Schlafly 2007 Oak Aged Barleywine

I picked up this bottle a couple years ago (possibly 2011?) when I was in St. Louis for a cousin's wedding. I saw this and a bottle of 2008 barrel aged Imperial Stout and thought to myself, how can I pass this up? Even more so since I'm pretty sure they were like $10 or something crazy. The stout I drank a couple years ago over Thanksgiving but this bottle has been sitting around getting lonely and older for a few more years now. When I realized it was nearly pushing 6 years old, I figured it was time to open it.

I'll be the first to admit that I expected an oxidized, cardboard-like mess. However, shockingly, it held up remarkably well! Sweet caramel, apples, and a hint of vanilla and cherry in the nose. Poured pretty thick though the mouthfeel was thinner feeling. Body followed with caramel, vanilla, and a sugary sweetness in the finish. No real signs of oxidation except maybe the cherry in the nose. The age was probably the cause for the thinner mouthfeel, but it wasn't a big deal. Pretty impressive. I should search out a fresh bottle at some point just to try it out but I don't know if they are available in NJ. Guess I'll just have to stumble across one at some point.