Against the Grain London Balling

Against the Grain London Balling

English style barleywine aged in Angel’s Envy bourbon barrels. Brewed with enough Maris Otter pale, Aromatic and caramel malts to nearly overflow our mash tun. We then balanced this beer with some English Nugget and Kent Goldings hops. The resulting ale was sweet, nutty and powerful, but we didn’t stop there. The entire batch was put into used Angel’s Envy barrels for nearly 3 months to gather the residual bourbon flavor and some aromatic and drying oak notes. By the way, Balling is a measurement of specific gravity.
3.8
232 reviews
Louisville, United States

Community reviews

3.6 Deska w Jabeerwocky. Piana gęsto zdobi szkło. Ogólnie to jest takie dość zwykłe bw, mocno słodkie, na plus konkret kokos w aromacie, jest też dziwnie przyprawowe. Słodki finisz, alko trochę grzeje w rurę. Jest smaczne, robi robotę, ale ogólnie bez ekstazy.
3.4 Rami Rami is drinking a London Balling by Against the Grain Brewery at Jabeerwocky Z jednej strony mile bardzo klimaty suszonokandyzowane, z drugiej chyba jeszcze ciut przyswiezy, bo troche alko. Ciala nienjakos szalenczo acz czuc ze kawalek piwerka. W sumie to bdb chyba cycus Rami Rami: Jak postalo jest nieco gorzej, wiecej alko mniej fajnych rzeczy. Nie, ciezko przy tym kwilic ze szczescia. 3.4?
4.2 Couleur ambrée, nez caramel vanille et whisky et en bouche, c'est la même chose, c'est très doux et bon voire excellent. Attention 12,5 abv parfaitement caché, c'est très très dangereux !!!
3.9 The Aromas are caramel, toffee, toast, with a little cardboard and a hint of Brandy. Flavors are very much like knows, if a little better, sweet but not overly so with good carbonation and a hint of bitter to balance. Some booze in the Finish but for this strength a pretty good barleywine.
3.6 Sample at Køge Øldag 2019. An unclear brown coloured beer with a beige head. Aroma and flavour of malt, caramel, alcohol, dried fruit, spice, sweetness, bourbon and with a bitter finish,
3.7 Can from Voldby. Hazy brown with a beige head. Aroma is sweet, malty, caramel, dried fruit and bourbon. Flavor is very sweet and moderate bitter. Sweet and moderate bitter finish with a little warming alcohol. Oily. 200819
3.9 Belle découverte, très aromatique
3.9 London Balling от американцев Against the Grain. Аромат сдержанный, фруктово-карамельный, с оттенками ванили и дубовой бочки. Тело плотное при нагревании, со средней карбонизацией. Во вкусе: яблоки, карамель, бурбон и хмель. Послевкусие фруктовое. Неплохой барлик- 3,9.
3.8 16 ounce can. Hazy amber orange pour. Brief beige head. Earthy malt nose hints at vanilla and oak. Sweet toasted malt flavor upfront. Notes of caramel, vanilla and nuts. Warming alcohol in middle. Oak and whiskey notes in finish. Quite complex and flavorful.
3.6 Burk från Emil, tack! Smådisig bärnstensfärgad med smutsvit krona. Old school, ljus BW som trots namnet går åt det amerikanska hållet. Välhumlat med toner av granskott, skogiga drag, aprikos- och apelsinmarmelad, ljus torkad frukt, sultanarussin. Relativt snäll fatton som ger lite vanilj. Viss alkoholvärme.
4.3 Draught at Taphouse, Cph Deep amber. Small tan head. Sweet and vinous aroma and flavour with some wood. Medium bitterness.
3.7 Tap at Agenturet Tromsø. Amber, hazy with a creamy offwhite head. Sweet malt, fruit and wooden barrels aroma. Sweet with a warm wooden barrels and fruit end.
3.5 Draught at Agenturet Øl og Vinbar. Shared with Finn. Dark orange coloured body, hazy. Filmy layer, dotted spots on the glass. Almond, toffee, and woody nose, promising. Mixed taste of bread, almond, mid-sweet dark fruits and a touch of oak. Mid-sweet malt driven end, warming down the swallow. Full bodied. Likable sipper. (Tromsø 31.05.2019).
3.7 Spandert av Rune og delt med ham. Amber. Uklar. Lavt tett skum. Aroma av mandeldråper. Topp fylde. Smaken mandler & frukt. Lett tørr - alkoholpreget - avslutning.
3.8 355ml from Carwyn Cellars 12.5% ABV Lovely red copper body, creamy beige head. Mmmm yeah good aroma; toasty coconut, vanilla, browned butter, dark caramel, cocoa even, slight vinous dried fruit quality. It's big but not huge, balance is pretty good for a beer of the size, plenty of girth and length, sticky texture, warming. Tannic yet sweet, savoury caramel, coconut bourbon, vanilla and butter, very complex with earthy dried fruit notes, that cocoa again really makes things interesting, fair bitterness and booze. Rather enjoyed this, different, has this sort of almost cocoa savoury note that is probably barrel derived, slightly reminds me of their 70k stout in some regard, which I truly loved.
4.1 Duft stor duft karamel rosin kant vanilje smag karamel rosin fed smag ristet stor fed tyk øl
3.9 Aromas of bourbon oak wood vanilla caramel molasses wort malt hazelnut latte and apple cider. Murky crimson pour. Taste of dirt earth tree bark cocoa dust barrel wood sawdust bitter hops dankness oak corkscrew malted barley roasted oats vanilla burnt caramel and creme brûlée. Overall, quite rich and solid barrel quality.
3.7 Draught @ Mig & Ølsnedkeren. Pours slightly hazy rusty brown with a small offwhite head. Aroma of sweet malt, caramel, wood, burnt caramel, vanilla, bourbon. Flavor is quite sweet, rich malty, caramel, burnt caramel, mild smoke notes, nougat, wood, dried fruit, vanilla, mild bourbon, quite boozy. Full body, soft carbonation, oily mouthfeel, sweet finish with loads of warming alcohol. 240419
3.7 Aroma di caramello, quercia, bourbon, liquore. Marrone pigro con testa bianchiccia. Il gusto è moderato dolce, alcolico e leggero amaro.
3.2 Can poured into a snifter. Pours hazy nut brown/amber with a 1-finger bone-colored head. Aroma is caramelly-sweet with a tough of citrus. Full-bodied and lightly syrupy. Light boozy heat to the finish. Flavor of barrel wood with caramel underneath. Notes of vanilla as well. I think I would have rated this higher had I aged it a bit more before drinking.
3.6 Bottle that I think that I picked up from Beer Gonzo online shop, Earlsdon, Coventry. I shared this with dad at Farmhouse Cottage, Middlebere Farm, Arne, Dorset, Saturday 1st December 2018 Pours deep amber, good clarity, slim off white head atop. Sweet but malty, bourbon shows, a little sticky with a touch of deep burnt toffee. Quite full on yet also very drinkable. Quite soft, some wood touches, good. A7 A4 T7 P4 Ov14 3.6
4.4 14/V/18 - 1Pt. can from Bierhalle Deconinck (Vichte), shared with Hendrik N. @ Hendrik's place - BB: n/a (2018-706) Clear dark amber to red beer, small creamy beige head, unstable, falls down quickly. Aroma: lovely stuff, lots of caramel, dried fruits, quite some vanilla, alcohol, little oxidized. MF: soft carbon, full body. Taste: lots and lots of vanilla, bit oxidized, caramel, sweet, bit sugary, alcohol, lovely beer! Aftertaste: sugary, caramel, more vanilla, sweetish, some dried fruits. Liquid dessert. Holy crap this is good stuff! Have been holding on to this one for quite a while (I think about two years or so). Shouldn't have been much longer, but pretty sure the beer got better from it...
4.2 Amber brown pour from the can. Pleasant toffee and caramel notes on the nose, but all 2nd fiddle to the Angels Envy barreling (I'm a fan so this was nice). Not a ton of depth to this, barrel heavy but delicious, light fruit and toffee flavors under the booze and barrel. Very smooth.
3.4 spot on barley wine. lots of wood, which makes it interesting.Brian's bottle in barleywine tasting. Not bad.
4.3 It pours brown with a full light brown head. Head retention is good. Thick, malty rich aroma with plenty of caramel and nuts. There are background hints of bourbon, a touch of spice, and a whiff of dark fruits. The flavor is full of nuts with a dark caramel flavor. The nutty character carries throughout the finish. There are background notes of plums and a slight bit of spice. The bourbon is also in the background. It is quite full bodied on the chewy side. The alcohol warming is quite pleasant without any harshness or being hot. Overall, this is a malt balance barleywine with plenty of flavor and alcohol without the harness that many in the category display.
3.6 473ml can @ Josh's. Pours a hazy medium brown colour with a tiny white head. Nose is sweet malts with a fruity note and subtle dark fruits. Flavour is semi creamy, caramel, malty, sweet, bourbon, vanilla. Medium bodied with mild mouth carbonation, very english style in its Barleywine character with a mild bitter finish.
3.8 Can - Lots of sweet and fruity. Stone fruit and sweet raisin. Sweet and very fruity. Stone fruit and a long finish. English style and well done.
3.3 Can. Hazy and amber. Not much head. On the nose, this is mostly chewy, This has a chewy, date note, with toffee, and a whack of sweet malts. LIght pear notes. Decent BW.
3.7 Pours ruby dark amber with thick, orange beige head. Aroma is caramel, nuts and bourbon. Taste is sweet toffee and brown sugar, warming to nuttiness and a mild hop backbone. Finish is bourbon with an alcohol bite. A good barley wine.
4.1 Canned. Pours clear cherry color, tan head. Aroma is toffee, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, fig, sugar. Flavor is caramel, toffee, dark fruit, raisin, bourbon, vanilla. Really solid. Big fan. 8/4/8/4/17