130: Old Gnarley Head 2003

Two people had to die for me to taste this beer. A terrible thing to say, I know, but I didn’t originate the statement. I am repeating it here, though, without attribution. To protect the innocent. Or at least the inebriated.

This was one of many ultra-special beers tapped at this year’s FredFest, quite possibly the best beer festival of all time. $50 gets you entry to the best lineup of special brews I’ve ever seen in once place. The event is part birthday party (for Fred Eckhardt, one of Portland’s beer celebrities, and a very well-respected beer writer) and part charity (this year’s proceeds went to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

Because the event honors a Portland institution, many of Oregon’s (and this year, the nation’s) best breweries send kegs of the rare and ultra-rare brews that don’t usually end up available for public consumption. Barrel-aged this. Bourbon that. And in this case, a keg of 7 year-old, GABF gold medal-winning barleywine from a now-deceased brewer (Glen Faulconer) that recently-deceased beer promoter Toby Day had been saving for a special occasion. I’m sorry Toby wasn’t able to taste it, and that Glen wasn’t there to tell us more about its making. But I’m sure they’re happy knowing that this beer*, like its other special siblings, was able to do something for a good cause.

Beer Name: Old Gnarley Head 2003
Brewer: Wild Duck
Price: N/A
Sampled: May 10, 2010
Rating: 3/5
Notes: Surprising bitterness and very strong, almost medicinal toffee aroma. Warming, with a thick brownish, creamy head. Maybe a bit cold. Some aspirin.
ABV: N/A
IBU: N/A
OG N/A
TG N/A
Serving Type: Draft.

* Proceeds from Toby’s keg went to a fund set up for his family.