A smoked barley wine. It pours deep orange chestnut under a light pale cream froth and rim. At first, it tastes like something I would have made as a fairly unreliable home brewer getting rid of ends of specialty malts. Yet it's not unattractive. In fact, as sips are sipped it gets a little more attractive. On the nose, there are planky hardwood aromas as well as musky things and some sweet pale malt. Mouth-wise, more of the same - plus a bit of whisky and a little orange peel along with black tea as well as ginger root hopping effect followed by then heat with the drying finish. Creamy body. It's maybe like a stronger Raftsman - that hint o'ginger is in there at least.

The bottle says "Brewed by Salisbury Cove Associates, Inc." but the BAers, who have fallen in love, say Atlantic Brewing . I am still left with a couple of math based questions about this beer. Why did it cost $11.30 and not $8.30 even though I bought it in state? Why is it a barley wine and only 7.7%? If it was 8.3% and $8.30, I might be fully satisfied of the bargain between it and I. But I am happy enough.