Spiced Barrel-Aged Bigfoot
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

Poured at fridge temp. Pours a light brown with a reddish tint. Minimal head.

Here is my blind review:

The nose is RUM! Christmas spice as well. Spiced rum?? Cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of toffee, and a nice malty bread note. No hops detected. Really interested and very different from anything I have had recently.

The taste matches the nose quite nicely, but with more sweetness and also a touch of bitter hops. I am definitely guessing this is aged in rum barrels. There is a strong spicy note, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is some rye barrel mixed in. Definitely no bourbon. Getting toffee, cinnamon, leather, a touch of clove oil, pumpkin spice, mint, citrus peel, pine, and a bit of raisin. I am thinking American barleywine as the bitterness is increasing with time. ABV seems to be around 10%

really cool that they blended this from multiple vintages, a little weird its not in the bottle, seems like this would be a cool one to cellar awhile, but i guess in some ways they already did that for me, and its neat that its in a can too, more accessible i suppose, and absolutely epic label art! barrel aged with mulling spices, strong and sturdy and wintery and awesome, i am amazed how little oxidation there is in here considering how old some of the beer in the blend is, another little subtle quality thing that makes these guys so great. this looks maybe a shade deeper than the original by itself, mahogany to brick red with more head than expected. nose and taste show rich bourbon underneath warming baked malt layers from molasses and fresh gingerbread to maple and snickerdoodle, lots of oak to this, hints of vanilla, orange zest, and cherry cocktail bitters, some hops too, that this is american barleywine is still evident, some alcohol wafting off too but thats appropriate here, raisin and fig, rum along with the bourbon, even a port wine thing with the fruitiness. spices are in check, malt first, but i get cinnamon in front of the others, nutmeg too, wintery for sure, warming and slow moving overall, still hoppy, bittersweet then, warms up fast and well, lots of citrus, and somehow even though there is both body and residual sweetness to this, its not heavy for what it is, as in its not like a belly bomb, sure its big, but it also feels pretty carbonated and and refined so its easier drinking than it should be. i like the proportions, the fresh bourbon barrel character, and the way the spices only accent what is already here. this is wonderful beer for holiday time, i hope i can score some more, a top barleywine in recent memory for me!

 

Purchased a four-pack as part of my beer tasting group mass purchase 2-8-22 for $5 per 16 oz can. Canned 12-10-21; consumed can #3 for review 4-14-22.

Beer poured brown with a nice off-white head.

Nose is a nice combination of dark fruit, oranges, and cinnamon.

Taste is very cocktail like with a big dark fruit malt base that incorporates the bourbon barrel with a moderate warming touch. Orange bitters and cinnamon give it a cocktail twist. Finishes very balanced with lots of Bigfoot base beer hopping and the bourbon barrel.

Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied and very smooth.

Overall have to say this is one of the best high-octane SNBC brews i have every had!

 

 

Drinking this from a 19oz snifter type glass. 16oz can from the fridge,I let it warm a few minutes. L: pours with light carbonation and a small tan ring of foam. S: smells of caramel and sone spices, citrus arrive as it warms up. T: I really like this beer. Spice it light(I was afraid it might be overpowering) barrel is quite mild and citrus and cinnamon in the finish along with caramel. F: good body, has a real creamy feel to it. O: this beer is really good. I would recommend getting two allotments if you still can. A bargain at $5 a can. I wish there was a bit more barrel but it’s there and plays well with the spices. This is a winner.

 

 

This is pretty much exactly what I expected. Caramel-y aged Bigfoot, brown sugar, and whiskey are most prominent. No wonder the whiskey is noticable, barrels added 3.4%abv! I got cinnamon throughout and at the finish citrus, whether through hops or orange peel addition, and cloves. It's a nice change of pace, more BA Barleywine than toddy thankfully. $5 a can!

Pours a very dark amber color with a slight tan head and lacing
Aroma has pleasant cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, clove and Bourbon hints
The taste the nose with a very pleasant pleasant cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, clove and Bourbon flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A great Barleywine