Blithering Idiot - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

    Blithering Idiot is an English style Barleywine brewed by Weyerbacher Brewing Co. which is located in Easton, Pennsylvania. I find this label interesting, as I normally think that clowns are somewhat freaky. However, it seems that if you make a clown into a dark/evil clown, suddenly it's not nearly as frightening. This change must have something to do with the trust children put in normal clowns, only to have them mangle the child into a macabre balloon animal. At least if the clown looks evil, we might expect something like that to happen!

    This beer was donated to Amulets and Ale by Emily Hohman.

    Blithering Idiot pours a cloudy, brown-amber color with a finger of thick, tan head. The head persists for a short while, before fading down into a thick foam over the top of the beer.

    The Barleywine's scent is mainly sweet English style malts such as toffee and caramel. There is a sweet, dark fruit scent to the ale as well that makes me think of figs. There is also a strong ethanol smell to the ale, which makes me worry about the alcohol/flavor balance in the ale.

    This ale isn't "clowning around" when it comes to body. A thick mouthfeel with only a slight bit of carbonation makes the ale feel smooth as it crosses your tongue. This is definitely a hearty ale! I'm surprised that there isn't much of an alcohol warmth to the ale, as I really expected it after smelling the ethanol, not to mention that the ale has an alcohol content of 11.1% ABV! Drink too many of these and you'll be the one cracking terrible jokes!

    Blithering Idiot's flavor is made up of most of the same things that were present in its aroma. The beer first hits with its dark, sweet malts, followed by the sugary sweetness of dried dark fruits. The toffee malts are most pronounced, though a mellow caramel flavor is definitely present as well. There is only the slightest bit of hops bitterness right at the front end of the beer, and it is quickly overtaken by the sweet flavors. At the very back end of the beer I can taste a bit of strong alcohol. It's almost as though you feel it more than you taste it.

Now here's a clown you'd expect to kill you.

    I can't help but be reminded of Kefka from Final Fantasy VI when I look at this beer's label. In case you aren't familiar with this entry in the Final Fantasy series, Kefka is the "big bad guy" of the game. He is also likely the most insane and evil of all the Final Fantasy villains, and surprisingly, also the most successful. Kefka definitely falls into the category of clowns that you know to stay the heck away from! I'd have to guess that this would likely be his favorite beer as well, seeing as its deceptively sweet flavor hides a huge, sinister alcohol content that could turn even the smartest of his enemies into, well, blithering idiots! Who knows, with this beer on his side, Kefka might actually succeed in destroying the entire world! (wink, wink)

    Blithering Idiot is a great example of the English Barleywine with only one flaw, its failure to better hide, or balance, the unpleasant alcohol character. It's not an easy thing to do, especially in an ale with such a high alcohol content, and Blithering Idiot does better than many other Barleywines that I have tried. If you can forgive the alcohol astringency on the back end, I'd definitely recommend this ale!

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