Never More
Ex Novo Brewing

Never MoreNever More
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From:
Ex Novo Brewing
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
Ranked #66
ABV:
12%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,785
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 6.68%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
43
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 16, 2024
Added:
Dec 19, 2015
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  2
Barrel aged black barleywine with whole cocoa beans & smoked figs
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Well this is interesting. Plenty of cocoa and caramel plus bourbon and a little honey up front. The figs come on in a big way towards the finish and I'm loving them. There is an oaky char with some lingering smoke to close things out. Overall this came together really well, thanks Tim!
Feb 16, 2024
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2023 can (ABV is 12%). Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours a very dark brown (almost black) with light tan head. Very nice looking. The nose is full of caramel, figs, vanilla, chocolate, and a bit of maple. Some pear comes through as well.

The taste is really interesting. The smoked figs REALLY come through here. Super interesting for a barleywine. Roasted malts, honey, burnt toffee, bourbon, vanilla, and some tobacco. Coffee also pokes its head through.

Very nice overall. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a dry and slightly smokey aftertaste.
Jan 05, 2024
 
Rated: 3.9 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Nov 04, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2022 vintage

I’m going through my latest LIF box from Snaotheus much faster than I anticipated, and this next one sounds absolutely insane. Smoked figs? I’m all about that. The cocoa beans are a cool addition too, but not nearly as exciting as the figs. Let’s crack it open and see what it’s all about

Pours a very dark brown with 2 fingers of creamy light tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

Oh man, that smoke is coming through even more than I would expect, and it seems as if it was quite heavily hopped as well. I’m picking up on aromas of charred oak, leafy hops, molasses, burnt caramel, fig, spent coffee beans, dark chocolate, dark toast, and black cherry

Things are a bit less aggressive in taste, but still just as good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting black cherry, fug, campfire smoke, dark chocolate, dark bread, molasses, brown sugar, light vanilla, and caramel. The swallow brings notes of charred oak, molasses, fig, leafy hops, campfire smoke, dark chocolate, burnt caramel, dark bread, brown sugar, and vanilla

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer. Finishes a touch sticky but the bitterness comes in to clean it up

This one is absolutely unique. I’m not sure I would’ve guessed that it was the figs that were smoked if I was drinking this blind, but I dig it
Sep 13, 2023
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

4.63/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The beer is a very dark brown, near black. Tan head that reduces to a rim around the circumference of the glass. No lace.
Nice aroma. Chocolate, booze, fig, sweet malt, and a little smoke.
The taste followed the nose. Caramel and vanilla, bourbon.
Medium-bodied.
Fantastic sipping beer!
Dec 17, 2022
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.39/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
not sure if its never more or nevermore, but this is special stuff. i believe it changes some year to year, always a black barleywine, of which there are not enough in the world, i think maybe always with cocoa nibs and smoked figs, and then the barrels change, but at least a few times its been bourbon and red wine, maybe various distillers and vintners, from what i gather anyway, i was pretty keen to try this, even if i didnt quite recall every specific about my vintage. its a wild beer, as process intensive and complex as they come, and the result is stupendous. nice dark roasty color to it, but not as thick as it would be as an imperial stout, and a lot more room for malt depth without super heavy roasted bitterness to it, i think there is a specific difference with the grain build, and i appreciate it. very short head, not much at all really, but i didnt find this less carbonated than desirable. the nose is nuts, i get the light smoke and the sweet dried fruit, and i get it in the taste too, although maybe more generic fruit leather and possible raisin or date than fig, but sweet and gunky and nice with the rich, long boiled caramelized middle malts. i appreciate the bitterness of the roast too though, a coffee note to it, the bitterness and chocolate low end of the nibs here too, offsetting and balancing the normal barleywine sweetness, and adding a ton of depth without taking over. i think the fig is also enhanced by the port character of the red wine barrels, while the cocoa nibs and the vanilla notes of the whiskey play each other up, wildly complex, not too much smoke at all, and a somewhat lighter body than anticipated overall. i like how its semi dry all things considered, but has a long extended finish without overwhelming the palate, amazing idea for this, amazing execution, epic woodiness and smoothness, pleasing alcohol warmth, exactly what i want to be drinking this time of year. one of my favorites to date from these guys!
Oct 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by QuakeAttack from California

Oct 09, 2022
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.74/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Leftpaw brought two cans of this out for Thanksgiving '21. Dude even left me the other can. Score. Is that Scores place(s) still a thing in NYC? Yawn. I think that loser Howard Stern used to pimp for them, ad placement.

Anyways, black barleywine, I think Sierra Nevada was the first to do it. Suck it beer nerds, Bigfoot still rules. This one still pours black. Thin 1/7" brown/tan head. The aroma is bourbon and booze. Am I supposed to get roastiness out of a black barleywine? I'm not finding it here. Also says cocoa beans and smoked figs. Ok.

Taste brings some credence to the smoked figs. Its not a smoky beer, but there is a dark fruit presence to it. Has the American barleywine bitterness, but not from the hops, does seem to be in part to the smoked dark fruit aspect, that gets things bittered up. Smack that upside an 11.6% abv and you can see why this has the bitter strong thing going for itl but not because it is a big bittering hop kind of barleywine. The bourbon, its strong. Not super hot. I would have enjoyed taking longer to have this one, but them kids and their pace.

It was a pretty strong beer, but good, but a definite sipper. Seemed just as much a Russian Imperial Stout as it was a barleywine, if not moreso. I prolly would have enjoyed this more in my younger days, but I'm just not up for double digit abvs like I used to be.
May 16, 2022
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.56/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black pour with brown hints with a tan cap that quickly fades. Aromas of chocolate, rum, molasses, fig, smoky earth, dark wet oak, bourbon, barley, and wine peaking through. Taste is much the same but more rich with additions of vanilla and gooey dark sugar caramel. The barrel do well to all be present at different moments in the sip, sneaky complex. Feel is sticky, viscous, medium-heavy bodied, but so smooth and refined with considerable richness and barrel character. An unorthodox barleywine that pushes the envelope, unique and delicious. The wife loved it
Apr 29, 2022
Photo of kemoarps
Reviewed by kemoarps from New York

4.29/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours a deep clean absolute almost-black. In the thinner glass, the corners have a garnet/ruby character. A half finger maybe of initial foam, but it settles in to a thin ring before too long.

Nose is incredibly rich and decadent. Honestly I'm kind of glad to be splitting this one because as delicious as it is it seems like it could get overwhelming. And it does smell delicious. The wider glass shows more of the rich chocolate and coffee beans. The thinner glass shows that the dark fruit notable everywhere is very definitely fig, and there's just that light smokiness in there as well. It really is interesting how differently one can experience the exact same can just in different vessels. Rich and decadent and delicious.

The flavour is also rich and decadent and delicious. Layers of all the aforementioned flavours reappear: dark fruit that is less discrete than the narrow aroma, with a touch of smokey astringency to the back end, there is some definite leather and dark chocolate... like the kind of chocolate where they specify not just the percentage, but the region from which it originates. Some hint of coffee in there as well, and some light hopping that becomes noticeable the more one looks. The finish comes back to the astringency of the smoke and the alcohol, and the fruitiness of the chocolate.

This is real tasty. It hits a lot of my buttons, and again I'm actually kind of glad I'm splitting it with someone, because I could easily drink too much of it too fast and end up regretting it later.
The body is thinner than the depth of the aroma would suggest, but it's by no means 'thin,' though it is contrasted by pretty aggressive carbonation that may be the weak point of this fantastic concoction for me, which means there isn't a whole lot of weakness to be found. You won't mistake this for some low-ABV mild or something, but it also doesn't wallop you over the head with its octane. The 12.1% alcohol is most noticeable in a bit of flavour reminiscient of what I always associate with mash from whiskey, though I have no idea if that's actually accurate or not.

I picked this up because my partner is obsessed with figs, and there's kind of a thing involving ravens, and man am I glad I did because it is delicious.
Sep 09, 2021
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark walnut brown, appearing nearly opaque in the glass with a half finger khaki head with good retention and solid lacing; a bit fizzy at first pour, but retained a fine head. Aroma of dry caramel malt, plums, figs, raisins and a hint of wintergreen. Flavor is caramel malt, raisins, figs, dates, whiskey, a little oak and a faint spicy mint note. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. An interesting take on a barleywine. I'd say it leans much more to an English style, because it does not have as much fresh fruit, more dried dark fruit. I don't get much American barleywine fresh fruit character and very little hop bitterness. The figs add to the rich dried fruit character and there is a light whiskey barrel note as well as the faint minty aroma/flavor. A off-beat and flavorful barleywine that doesn't fit any category that well. I like it a lot. I'll be looking for the next iteration.
Aug 22, 2021
Photo of Jaidyn
Reviewed by Jaidyn from Oregon

5/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I have had both the 2020 and the 2017 versions and they’re absolutely outstanding. Barleywine is my favorite type of beer and I have tried many others and in my opinion none compare

Pours Amber but looks black in the glass with a slightly brown head that stands about half an inch. Perfect lacing.

Smells like bourbon, sweet caramel malt and huge fig and sugar daddy notes.

Taste follows the nose with bourbon leading the way into a huge fig and black sapphire grape flavor with some mild cocoa. sweet caramel malt and an outstanding woodsy hop finish.

Mouthfeel is thicc but decently carbonated and not cloying, doesn’t feel like syrup but Is noticeably bigger than your average beer.

Overall it’s the best barleywine I’ve had. I’ve tried many others and I’ve enjoyed them all but none compare to this. I’m saving one more 2020 can and I can’t wait for the 2021 variation to release.
Apr 28, 2021
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.42/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Vurt for this one. 16oz can (date is screwed up on the can, can't read it) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a solid black color with 1/4 inch of tan head that dissipated quickly and left light-moderate lacing.

The aroma had some light smoke at the front, solid malts, and a hint of chocolate.

On the tongue, the chocolate was more prominent, there was a touch of barrel, and some fig sweetness on the finish, along with a touch of alcohol burn.

The body was thinner than I had hoped for, but was smooth, easy, and had a medium finish.

Drinkability was good, especially for a 12+% brew.

Overall, a very enjoyable brew, would bang again.
Jan 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.15 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

Dec 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by PatrickCT from Connecticut

May 06, 2020
 
Rated: 4.13 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Apr 18, 2020
Photo of Dalrymplestiltskin
Reviewed by Dalrymplestiltskin

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Poured from a tall boy into a snifter. It is a nice brown during the pour, but almost black in the glass. I didn't even get a finger of head with an aggressive pour, and what head was there was gone within a minute. Lacing doesn't stick around much either.

S: Sweet bourbon and malt dominate the smell with a hint of mint and leather. Excellent

T: Booze up front. It's clearly the star. It doesn't taste as sweet as it smells, but that's ok. The hops come on strong after the initial boozie hit with a piney flavor, and it mellows out into a dark, malty after-taste. Delicious.

F: The beer coats the tongue in a fantastic way that lets the flavors really linger. Carbonation is minimal.

O: This is a really fun beer. I bet this barleywine is great even without the barrel aging, but I'm happier for it. Different flavors stand out at unpredictable times and make the experience novel even towards the end of the glass.
Dec 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.18 by nodnaut

Dec 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Mar 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4.45 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Jan 06, 2019
Never More from Ex Novo Brewing
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 43 ratings