Grab A Beer: Redhook Treblehook

October 7th, 2009 · 6 Comments · Beer Reviews, Washington Breweries

Redhook Treblehook
Alcohol by Volume: 10.1%

Intro: Next in Redhook’s Limited Release Series is this heavyweight American-style barleywine. Redhook, located in Woodinville, WA, is now releasing several new limited-edition releases each year to compliment their standard lineup. Treblehook took a Silver medal at this year’s GABF, beating out 52 other entries in the “Barley Wine Style Ale” category. That win follows up their Gold medal at the 2008 GABF.

Description: 22oz bottle. Pours a garnet reddish brown with medium head. Fruity aroma with a little peach and some sweet malt. Taste is smooth caramel malts that don’t have a ton of complexity, with fruity hops mixed in throughout. Lingering bitter finish. Alcohol is still very present and this would definitely benefit from a year or two of more age to smooth it out. But, the fruity hop flavors really do shine at this point, and that may die down significantly if you decide to age this. Medium bodied and drinks nicely; almost a bit too easily for a 10.1% ABV brew. Overall, a solid effort. Not terribly complex, but not boring by any means. Would be a nice sipper to share after dinner.

Verdict: Buy It
Availability: On shelves in 22 oz. bottles (SRP $7.99) at specialty food stores and beer markets in limited locations across the country from early October until supplies run out.

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Commercial Description/Press Release:

Redhook Ale Brewery’s award-winning Treblehook Barley Wine is now available in 22 oz. bottles for a short time as part of the brewery’s Limited Release Series. This hand-crafted, labor-intensive ale was first introduced in 2007 and won a gold medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and a silver medal at the 2009 festival.

Boasting big aromatic malts, Redhook Treblehook pours a dark gold with a velvety mouthfeel and a slightly bitter finish. Brewed in the style of a traditional American barley wine with a 10.1% ABV and 57 IBUs, Treblehook sets itself apart by playing up the hops to add depth and complexity. Dry-hopped vigorously throughout the six-month process, Treblehook’s strength comes from its ability to have a strong hop flavor while still allowing the malt characteristics to shine through.

“We wanted Treblehook to have all the classic barley wine characteristics,” said Doug MacNair, brewmaster for Redhook Ale Brewery. “We spent time getting the subtleties right, balancing the malts with a strong hop backbone to create Redhook’s take on the style.”

While ready to drink now, MacNair encourages beer collectors to age it for one to three years to evolve and enhance the flavors.

“Barley wine is one of a few styles where it’s possible to have both exceptional flavor and long-term stability. We weren’t willing to compromise either with Treblehook,” said MacNair. “The multitude of malts and many strains of hops we used with Treblehook will change the beer as it ages, mellowing and blending year over year. I love that I can drink this now, or have an entirely different experience after I open a bottle from my cellar in a few years.”

Redhook Treblehook Barley Wine will be on shelves in 22 oz. bottles (SRP $7.99) at specialty food stores and beer markets in limited locations across the country from early October until supplies run out.

Redhook’s Limited Release Series beers are brewed by hand in small batches and are only available for a short time. The series allows Redhook’s expert brewers to experiment, take risks and produce distinct, creative and award-winning varieties. Redhook will introduce another limited release in the spring of next year.

In the interest of full disclosure to satisfy the FTC’s new law, this review was of a sample bottle received from the brewery.

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