Barleywine Ale
Founders Brewing Company
- From:
- Founders Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
Ranked #113 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #12,503 - Avg:
- 4.16 | pDev: 4.57%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 15, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 05, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
From the Kosmicki Collection:
Massive flavor doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s true, our Barleywine Ale is complex, loaded with notes of caramel and fruit. Yet all of these intriguing flavors are balanced to perfection, creating a well-rounded and exciting drinking experience, culminating in this bold, high ABV Barleywine Ale.
Massive flavor doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s true, our Barleywine Ale is complex, loaded with notes of caramel and fruit. Yet all of these intriguing flavors are balanced to perfection, creating a well-rounded and exciting drinking experience, culminating in this bold, high ABV Barleywine Ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sparty1224 from Michigan
4.37/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.37/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Brief Review:
O: So I remember this beer from the taproom ca. 2014. Don't really remember how it tasted, but it smells like I think it would. Very hop forward, has that Founder's hop profile. Definitely American-style here, supper hoppy, almost too bitter for me. Could maybe tone down the hops or use some aging.
Recommendation: Awesome to see them bottling these old classics (both style-wise and Founder's portfolio-wise). Would grab it if you see it.
Mar 15, 2026O: So I remember this beer from the taproom ca. 2014. Don't really remember how it tasted, but it smells like I think it would. Very hop forward, has that Founder's hop profile. Definitely American-style here, supper hoppy, almost too bitter for me. Could maybe tone down the hops or use some aging.
Recommendation: Awesome to see them bottling these old classics (both style-wise and Founder's portfolio-wise). Would grab it if you see it.
Reviewed by TreyIsWilson from Michigan
3.96/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a clear amber with nice white one finger head. Decent amount of soapy lacing.
S - Aroma is apple, pear, white bread and piney hops.
T - The taste is honey, apple, golden raisins, white pepper, piney hops and a z
M - Medium body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeeL with a prickly finish.
O - Decent. A nice introductory barleywine.
Feb 18, 2026S - Aroma is apple, pear, white bread and piney hops.
T - The taste is honey, apple, golden raisins, white pepper, piney hops and a z
M - Medium body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeeL with a prickly finish.
O - Decent. A nice introductory barleywine.
Reviewed by PapaGoose03 from Michigan
4.27/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I think this beer is right on the borderline between the American and English versions of the barleywine style. The hops are not very prominent to my taste.
Feb 05, 2026
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
3.92/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The pour is really good looking, apple juice gold but transparent - very transparent.
The head is beige and leaves a ring, followed by tiny islands of lacing.
The taste. Not sure if it’s because I drank it fairly soon after the last beer, but it seems mild. No hops bitterness, just miles of malt that seems tamped down. A little pepper, a little hay, and white bread.
The feel is lightly viscous, a little lighter than I think the style expects.
OA, I must be off tonight as I am really underwhelmed. I expected more from Kosmicki.
Jan 12, 2026The head is beige and leaves a ring, followed by tiny islands of lacing.
The taste. Not sure if it’s because I drank it fairly soon after the last beer, but it seems mild. No hops bitterness, just miles of malt that seems tamped down. A little pepper, a little hay, and white bread.
The feel is lightly viscous, a little lighter than I think the style expects.
OA, I must be off tonight as I am really underwhelmed. I expected more from Kosmicki.
Reviewed by klarcbarr3 from Michigan
4.33/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L = Beautiful, deep amber color... seriously offset by an off-white 1/4 inch head, which faded to nothing with the scantest of lace in a minute. However, the color is sensational.
S = Quite mild, but what is there, is quite good. Apple, plum. pear, grass, vanilla, wheat notes, all farm fresh. Invigorating.
T = More vibrant than the nose. Peppery, aged fruit, bourbon, apple, hops. A tour de force of complexity.
F = A bit sticky, and dry. Not this beers' finest attribute.
O = Despite minor quibbles over the headlessness, nice but too subtle nose, and the dry mouthfeel, the taste of this beer is compelling. I suspect I may like my second shot at this even more than my first. Kudos, mighty Founders!
Jan 05, 2026S = Quite mild, but what is there, is quite good. Apple, plum. pear, grass, vanilla, wheat notes, all farm fresh. Invigorating.
T = More vibrant than the nose. Peppery, aged fruit, bourbon, apple, hops. A tour de force of complexity.
F = A bit sticky, and dry. Not this beers' finest attribute.
O = Despite minor quibbles over the headlessness, nice but too subtle nose, and the dry mouthfeel, the taste of this beer is compelling. I suspect I may like my second shot at this even more than my first. Kudos, mighty Founders!
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