Big Sxxxy
3 Sons Brewing Company

 

 

2025 bottle poured cool to a mini snifter. Pours a relatively clear but opaque ruddy chestnut color. Not much carbonation seen once the annular head fizzles away, with loads of legs on the glass. Aroma is a slightly over-ripe peach meets velour joint. First sips are a pleasant wave of dark burnt caramel notes, with a healthy dose of tannins to keep it from being too syrupy. Wild Turkey barrel notes are strong, with an earthy quality, almost like Heaven Hill, but spicier and metal (like stainless metal, but maybe metal music). Mouthfeel is full and bordering syrupy, which for English style barleywines is perfect for my palate. Alcohol brings a little bite up front, and lots of warming, nice for this slightly cool evening. I have a couple more to cellar. Good stuff!

Very dark brown opaque body with a slightly lighter brown collar. Smell and taste are the same: black strap molasses, raisin, date, prune and caramel up front, boozy bourbon and barley on the backend. Strong and sweet! Malty with booze adding up in the feel, would take a touch more barley.

 

 

Bottle at share. Dark brown with a small airy head.Sweet malts rule the day, dominating the aroma and taste. Hint of prunes and brown sugar and plenty of whiskey of barrel.

 

 

500 mL bottle. Murky brown. Smells of bourbon, brown sugar, some dark fruits. Tastes fruity and boozy. Brown sugar. Bourbon. Heavy, quite sweet. Eh, too fruity for me.

Picked up this 22 oz. bottle via an on-line charity auction this…spring? I think. Jazzed for my first bottle from this brewery.

The pour is dark brown with a few drops of carmine mixed in with minimal eye-carb. The nose is a rush of sweetness & nose-hair numbing bourbon. I can live with that.

Big Sxxxy is a classic of the style: bourbon puch, sweet malts, oak, richly rolled toffee. There is a beautiful undergarment of leather, figs, & maple bark. Thick. Thicker than the ABV or the style warrant (it does say “pastry barleywine” on the label). No heat. So easy to sip. This is a big bottle to take by oneself on a cold night.

Lives up to the slow burn of hype surrounding 3 Sons. Excellent beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-site bottle at 3 Sons
L: Mocha and chestnut hues with a small khaki head
S: Leather, tobacco, and toffee notes
T: Bourbon-soaked figs, dark chocolate, rose hips, and caramel
F: Nice thickness and ample carb
O: Fantastic barelywine - hits all the right notes and very balanced. Well done