… And The World Is Mean
Fair State Brewing Cooperative

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Fair State Brewing Cooperative
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
15%
Score:
+6 ratings needed
Avg:
4.58 | pDev: 4.15%
Ratings:
4 | reviews: 4
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 15, 2022
Added:
Feb 24, 2022
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
We released “Life Ain’t Fair,” a double-mashed, long boiled, true to form English-style barleywine way back in late 2020, and when we did, we laid part of it down in bourbon barrels. Well, here we are 16 months later to complete the line “life ain’t fair, and the world is mean.” It’ll probably seem like a slightly less cruel place once you get your hands on this ridiculously over the top no-adjunct malt bomb. Caramel, toffee, spirits, vanilla, oak, more caramel, more toffee, and then maybe some more after that. You get the point.
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Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of maximum12
Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota

4.82/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The base of “Life Ain’t Fair” was wonderful & so is this. Had samples of both side-by-side on tap at Fair State a while back, which was awesome. 750ML bottle split with the wife.

….And The World Is Mean! If this is mean, y’all please be mean & meaner to me. Every day. This is a world class barleywine with waves of toffee & caramel caressing the palate. Barrel jumps in & lends this depth, dark bourbon, booze, & oak. Fading to timidity beneath that onslaught are bits of fig, leather, old basement. Sehr thick for a b-wine & the booze lends it a numbing effect on my mouth skin. I could have easily taken this solo. The aftereffects I would have liked to share, however.

Stellar. Top shelf. Wow. Pick your exultant adjective of choice. One of the top five barleywines I’ve ever had. Please, Fair State, make this & the base annual releases?
May 15, 2022
Photo of darktronica
Reviewed by darktronica from Indiana

4.56/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Wow, this is excellent. Caramel, malt, vanilla, dried jujube fruit and goji berry, honey, strong barrel character and a punch of booze from the bourbon. I like English barleywines that really lean in to the leather and green tobacco notes, and this definitely isn't that, but it's very good. More on the sweet side, but not overboard thanks to the generous bourbon notes.
Apr 02, 2022
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
On tap. Tan head. Dark caramel hued brown.

Raisins, toffee, caramel, oak, bourbon, vanilla. This is world class barleywine. Smooth, warming, full bodied. Incredibly complex, flavorful, drinkable. The 15% is hidden.
Feb 26, 2022
Photo of gatornation
Reviewed by gatornation from Arizona

4.3/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap. Pours a dark mahogany color with a fresh thin tan head. Smell is barrel ,toffee ,vanilla and some dark fruits, very nice . Taste follows nose good notes of barrel whiskey with toffee/caramel vanilla and date/fig are in the finish. Mouth feel is smooth with 15% well hidden great barrel offset with the sweet caramel ,a sipper its delicious.
Feb 25, 2022