Bigfoot
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

 

 

"Barleywine-style." Not a barleywine.
This 2023 brew came up with a two-finger beige head when poured into a snifter. Malty nose.
The flavor is intriguing. Roast pine, piney hops. Caramel.
The finish needs smoothed out with aging. A little bitter, which is OK, and malt on the back end. The label reads, "... or cellar ... ," but I won't.

 

L: deep red color. Beige head forms at the pour. Thin half inch head dissipates slowly. Active carbonation maintains throughout the pint.
S: malt, caramel
T: malt, warm smooth alcohol, caramel again
F: fizzy and warmth. Piney feel works up through the nose.
O: very nice beer. Will drink a couple and put a few away for later.

 

A 2023 iteration bottled on January 12, 2023 and poured into a tulip about five months later.

Pours dark/amber brown. Excellent head. Initially, it releases big bubbles from the bottom of the pour that slowly bubble up. Good retention and lacing.

Aromas of dark fruit and piney hops, along with some modest citrus.

The brew delivers initial sticky-bready caramel-malt sweetness balanced almost immediately by white pepper and pine hoppiness. As the brew warms, a distinct grapefruit citrus note rounds out the middle, along with raisin, peach, and molasses. Some anise, tobacco and leather are trying to manifest, but need some time to mature. Not as boozy as feared. There are quite a few different things going on here.

Full bodied for sure, it nevertheless is very drying and tingly, which makes each sip welcome.

Overall, I understand why this brew can be polarizing, because there is nothing subtle or nuanced about a newer bottle of this brew. Regardless, this is a very flavorful American Barleywine that is excellent, but would probably be better with a little more age to smooth things out from what is currently pretty wild.

This one appeared in our local grocery rural Montana grocery store and and I thought it worth a try. Up front, I'll admit that the word "Barleywine" grabbed my eye and I missed the word, "Style". While after buying the first sixpack for (at our store) a very reasonable price of $11.50 I then came back for the other four, I liked it very much for what it was, not what it purported to be. If you are looking for a Barleywine, this isn't it. If instead, you are looking for an very excellent dark imperial IPA this is the one! Hops to spare and definitely a worthwhile pint to keep in your stock. If this sounds like it works for you then by all means grab some. I am glad I found it.

12 ounce bottle, fridge chilled. Dark amber, khaki foam.
Aroma is a bit all over and it takes a moment to call out the pine and malt and woods.
Taste is malty and hops balanced at first drink, then comes apart on the palate., caramel, pine, white pepper. Solid bitterness. Alcohol is present, as it should be for the American Barleywine style.
Feel is mid-weight, mid-carb.
Overall, good sud, a little busy, but not in a bad way. Better as it warms.

 

Big flavors, thick, grainy consistency. Dry and bitter, malt heavy first impression then the hops kick in with a piny and powdery finish. Some bitter gentian root flavors (cocktail bitters), a little too much sometimes. Raisins. Herbal. Mild sweetness is beaten back by the massive malt and hops. Very similar to a double or triple IPA. If you like big and bitter, this is it.

Look - deep amber, aggressive pour for a 2" tan head, little lacing left after this session
Smell - woody, malty, piney, floral, spicy
Taste - toasted malt, sweet caramel, hoppy, black pepper, piney, citrus
Feel - medium body and carbonation, sticky piney resinous finish, peppery
Overall - My first Barleywine and I'm very impressed. There is some serious hop nectar going on here. Flavor is very rich, almost like you're drinking the hops extract concentrate straight from the can and the enormous malt body brings the balance of toasted malt and a bit of sweet caramel. This brew is right up my alley with intense hoppy, piney, bitter traits that linger after every sip. Originally I bought one to try and that turned into buying a couple of six packs after I did try it. I'm gonna save a few to age and drink them in the years to come. Bigfoot is definitely a beast so take your time and pair it with the long classic, Do You Feel Like We Do from the Frampton Comes Alive! album. Enjoy!

2023 vintage:

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle dated 1/19/23 into a snifter.

Look- Amber brown, light brown frothy head, no visible particulate, average lacing, above average head retention.

Smell- Bready, earthy, pine, boozy, barley, medium strength of scent.

Taste- Bready, toasted barley, pine, citrus, black pepper, boozy, high strength of flavor.

Feel- Full body, average carbonation, highly mouth warming, highly bitter, mildly mouth coating, moderately creamy.

Overall- Amber brown in color with no visible particulate and above average head retention. Bouquet was malt forward with medium strength and notes of pine and booze. Taste was high in strength and malt forward with pine, citrus and black pepper character. Feel was full bodied with plenty of mouth warming and bitterness. Overall this provided a nice drinking experience and was a very enjoyable example of the style.

Yes…! A very interesting Barleywine beer….

It has that distinct sierra Nevada skunkiness. A little more dark amber than their infamous IPAs. Currently cellaring mine to see what the age brings

 

2015 and stored with zero skill, will it survive?
L: Dark brown with respectable tan foam.
S: Light sour notes dominate, soy sauce on the end.
T: Brown bread crust, hint of anise, treacle, cigar leaves. No burn left.
F: A little slippery but still good to go.
O: I think I caught this at the top of it's age, though possibly a year late. Bigfoot approaching abbey ale territory.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter glass. I’m drinking the 2023 version.
L - Pours a dark amber color with a slight khaki head that dissipates quickly.
S - Smells of malt and booze.
T - Tastes of raisins, molasses, malty, hoppy and boozy. Definitely a lot going on.
F - Medium to full bodied with carbonation on the lighter side.
O - Very interesting barleywine.

Strong and complex balancing sweet malt opening with hop bitterness on the back end. Dark amber coppery reddish color with a nice khaki tan head that persists and sticks to the glass. The aroma is balanced along with the taste—combination of bready, sweet, and bitter notes and a bite from the alcohol.

2023 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine - Nice tan head , amber body,great bready sweet aroma + sweet Carmel with a bitter finish taste
9.6% hidden well
Going to start pulling my older vintages to compare