Barleywinery Double Barrel V.S.O.J.
Revolution Brewing
- From:
- Revolution Brewing
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
Ranked #102 - ABV:
- 16.5%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,581 - Avg:
- 4.32 | pDev: 5.79%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 27, 2025
- Added:
- Dec 31, 2024
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
This wood-obsessed barleywine is a single, unblended batch of extra sweet component Straight Jacket aged in the primordial Barleywinery for one year in a mix of young Heaven Hill rye and bourbon barrels before being transferred to French oak-augmented 1792 Sweet Wheat casks for an additional year. Compared to V.S.O.J.’s of yore, this silken super heavyweight presents with a more restrained oxidative personality, at once striking the palate like a top rope bellyflop of malt expressions both fresh and extended-aged. A quick one-two of alcohol and grippy oak tannin so effectively prepares the palate for each next sip, you’ll need to imbibe with a mindful slowness to avoid the barleywobbles.
(Note: The can ABV reads 14%. The correct ABV is 16.5.)
(Note: The can ABV reads 14%. The correct ABV is 16.5.)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MJSFS:
Rated by MJSFS from Florida
4.55/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Apr 17, 2025
4.55/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Apr 17, 2025
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by lucius10 from California
4.67/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.67/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Sweet caramel and brown sugar malty, dates and plums, a hint of oak, and a bourbon barrel boozy nose on this one! Taste follows with a medium-bodied yet smooth, brown sugar dusted dark fruits, and a nuanced, bourbon oak barrel boozy, but balanced finish. This is fantastic! It is not on par with the latest batch of Double Barrel V.S.O.J. IMO, but it is well crafted and a nice sipper. As it warms, a touch of rye spice appears on the backend which compliments the finish. So glad I got to try and enjoy this one!
Oct 27, 2025
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York
4.59/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.59/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
This one pours a golden amber brown color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.
This smells like caramelized sugar, breadiness, oak, bourbon, honey, maple, and toffee.
This is a more restrained but quite complex on a classic. The barrel really softens this, giving a honey drizzled toast vibe, along with burnt caramel, dark grade maple, oak spice, rye, and toffee candy. The regular VSOJ is more unabashedly barrel forward, but this presents as maybe more drinkable, ultimately.
This is soft, not boozy or syrupy at all, and fairly drinkable for the style.
It’s absolutely ridiculous and honestly dangerous that this beer is presented in stovepipe form – I love it.
Apr 01, 2025This smells like caramelized sugar, breadiness, oak, bourbon, honey, maple, and toffee.
This is a more restrained but quite complex on a classic. The barrel really softens this, giving a honey drizzled toast vibe, along with burnt caramel, dark grade maple, oak spice, rye, and toffee candy. The regular VSOJ is more unabashedly barrel forward, but this presents as maybe more drinkable, ultimately.
This is soft, not boozy or syrupy at all, and fairly drinkable for the style.
It’s absolutely ridiculous and honestly dangerous that this beer is presented in stovepipe form – I love it.
Reviewed by Jaycase from Illinois
4.41/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Canned 01/10/25
a: aggressive pour gives a dark ruby with a 1 1/2 finger khaki colored head. The head recedes (noisily) fairly quickly to a thin layer around the circumference of the glass. No lacing.
s: boozy (oak) notes lift outward from the glass and invade the nearby space. Close inspection gives caramel, maple syrup and some slight red grape.
t: caramel, red grape wrapped in oak. alcohol burn midway through to the finish akin to a liquid contrail.
m: medium body. carbonation on lower side of spectrum. some stickiness.
o: Definitely on the sweeter side but a delicious VSOJ variant. It's got a noticeable boozy burn to it which I enjoy. This is a good one.
Mar 23, 2025a: aggressive pour gives a dark ruby with a 1 1/2 finger khaki colored head. The head recedes (noisily) fairly quickly to a thin layer around the circumference of the glass. No lacing.
s: boozy (oak) notes lift outward from the glass and invade the nearby space. Close inspection gives caramel, maple syrup and some slight red grape.
t: caramel, red grape wrapped in oak. alcohol burn midway through to the finish akin to a liquid contrail.
m: medium body. carbonation on lower side of spectrum. some stickiness.
o: Definitely on the sweeter side but a delicious VSOJ variant. It's got a noticeable boozy burn to it which I enjoy. This is a good one.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.98/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had on tap. Oh man the booze runs this: bourbon, rye, and almost a cognac sweetness but I don't think this went there but wood is brighter. Though the barley does shine through with molasses. This is all true for both smell and taste, not as complex as other REV offerings. Very rustic, barrels and barley carry the body, booze adds up slowly. Super dark opaque brown body with a light brown collar. A sipper, but feels a little over-engineered
Feb 26, 2025
Reviewed by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois
4.5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The canned version of 2023 DBVSOJ is without a doubt better than Barleywinery DBVSOJ the prune finish takes away from the EPIC caramel/toffee/creme brulee sweetness that starts off the beer. Big oak presence as well that shows after the initial hit of sweetness washes away. The finish takes away some of the majesty of the initial flavors of this beer. All that said it's still delicious Revolution barrel aged barleywine. I just wish there was less dry prune notes in this beer.
Feb 05, 2025
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 1/10/25; drank 1/30/25 @ the Yarchives.
Semi-opaque brown/purple appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small tan head; no lacing remained.
Wood, red grape, caramel & faint booze heat notes in the nose.
Thick, sticky mouthfeel.
Sticky caramel & wood flavors up front; mild red grape & booze heat notes on the finish.
Sticky & sweet; not my favorite Deep Wood beer by a long shot but it's still mildly enjoyable.
Jan 31, 2025Semi-opaque brown/purple appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small tan head; no lacing remained.
Wood, red grape, caramel & faint booze heat notes in the nose.
Thick, sticky mouthfeel.
Sticky caramel & wood flavors up front; mild red grape & booze heat notes on the finish.
Sticky & sweet; not my favorite Deep Wood beer by a long shot but it's still mildly enjoyable.
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