note of spicy cognac coats the finish. Really great depth of flavor, with a strong malt that doesn’t rely on punchy roasted flavors to display strength. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body, with a very syrupy mouthfeel whose creaminess is only barely offset by a mild, drawn-out tactile carbonation. A mild to moderate alcoholic heat in the finish helps cut through the creaminess a bit more though. Good parallel to the strong but not dark malt character. 4/5

Overall: Really well-balanced beer that packs a lot of detail in around the central malt theme without being too distracting, yet not totally conventional either. Definitely worth trying to cellar. 4/5