Pierre Ferrand Billionaire
Clown Shoes

Pierre Ferrand BillionairePierre Ferrand Billionaire
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Clown Shoes
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
12%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 7.4%
Reviews:
75
Ratings:
320
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 07, 2023
Added:
Mar 29, 2015
Wants:
  22
Gots:
  91
What could be more distinguished than our Director of Operations, Matt Smith, gracing a billion dollar bill with a smirk and a neck beard? You! With this rich beer in your belly. The Billionaire is an English Style Barleywine Ale, aged for six months in 30 year old Cognac barrels we got from friends at Pierre Ferrand. Here's to rare beer wishes and caviar dreams!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Snow81:
Photo of Snow81
Rated by Snow81 from Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Sep 22, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.48/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
220z bottle poured into a snifter
Bottle from 2015-2016 range

A- pours a deep ruby amber color with a one-finger foamy off-white head that reduces to a ring

S- plenty of cognac barrel up front gives a distinct aroma of concord grape, followed by black cherry, raisins, cherry pipe tobacco, leather, peppery oak & a candy-like malty sweet candy aroma to close it out

T- rich dark fruit notes initially with figs, raisins and prunes up front. At the mid-palate, dark vinous grape kicks in, as well as sweet caramel & toffee, blackberry, barrel & burnt brown sugar. The finish gives more dark fruits, caramel and booze. Lingers of boozy dark fruits

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns slightly creamy into a warming finish

O- the cognac influence works great with the base beer, providing a vinous dark grape note the compliment the malty caramel sweetness of the base beer
Jul 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by 5EKF from Illinois

Mar 26, 2020
Photo of JohnnyHopps
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana

4.39/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Appearance - The beer poured a murky copper color with a white head crowning the glass.

Smell - The cognac really comes through in the nose with notes with boozy raisin malt notes.

Taste - Initially, I noted red grapes from the cognac with a slight alcohol heat. The sweetness from the barleywine was light, but detectable. The malts become more appraent as the beer warms. Then, this becomes a real nice sipper.

Mouthfeel - The aging may have thinned this beer out somewhat, but it had a great body.

Overall - Initially, I thought this beer was really good. As it warmed, it became excellent.
Aug 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.81 by Mikexw from New York

Feb 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.36 by brother_rebus from Maine

Jan 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.35 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Jul 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.46 by dpgoblejr from New Hampshire

Mar 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.88 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Feb 14, 2018
Photo of Eamonn-Cummings3
Reviewed by Eamonn-Cummings3 from New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 22oz bottle into a BA speiglau glass.

Look is a slightly hazy cola with little to no head.

Aroma is strong candi malt and a lot of dark fruits.

Taste matches aroma, dry with a candi sweetness and fig.
Feb 12, 2018
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 5/12/15; drank 2/9/18 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque orange/red/purple rust appearance; champagne bubbles throughout.

A rough pour yielded a small khaki head; frothy lace.

Apple cider, caramel & leather notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Apple cider, oak & mild caramel flavors up front; mild leather & faint cinnamon notes on the finish.

At over 2.5 years old, this is flavorful...but a bit thin. Not quite God-tier but worthy.
Feb 10, 2018
Photo of FLima
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil

3.74/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Murky brown color with a thin head.
Aroma with notes of molasses, oak, toffee, cognac and chocolate.
Flavor with notes of molasses, oak, cognac, vanilla, earthy hops and chocolate. Dry and bitter aftertaste.
Medium to full body with appropriate carbonation. Alcohol of 12% is incredibly well hidden.
Decent English Barley Wine with nice cognac and earthy notes.
Nov 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.27 by sd123 from Georgia

Nov 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4.13 by Bowers-Brew from Illinois

Sep 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by PA-Michigander from Pennsylvania

Jul 23, 2017
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Very nice head production. Dark brown brew.

Woody, sweet aroma; the barrel influence is heavy and unavoidable. Brown sugar, toffee, and caramel tones from the malt.

Flavor follows: it's a malty brown brew, with a strong woody edge to it. The cognac adds an extra layer of sweetness to the malt base. It's thick, sweet, and a little hot, but the alcohol is quite restrained for the ABV.

At two years old, this brew is a touch oxidized, but it is clearly a very good beer. I don't recommend aging it more than a year.
Jul 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.19 by kkarimi from Texas

May 14, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by tvenne from Minnesota

May 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.31 by Prost76 from New Hampshire

May 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.27 by vfgccp from New York

Apr 23, 2017
Pierre Ferrand Billionaire from Clown Shoes
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 320 ratings