Goose Island King Henry

The Goose Island Beer Company is from Chicago, Illinois.   King Henry is a barleywine ale that has been aged in bourbon barrels.  It is a whopping 13.4% ABV.  This was bottled on 10-08-11 and will develop in the bottle over five years.  I wish I had one to try now and one to age, but I was only able to get one bottle, the last one on the shelf at Beer Crazy in Urbandale, Iowa.

The beer pours black in appearance, dark ruby around the edges if held to the light.  There is a short head of light brown foam.  The aroma is whiskey, oak, vanilla, raisins and old, oxidized sherry.  The alcohol is apparent and lightly stinging to the nose.  The taste is deep, rich, dark malt with some coffee and dark chocolate, vanilla, burnt caramel, whiskey, very sweet, with a tang on the end.  It feels thick and sweet in the mouth.  There is enough alcohol to give a warming sensation down the throat and to the stomach.  This is a massive beer in every way.