Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine
Hi-Wire Brewing

It’s good but I find the bourbon overpowering. Gorgeous color, caramel taste. Oddly some blueberry. It’s not as barley wine as others that I’ve had. It’s a bit light as well.

1 PINT can
Served in a snifter
BATCH 2460
01/26/23

This beer pours a deep copper hue with burnt orange highlights. It is topped with an inch of tan head that leaves no lacing,

It has a sweet caramel aroma. Hints of oak.

Caramel and oak flavor. Lacks depth or any redeeming character

Thin bodied for a barleywine with dry, watery mouthfeel. Extremely disappointing for a barrel aged barleywine

Disappointment in a can. Barleywines are tough to find anymore. Examples such as this beer gives the style a bad name. Just a huge miss for my palate. I can't say that Hi Wire has ever impressed me at all though, so probably my bad for even purchasing this can.

 

 

 

16 oz can from Mash and Hops (TN) served in a beer goblet. This lightly carbonated English barleywine pour with a clear reddish-brown body topped by a thin khaki colored head that soon reduces to a partial top coat. BBA features prominently in the aroma and flavor. The flavor and feel are boozy, suggesting that this might benefit from some aging. Fortunately, I bought two cans. ... and 2.4 years later after the start of 2026:
I'm having that 2nd can and discovering my forgotten review from 2023. Well, it certainly seems that aging did improve this barleywine. I've upgraded the ratings on appearance (this head is more durable than expected for the style), aroma and flavor. I'm impressed by the harmony and balance of this BA barleywine.

From the 16 oz can in a snifter. This unique brew pours a
chill hazed red tinged mahogany with a nice head of off white foam that
settles to a thick ring, thin layer, and sports some very nice lacing. Nose of
subtleties; faint bourbon, faint oak, faint brown sugars, wafting vanilla. Flavors
pack in a surprise over the mellow nose. Bourbon sizzles over dates and subtle
cherry with vanilla, oak, and light toffee appearing with warmth as does light notes
of sherry and brandy, and light herbal hops. Mouth feel is medium teetering on
medium light with light carbonation, and a decently balanced malt and hop
note that appears with even more warmth.

Overall, interesting and shows complexity with again....warmth.

Cheers

A: medium brown in color, medium tan head.

S: bourbon, maple, and oak.

T: caramel up front, followed by oak and bourbon. There is a hint of licorice in there.

M: fairly thin in feel, moderate to low carbonation. There is a slickness to the finish.

O: flavor and some are on point, but it feels off to me.