Bite of the Beast - Barrel Aged
Hoppin' Frog Brewery
- From:
- Hoppin' Frog Brewery
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
- ABV:
- 16.66%
- Score:
- +5 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.26 | pDev: 3.05%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 21, 2026
- Added:
- Nov 16, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
NO SCORE
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-
The fanged frog of Thailand is a diabolical beast of the forest. In its honor we barrel-aged this English-style barleywine ale deepening its soul with rich notes of vanilla, oak, and dark fruit. Loaded with Thai chili peppers to ignite the senses, this spicy caramel-malt brewnow carries the warm, haunting spirit of the barrel - a jungle heat tempered by a smooth, smokey depth. This one will truly bring out the devil in you.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Rated by stortore from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Fobab 2025.
Apr 21, 2026
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.16/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours tea-colored with an ecru film that fades to a collar; leggy with a few short-lived speckles
Smell: Caramel, charred oak, Thai chili and Bourbon; vague dark fruit influences
Taste: Caramel and charred oak forward with the Bourbon developing along with the Thai chili; underneath, there is a hint of dried dark fruit; the finish brings a lot of heat from the chili
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low carbonation; considerable warmth from the chili and the high ABV
Overall: For my palate, chili heat works better in a Stout than in a Barleywine; interesting but I wouldn't revisit
Feb 10, 2026Smell: Caramel, charred oak, Thai chili and Bourbon; vague dark fruit influences
Taste: Caramel and charred oak forward with the Bourbon developing along with the Thai chili; underneath, there is a hint of dried dark fruit; the finish brings a lot of heat from the chili
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low carbonation; considerable warmth from the chili and the high ABV
Overall: For my palate, chili heat works better in a Stout than in a Barleywine; interesting but I wouldn't revisit
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
4.32/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown pour, deep brown and opaque in the glass; relatively thin head, yet dense, creamy, and long-lasting. Fine nose; roasted malt grain with a sublime and muted whiskey tone. Big dark malt backbone infused with a distinct whiskey and chili pepper bite. Heavy body; slick with a lightly oily touch; intense chili pepper and boozy heat; gut warming.
Ooh, lordy!...Hoppin' Frog continues to amaze with some of its monstrous beers. Apparently, the base beer is modeled after English barleywine styles, and the addition of Thai chili peppers and bourbon barrel aging only expands the beauty of this foundation. Wonderful! Simply wonderful!!
ABV: 18.8%; pouring temperature: 49.2 °F; canning info: Best by: 10 29 2035
Source: Tavour
Jan 24, 2026Ooh, lordy!...Hoppin' Frog continues to amaze with some of its monstrous beers. Apparently, the base beer is modeled after English barleywine styles, and the addition of Thai chili peppers and bourbon barrel aging only expands the beauty of this foundation. Wonderful! Simply wonderful!!
ABV: 18.8%; pouring temperature: 49.2 °F; canning info: Best by: 10 29 2035
Source: Tavour
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
4.48/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Quite dark mahogany it might as well be black under a moderately short tan head.
Any Thai chilis and even Belgian notes I got before seem to have receded entirely with the barrel aging. It's now richer, deeper, fuller and fucking delicious. Dark char, Riesen, vanilla brownie and brown sugar and maple bruleed oats blanket a very small prick of heat--for 18% ABV on top of chilis? That's truly insane.
Dec 12, 2025Any Thai chilis and even Belgian notes I got before seem to have receded entirely with the barrel aging. It's now richer, deeper, fuller and fucking delicious. Dark char, Riesen, vanilla brownie and brown sugar and maple bruleed oats blanket a very small prick of heat--for 18% ABV on top of chilis? That's truly insane.
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