Beer Review: Clare's Right Hook (aged with Lemon Zest)

Reviewing Clare's Right Hook (aged with Lemon Zest) from Haymarket Pub & Brewery out of Chicago, Illinois. This beer is a bold American style barleywine (13% ABV) aged for 6 months in Woodford Reserve Barrels with zest from a whole case of lemons. Sampled along side the cocoa nibs version.
Score: 82

4 oz sample served in a taster glass and enjoyed at Haymarket's 2nd Anniversary Party on 01/12/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Much uglier in color than the cocoa nibs version. Still looks like hazy homebrew, but this brew is more of a slightly reddish chestnut brown color. 1.5/5

Smell: Leather, fig, oak and lemon in nose. More caramel in nose and smells "sweeter" than the chocolate version too. The lemon does not particularly mix well here. 3.5/5

Taste: Tastes like a sweet malty English barleywine with a lemon twist in finish. Fig, leather, oak and lighter vanilla than nose. Molasses too. Pretty malty sweet -- more so than the cocoa nibs version. I frankly do not care for the lemon flavor here. 3.25/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, minimal carbonation. Dry finish. Borderline cloyingly sweet. 3.75/5

Overall: The lemon did not work in tandem with the other qualities in the taste or smell. 4 oz of this was more than enough for me.

Recommendation: Skip this one.

Cost: $2 for a 4 oz pour or $6 for a 12 oz pour.