Maple Pecan Bligh’s Barleywine Ale pours with a dark-brown to mahogany coloration. The initial nose of the brew provides a solid hit of alcohol burn along with a sugary note (likely from the inclusion of maple syrup). Perhaps most interesting about this effort is how well the burn is hidden through the caramel and pecan flavors at the onset. This “zing” begins to grow as one progresses further in each 12-ounce can.
This barleywine has a medium mouthfeel and a small amount of carbonation. As the Maple Pecan Bligh’s continues to warm to room tempurature, the brew is able to keep the collection of flavors in line – there’s no falling into a sacchine mess nor does the bitterness kick up in the back end. This is the sort of beer that one can sit back with and enjoy a roaring fire with; it is an experience that anyone that fancies themselves fans of darker styles should actively search out. The fact that Dry Dock offers Bligh’s at a price comparable with mainline offerings is appreciated in this era of crazily-priced heavy hitters (e.g. an OKay brewery that charges $35/4 pack of their stouts).
I’d recommend pairing Dry Dock’s Maple Pecan Bligh’s Barleywine Ale with cheeses, red meats, or any other cuisine that has bold flavors. The Maple Pecan Bligh’s Barleywine Ale is currently available in Dry Dock’s distribution footprint, while the brewery has dipped their toe into other Bligh’s Barleywine variants over the years. For additional information about the full array of beers that the company produces, check out their website. New product drops and event information can be found on Dry Dock’s social media profiles.
Rating: 9.5/10
We previously covered Dry Dock’s Sour Apricot back in 2016.
Maple Pecan Bligh’s Barleywine Ale (Dry Dock) / Barrel-aged / 13% ABV / http://drydockbrewing.com/ / http://www.facebook.com/DryDockBrewing / http://www.twitter.com/DryDockBrewing