There are many a craft beer out there that cater to those instances of casual drinking – when you’d like to throw back a few tasty beverages and get your chill on. And then, there are those brews that are so complex, so busy, and just so damn fancy, that you can’t help but slide into your best evening wear and drink with your pinky out. Seventh Son’s Ladies and Gentlemen falls into the latter category. A surprisingly bitter barleywine that rumbles in at 11% ABV, this brew is vast, spanning all over the flavor map. Throw on your top hat, it’s drinking time.
This odyssey begins with a bouquet of rich, bready malts. A touch of raisin supports from the side, while a mild caramel sweetness settles over top a moment later. At the same time, an underlying citrus bloom begins to grow, consisting of orange zest and peaches, while hints of limes make an appearance every now and then. As the aroma continues, notes of tea and toast creep in from the sides, before a breeze of vanilla finishes off the breath. Visually, this brew pours a rich, burnt amber with a frothy head that hangs around a while.
On the tongue, the brew begins with a slightly prickly bitterness that works its way to the sides of the mouth. Notes of caramel and slightly burnt toffee arrive next, immediately followed by big bread malts and toasted crust. Like the aroma, an underlying layer of orange zest, lime juice, and grapefruit add a bright and lingering bitterness, aside from the straight up hoppage that’s there from the beginning. As the moments pass, graham crackers and a hint of vanilla tip the scales back towards the malts ever so slightly, while a slow-building alcohol warmth begins to send your throat ‘atingle. Mildly creamy and filling the mouth, the brew draws to a close with a touch of sweetness that lingers at the back of the mouth, before diminishing to a bitter finish. Though it weighs in at 11%, the strength is masked for the most part, making this brew wonderfully drinkable as long as you take your time and enjoy in a dignified manner (pinky-raising is optional, though suggested).
If Ladies and Gentlemen were a person, it would most definitely wear a suit at all hours. But, that suit would be the bright orange tux of Lloyd Christmas, and it would scream whenever it spoke. The traditional barleywine staples are here – big malts, potent warmth, and mild barrel-sweetness – but the addition of a hefty handful of hops and a citrus character of supernova brightness sets this brew apart from many others. Though this beer had a limited release, there are some bottles still out there. And trust me, they’re worth looking for.
