Chicken Killer Barley Wine
Santa Fe Brewing Company

Chicken Killer Barley WineChicken Killer Barley Wine
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From:
Santa Fe Brewing Company
 
New Mexico, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
Ranked #185
ABV:
10%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,701
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 13.59%
Reviews:
179
Ratings:
389
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 14, 2023
Added:
Mar 07, 2006
Wants:
  29
Gots:
  45
Chicken Killer Barley Wine is the revolutionary beer that will someday define America's unique Barley Wine style. It is brewed with twice the ingredients of the Santa Fe Brewing Company's other beers, and only half the usual amount of liquid is extracted from these ingredients. This makes one substantial beer. At over ten percent alcohol, Chicken Killer is actually as substantial as wine, but this is not to say that it is difficult to drink. On the contrary; be careful with this one. The flavors of the beer are at first as overwhelming as the intense Santa Fe sun. But in the same way our sun gives us the unrivaled brilliant colors of Santa Fe, the potency of Chicken Killer gives us the remarkable spectrum of flavors that can be found in no other beer, in no other city. If you did not have the opportunity to try last year's vintage, come try this year's!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Snorlax:
Photo of Snorlax
Reviewed by Snorlax from Louisiana

4.23/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from bomber into vintage Jax mug. This is a stout, delicious and fairly complex beer. I am a fan of barleywines and must say this is probably the most balanced one I have ever had. Pours a beautiful amber red with a quickly dissolving 3 finger head. Pretty nice lacing. Tastes of honey and cherries with a biting but not unpleasant aftertaste of pure alcohol. Great mouth feel, almost a nectar. Smells mostly of cherries. This is one of the easiest to drink barleywines I've ever come across. About as close to a session beer as this style could ever be, not that that's saying much. Excellent, would buy again, cook with and even save a spot in the cellar for.
Sep 05, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.39 by phatsmackey from Texas

Apr 14, 2023
Photo of Vykk_Draygo
Reviewed by Vykk_Draygo

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Looks like about what you'd expect from an American barleywine, moderately opaque. Nose is pleasant, but not terribly complex. Malty, malty, malty, with a bit of citrusy hop character. Taste is good, if a bit more straightforward than you'd expect from a barleywine. Lots of sweet barley malt, caramel, and citrusy hops, and a hint of dark fruits on the back end. Tastes something like if you were to candy an orange rind in barley sugar. Just enough bitterness to balance the beer, while still being on the sweet side.

Love this style, and this is a pretty good entry, if a bit basic (basic isn't synonymous with bad).
Jun 21, 2022
 
Rated: 3.46 by crobinso from Colorado

Dec 11, 2021
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Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.48/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Decided to break this out in back end of the Winter of 2020-21 for a UFC ppv. Popped at Medium E's house. Bottle courtesy of leftpaw no doubt.

Pours that brown caramel color into a Great Basin tulip. 1/3" beige head. The aroma was mostly caramel, this had been down in the cellar for a few years, so perhaps there was a bigger hop contingency back in the day, its a barleywine, NFG in that regard. You know, malty stuff, caramel, bit of alcohol rocket fuel to it in the nose.

Taste is firmly in the American barleywine realm, loads of bitter caramel. Mouth feel commercial tug job claims about smoothness are off the mark. Its a high ibu barleywine and that is ok, you just ain't gotta lie to kick it. If anything, it has a slightly thinner malt body than your average barleywine. It doesn't have a brutally hot alcohol mouth feel though, which I kind of started to expect from the nose. Hint of cognac like feel to it, ironically more than the barrel aged version. Its an ok beer from the bomber era.
Nov 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.03 by BCole281 from Texas

Jul 26, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

May 02, 2021
Photo of J-legend-K
Reviewed by J-legend-K from Colorado

3.7/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very nice Golden amber color. Fairly bright but not clear with minimal head.

Delicate green hoppy aroma overtaken by sweet caramel.

Taste is malt-dominate up front with a strong, caramel-laden hop character that tries to come through but doesn’t. Sweetness on the back end that almost trends towards dark fruit. Reminiscent of Oktoberfest, with more hops.

Overall a very well balanced BW, to a fault. Although lacking character, it’s easy to drink for the abv which indicates how well balanced it is.
Feb 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Sep 26, 2020
 
Rated: 4.05 by SMH_NWI from Texas

Jun 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 07, 2020
 
Rated: 3.98 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Mar 06, 2020
 
Rated: 4.18 by ckeegan04 from Texas

Jan 19, 2020
Photo of Hooded
Reviewed by Hooded from Texas

3.79/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Notes from 1/7/2020.
Poured from a 16oz can into a tulip glass.
The appearance is deep amber with one finger of white foam receding at an average rate with moderate amounts of thick lacing. 4.00
The aroma is medium strength, and smells of hops, fruit, and sweet malt. 3.75
The taste is strong, and of hops, sweet malt, and a moderately bitter hop finish. 3.75
It has a moderately thick and creamy mouth feel. 4.00
Overall, it is very good. I recieved one can in a beer advent calendar purchased at WhichCraft Bottle Shop in Austin. Online, the price for a 4 pack of 16oz cans is $15.99. at the price point, I wouldn't buy it more than once a year. 3.75
Jan 09, 2020
 
Rated: 4.28 by Shafaegalo from Texas

Nov 16, 2019
 
Rated: 3.62 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Jun 24, 2019
Photo of C-Stockwell
Reviewed by C-Stockwell from Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
L: rich amber or red with solid white head
S: cherries and malt, dark red fruit
T: bit one-dimensional of malt
F: excellent carbonation

Had this on tap in a cognac glass.
Jun 22, 2019
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

3.6/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From a tall aluminum can, we tried this while playing a game called Chicken Fight. Appropriate. It is a dark brown, clear liquid. No head, and quite still. The beer has a woody, sweet, malty aroma. Or much fruit, but a little booze in the smell. Dry, warming taste with some bitterness. Full body. Just okay.
Jan 31, 2019
 
Rated: 3 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Dec 16, 2018
Photo of Thankin_Hank
Reviewed by Thankin_Hank from Texas

4.12/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful red color and had a quickly dissipating head. Aroma is light but good smelling. Very tasty but nothing really jumps out at me upon the first drink. Non-alcohlic tasting and no bitterness. Light fruits are my only impression. The mouthfeel is very nice as it does not intimidate or bite. Very smooth much like a wine with a slight amount of carbonation, becoming easier to drink as I consume the glass. Overall it seems exceptional and too easy to drink. I would definitely buy the "Chicken Killer" again.
Poured into tulip glasses from a 32 ounce growler filled 11/27/2018.
Dec 15, 2018
Chicken Killer Barley Wine from Santa Fe Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 389 ratings