Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
California, United States
sierranevada.com
Style: American Barleywine
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.60%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by kbub6f on 02-06-1998
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 7,509 | Reviews: 3,060
4.25/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
5/5 rDev +20.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I was glad to find this one from Sierra, as they are one of my favorite breweries - and I love barleywine so the joy was double. It is from 2015 so by today (2017) it is already somewhat vintage.
Actually it is a barleywine-style ale the bottle says and right, it is not as syrupy as a normal barleywine would be. It is rather like a heavily hopped ale and Sierra are masters of this kind of beer. Along with heavly caramellized malts I feel loads of hops, especially perhaps bittering hops? because the aftertaste is quite bitter with quite a complexity. Very good that the body is lighter than a usual barleywine, but the remarkable taste is still there both in the nose and the feel. Makes me feel like a very very rich IPA... the richness of the hops is amazing, perhaps with Sierra's trademark Cascades? If I had to compare it to something, perhaps it is similar to the Arrogant Bastard Ale - and this should tell it all: it is amazing!
An excellent beer this is, Sierra did a great job again. It is a piece of art.
1,020 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I was glad to find this one from Sierra, as they are one of my favorite breweries - and I love barleywine so the joy was double. It is from 2015 so by today (2017) it is already somewhat vintage.
Actually it is a barleywine-style ale the bottle says and right, it is not as syrupy as a normal barleywine would be. It is rather like a heavily hopped ale and Sierra are masters of this kind of beer. Along with heavly caramellized malts I feel loads of hops, especially perhaps bittering hops? because the aftertaste is quite bitter with quite a complexity. Very good that the body is lighter than a usual barleywine, but the remarkable taste is still there both in the nose and the feel. Makes me feel like a very very rich IPA... the richness of the hops is amazing, perhaps with Sierra's trademark Cascades? If I had to compare it to something, perhaps it is similar to the Arrogant Bastard Ale - and this should tell it all: it is amazing!
An excellent beer this is, Sierra did a great job again. It is a piece of art.
1,020 characters
3.53/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.83/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.97/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
2009 backlog. Beer rating # 100 on Ratebeer. 12 oz bottle. 2009 vintage. Ah, Bigfoot! For beer #100 I had to review the beer that got me hooked on craft beer about 10 years ago. This vintage isn’t as great as past years. That first year (1998 or 1999) was a standout. So was 2008, their anniversary edition. This year’s isn’t as exceptional as those examples, but it’s pretty damn good. Aroma is of bananas, spiced apples, caramel--strong malty presence. Pours a huge head with good lacing. Dark copper hue. Light carbonation. Initially sweet, turns bitter. The bitterness and strong alcohol presence linger. This is still my favorite barleywine. ----- 2/14/10. Vertical tasting of the 2009 and 2010 vintages. This is my re-rank (and comparison with the 2010) of the 2009 vintage. 7/5/8/5/17 (4.2 total score). 12 oz bottle. Aroma of caramel, Christmas spices; malty. Murky amber hue. Medium dissipating head with nice lacework (better than the ’10). Mellow, awesome maltiness on the tongue. Starts out sweet, finishes bitter. Medium carbonation. ----- Ranking of the 2010 vintage (and comparison with the 2009): 7/4/9/5/17 (4.2 total). 12 oz bottle. Much hoppier aroma than the ’09. Lots of citrus. Not as murky as the ’09, but the same hue. Way hoppier than the ’09. Not as complex. Medium carbonation. ----- In summary, drinking these two beers back to back, I prefer the ’10 because it’s hoppier, although it’s really freaking close. I think the ’10 will mellow in a year and be much like the ’09 tastes now. The ’09 is more complex, and more interesting, but not as drinkable. This beer is meant to be aged, though, so I’m thinking the ’09 is closer in taste to what the brewers want it to taste like in the end.
1,749 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
2009 backlog. Beer rating # 100 on Ratebeer. 12 oz bottle. 2009 vintage. Ah, Bigfoot! For beer #100 I had to review the beer that got me hooked on craft beer about 10 years ago. This vintage isn’t as great as past years. That first year (1998 or 1999) was a standout. So was 2008, their anniversary edition. This year’s isn’t as exceptional as those examples, but it’s pretty damn good. Aroma is of bananas, spiced apples, caramel--strong malty presence. Pours a huge head with good lacing. Dark copper hue. Light carbonation. Initially sweet, turns bitter. The bitterness and strong alcohol presence linger. This is still my favorite barleywine. ----- 2/14/10. Vertical tasting of the 2009 and 2010 vintages. This is my re-rank (and comparison with the 2010) of the 2009 vintage. 7/5/8/5/17 (4.2 total score). 12 oz bottle. Aroma of caramel, Christmas spices; malty. Murky amber hue. Medium dissipating head with nice lacework (better than the ’10). Mellow, awesome maltiness on the tongue. Starts out sweet, finishes bitter. Medium carbonation. ----- Ranking of the 2010 vintage (and comparison with the 2009): 7/4/9/5/17 (4.2 total). 12 oz bottle. Much hoppier aroma than the ’09. Lots of citrus. Not as murky as the ’09, but the same hue. Way hoppier than the ’09. Not as complex. Medium carbonation. ----- In summary, drinking these two beers back to back, I prefer the ’10 because it’s hoppier, although it’s really freaking close. I think the ’10 will mellow in a year and be much like the ’09 tastes now. The ’09 is more complex, and more interesting, but not as drinkable. This beer is meant to be aged, though, so I’m thinking the ’09 is closer in taste to what the brewers want it to taste like in the end.
1,749 characters
3.65/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.96/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
It pours a dark red/brown in my chalice. No head forms, but a slight white film clings to the sides of the chalice. Spider-web like lacing graces the sides of the chalice. The smell has the hops up front, coming forth in an earthy/woody way, some light citrus comes out as the beer warms. The taste is bitter with the previously mentioned flavors adding a bit of a tobacco flavoring in a boozy sort of way. It becomes slightly sweet as the beer warms. The palate is heavy with some slight harshness on the tongue, still smooth and slightly creamy. I’d say this isn’t exactly that drinkable, ABV aside, but it is an American Barleywine, so its expected. Overall, though the hops come forth strong in the smell and taste than most barleywines I’ve had, I still liked this. The normal complexities of a barleywine come out to make this a great offering from Sierra Nevada.
875 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
It pours a dark red/brown in my chalice. No head forms, but a slight white film clings to the sides of the chalice. Spider-web like lacing graces the sides of the chalice. The smell has the hops up front, coming forth in an earthy/woody way, some light citrus comes out as the beer warms. The taste is bitter with the previously mentioned flavors adding a bit of a tobacco flavoring in a boozy sort of way. It becomes slightly sweet as the beer warms. The palate is heavy with some slight harshness on the tongue, still smooth and slightly creamy. I’d say this isn’t exactly that drinkable, ABV aside, but it is an American Barleywine, so its expected. Overall, though the hops come forth strong in the smell and taste than most barleywines I’ve had, I still liked this. The normal complexities of a barleywine come out to make this a great offering from Sierra Nevada.
875 characters
3.96/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2.8/5 rDev -32.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25
Bottle from 2017
Look - Clear ruby color, a short and sudsy off white head, minimal lacing.
Aroma - Dried mango, pine sap, maraschino cherry.
Taste - Resinous and bitter. Up front there's a ton of pine, marmalade, malt tastes like simple syrup and plays second fiddle to the hops. Sweet grapefruit and long bitter aftertaste.
Feel - Medium bodied, sticky, ample carbonation, alcohol well hidden.
Overall - This one is for the hop heads. More IPA than barleywine.
464 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25
Bottle from 2017
Look - Clear ruby color, a short and sudsy off white head, minimal lacing.
Aroma - Dried mango, pine sap, maraschino cherry.
Taste - Resinous and bitter. Up front there's a ton of pine, marmalade, malt tastes like simple syrup and plays second fiddle to the hops. Sweet grapefruit and long bitter aftertaste.
Feel - Medium bodied, sticky, ample carbonation, alcohol well hidden.
Overall - This one is for the hop heads. More IPA than barleywine.
464 characters
4.34/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.4/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 12oz short bottle into Snifter glass. Bottled on February 23rd 2017.
L: Beautiful clear mahogany color, finger width beige head has great retention. Gorgeous lacing.
S: Hop forward aroma, citrus and pine with a toffee like malt backnote. Faint fruity and alcoholic esters.
T: Very hop forward at first, citrus and pine blasts the tongue with a strong bitterness. Roasted malt sweetness wrestles its way back in keeping this beer very balanced. Fruity esters and even a yeast backnote add complexity.
F: Chewy, like you are gnawing at a fresh picked hop. Medium body, crisp carbonation, hop residuals linger on the tongue.
O: Wow this is a great beer. Took me quite by surprise. Highly recommend.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 12oz short bottle into Snifter glass. Bottled on February 23rd 2017.
L: Beautiful clear mahogany color, finger width beige head has great retention. Gorgeous lacing.
S: Hop forward aroma, citrus and pine with a toffee like malt backnote. Faint fruity and alcoholic esters.
T: Very hop forward at first, citrus and pine blasts the tongue with a strong bitterness. Roasted malt sweetness wrestles its way back in keeping this beer very balanced. Fruity esters and even a yeast backnote add complexity.
F: Chewy, like you are gnawing at a fresh picked hop. Medium body, crisp carbonation, hop residuals linger on the tongue.
O: Wow this is a great beer. Took me quite by surprise. Highly recommend.
730 characters
4.16/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Drinking 16 and 17 back to back. Rich, robust, aromas are popping with this one. 16 seems to have a little of the hop mellow out. Very sugary and boozy. Nice full body and great carbonation.
190 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Drinking 16 and 17 back to back. Rich, robust, aromas are popping with this one. 16 seems to have a little of the hop mellow out. Very sugary and boozy. Nice full body and great carbonation.
190 characters
4.07/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into pint glass, 2017 brew I'm reviewing.
A: pours a dark ruby red brown body, one finger white foam head, carbonation
S: soft sweet malt, undertones of vanilla, candy sugar, oak, slight boozy aroma
M: full thick body, juicy finish on the tongue
T: oak, sweet malt, burnt char, earthy hops, grainy, slight herbal taste inn the finish, alcohol is well hidden
O: always a staple to get one each year, aroma is well done! Cellaring for a bit would help mellow out the earthy hop.
499 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into pint glass, 2017 brew I'm reviewing.
A: pours a dark ruby red brown body, one finger white foam head, carbonation
S: soft sweet malt, undertones of vanilla, candy sugar, oak, slight boozy aroma
M: full thick body, juicy finish on the tongue
T: oak, sweet malt, burnt char, earthy hops, grainy, slight herbal taste inn the finish, alcohol is well hidden
O: always a staple to get one each year, aroma is well done! Cellaring for a bit would help mellow out the earthy hop.
499 characters
4.25/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Aged 1 year after a buy of the High Altitude Series at the local Costco. A thick, almost viscous, pour with vestigal head and light lacing. The aroma catches the nose right away with a blast of bourbon and smoke. Very nice taste, complex and deep. The first impression is that your're having a shot of Kentucky bourbon, then it mellows out to a heavy malt, sweet and boozy. Aging is a necessity for these SN ales. Buy it, then give it a year.
448 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Aged 1 year after a buy of the High Altitude Series at the local Costco. A thick, almost viscous, pour with vestigal head and light lacing. The aroma catches the nose right away with a blast of bourbon and smoke. Very nice taste, complex and deep. The first impression is that your're having a shot of Kentucky bourbon, then it mellows out to a heavy malt, sweet and boozy. Aging is a necessity for these SN ales. Buy it, then give it a year.
448 characters
Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
4.14
out of 5
based on 7,509 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4