Dan Iwerks dan_iwerksatyahoodottcom wrote in message 0...
Ran out and bought some of Dominion's Millenium when it came out last
week. Have loved the stuff in the past, think it's one of the best
British-style barleywines around, has typically had a wonderful
butterscotch/toffee character, incredibly tasting. This year's, on the
other hand, doesn't seem even vaguely up to snuff. There's no
butterscotch at all, has kind of an overpowering, cloying sweetness to
it, and the alcohol burn is VERY noticeable, none of which have been
characteristics I've ever encountered with it in the past.

Anyone else tried it this year and had the same opinion? I'm really
disappointed, as I was very much looking forward to its release.

I was dissapointed as well. It seems to be more attenuated this year
which has decreased the body somewhat and added to the alcohol
harshness (though I didn't get the sweetness that you did). Perhaps
they switched yeast strains or lowered the mash temperature? A new
yeast strain could explain the lack of diacetyl in the nose. Usually,
I buy a case of Millenium each year. This year however, it's only
going to be a six-pack. We'll have to see how it ages.

Jack