X30 - Great Divide Old Ruffian Barley Wine-Style Ale

This broad giant opens up deep, dark and dangerous with lots of dark sweet malt on the nose, then comes waves of sweet coffee, muscovado sugar and dried fruit. Very deep. A touch of coconut after a while. A lot of dark fruit, which is nice, but the sweetness is a tad too pronounced.
The taste is big, tight and intense with notes of freshly grounded coffee, dark chocolate and raisins. The finish is loooong and intense with a good bitterness, but there is a touch of alcohol at the end. A big, brawny beer, but a tad too much for my taste. Good but not great.

85p   (tasted from bottle - 2011/01)