Spirit Animal
Brassneck Brewery

 

 

 

Probably one of the more unusual barleywines I've come across. The dual Brett action adds a very drying effect to this beer. It doesn't necessarily taste funky per se, just... very unusual. It smells alcoholic, maybe unpleasantly so to some people (not one of them, though), but it initially tastes like barleywine to me - dark fruits, some almond, etc. The difference is when you swallow and you except that full-bodied sweetness to coat your mouth. It never comes. Instead, the double Brett bill does the opposite and dries it out. As such, it's probably one of the driest and sharpest barleywines I've experienced, I think. This makes it really drinkable, but probably not what you're looking for if you're wanting a traditional recipe, either British or American.

This actually works great for me because I'm usually not a huge fan of traditional barleywines, yet I'm kinda in love with Brassneck's take on the style. It's a surprisingly sessionable beer for being 10% ABV, too.