London Balling

London Balling is a barley wine from Louisville, Kentucky. Brewed by Against the Grain Brewery, LB comes in funky 16oz cans with an inked up punk gent. At 12.5%, this beer is a good one to share, which I did with the illustrious M.M.--apologies but somewhere in the downing of this strong ale, I seem to have forgotten to take a picture.

The brew is a swampy brown sludge with a creamy head. It has a sticky dried fruit aroma with some caramel notes. The taste is big, boozy, and complicated, with some rummy fruitcake elements, a hefty malt base, and ample sweetness. Not much here by way of bitterness, but the strength keeps things on the rails.

Against the Grain's London Balling is a nice brew with some serious attitude. Strong and sweet, you're not gonna reach for a second, but the first will leave you feeling mellow.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.