Anchor Brewing "Old Foghorn"

I apologize Anchor Brewing. I drank your “Old Foghorn” Barleywine Ale before dinner even though the label said perfect for sipping after dinner.  I was too excited to try it and by the time I read that part I had already poured it in the glass.  Besides, given that my dinner was going to be frozen pizza I was concerned that my pallet would be as wrecked as San Francisco after the earthquake of 1906. 

               

As it is, I probably should have listened.  This would be a perfect ‘after dinner beer.’  It is delicious before but would make more sense after.  This beer is full of malty goodness like any good barleywine should be.  For a second, I had to take another sip and double check because, half way through, I found myself wondering if it was actually carbonated.  It is.  But it’s not something that you notice when you are sipping it.

What you do notice, is apples.  Not that there are any in this brew but I cannot help but notice a wonderful, thick apple flavor in this beverage.  It ends up being very sweet.  But this is where Anchor really impressed me.  Usually, when I associate sweetness with beers or ciders it is pleasant but there is this stickiness in the back of my throat that lingers that I almost feel like I should wash away.  It doesn’t exist here.  Even at the end of this beer the sweetness touches the tongue on the front end but dissipates cleanly, like it damn well should.  I’d rather not choke up syrupy flavor after I’m done with my sip.

This is a really special find.  I sometimes find myself stumbling for something appropriate to drink after a meal.  Usually this lands you somewhere in the liquor category.  I recently had an argument with someone over the age old question “if you could drink wine or beer the rest of your life…” They were dead set on wine and one of their points was the versatility of the beverage during all points of the meal including desert.  To which I say “You can have your port, I’ll have an Old Foghorn.”

--Matt Lowell