Starr Hill Bandstand Barleywine
Starr Hill once made a barleywine called All Access that was a limited, one-off release. I’m assuming that since Bandstand Barleywine is a part of the brewery’s relatively new “All Access” series of beers, they decided to renew that recipe or at least repackage the beer. Regardless of how we got to where we are with the beer, it, too, is a limited release, released to the public in November of last year. I just crossed paths with it in March.
Bandstand Barleywine (10.5% ABV and 90 IBU) is a monster of a beer and one that needs some time to mature in the basement for a year or so. Right now — or rather four months old when I drank it — it’s a bit rough and hot. The combination of Columbus, Cascade and Apollo hop varieties through standard and dry-hopping additions certainly give the beer some solid bitterness and piney character, there’s still a good amount of caramel and malt sweetness that attempt to round out the beer. Unfortunately, it’s just not quite enough to temper the bite and heat.
I believe a good couple of years in the basement would do this beer well. The hops will certainly fade a bit, but the overly-warming alcohol would have a chance to mellow as well, which, at the time of the tasting, gives it too much of a boozy hit.
Appearance
The brew pours a dark copper in color with a beige head of foam that fell to a full collar around the surface.
Aroma
Caramel, honey, dark fruits, pine and wafts of alcohol all combine for an enticing aroma.
Taste
Cherry, caramel, piney hops and a decent amount of malt sweetness fill the mouth smoothly, but fade fairly abruptly. A moderate-to-high hop bitterness quickly enfolds the tongue before settling into the lingering and very warming finish. The medium bodied beer doesn’t have that smooth of a transition, but packs a solid amount of hop character.
Overall
A beer this big, even after four months in the bottle, still needs some time to mature. The alcohol is too hot and the hops too dominating, though I’m sure there are folks out there that will love the bite. I personally prefer my barleywines to be a more balanced and well rounded. Bandstand Barleywine isn’t a bad beer at the moment, but it could be so much better with a couple of years under its belt, allowing the flavors to marry and mature and the alcohol to mellow a touch.
Rating: 3.75/5
