Keg Creek Old Marathon Barleywine Style Ale

As we close in on Imbolc, the barleywine style makes its appearance. Sometimes called a "strong ale", a barleywine ale was typically the highest ABV style around before the modern "imperial" and "double" beer varieties were introduced by craft brewers and before we saw many trippels and quadruppels from Belgium. Old Marathon clocks in at a serious 13.3% ABV. No word on the IBUs, but the hoppiness is quite subdued. It pours a hazy maple syrup hue with a thin tan head. It's got a medium creaminess and it's whiskey-like at first. The corollary flavors are evocative of dark fruits like fig, dates and black cherries, along with brown sugar and maple. Very smooth going down. IGB awards it an 8.5 on the strong ale scale.