Good Barleywine Introduction

When I was first getting into the style, I really enjoyed Arcadia Cereal Killer and Victory Old Horizontal. Not sure if either of those is still being made though, as I haven't seen them in a while.

 

Haven't seen Horn Dog mentioned. Second Brooklyn Monster. I'm getting a good supply while it's still around.

 

Barleywines are great! I didn't like them at first, but have since grown to appreciate the style and the wide range of interpretations brewers present. Some are really sweet and malty, some have lots of dark fruit flavors, and some are so hoppy they're almost indistinguishable from IIPAs.

Like a lot of other people here, I'll suggest Bigfoot and Alesmith's Old Numbskull. Green Flash also makes a nice American Barleywine that is easy to get and won't cost you too much. Three Floyds Behemoth is another really nice one, but only gets bottled once a year.

As for English Barleywines, my favorite easy-to-find (seasonal) is Weyerbacher Insanity.

 

King Henry is the one BW that I have never managed to find.
I really would love to tho !!!

 

If you want to try something interesting find yourself bottles of Weyerbacher's Blithering Idiot and Weyerbacher's Insanity. Blithering Idiot is an English barleywine (very sweet), and Insanity is Blithering Idiot aged in bourbon barrels. It gives you a good idea what some bourbon barrels can do to a beer.

FWIW, I think Blithering Idiot is just OK, and Insanity is amazing!

 

Cereal Killer is still made and I think this year's version is being released soon. I don't know about Old Horizontal.

To the OP: you should try CK, it's a great one in the English style.

 

Fairly new to craft beer and had my first Barleywine this weekend,

Anchor Old Foghorn - i loved it.

Bigfoot waiting for next time.

 

Let me tell you right now that weyerbacher insanity is a surprise. At least it was to me. When I first I tried it - I felt like drain pouring it- but I kept at it - I realized how much I liked it. The english barleywines are not the same as the american ones. I had uintas cockeyed cooper for the first time this weekend and that drank like a stout. Beer candy it was. I would have that again as many times as I see it on the shelf.

 

I haven't seen any Cereal Killer more recent than 2010. Old Horizontal has been on hiatus but is coming back this year in either 22oz or 750ml bottles I don't remember which.

 

Pretty things our finest regards is a nice place to start

 

I fell in love with Bigfoot after the first taste. It was my first barleywine and it left me wanting more and more. I don't think you'll be disappointed if it is the first one you try.

 

I'll agree. I actually don't really like Blithering Idiot. I find it hot and too sugary sweet. Insanity, however, is delicious.

 

God, you guys are lucky! I've never seen Vintage Ale round where I live. I'm sure I could order it online or something, but that's a bit of a hassle.

 

I'm not sure if this guy is being honest or just trolling. Fresh DFH's Olde School Barleywine pretty much turned me off of barleywines for a few months, until I tried some Old Guardian at a bar. I mean it has this on the bottle:

"DIRECTIONS: Open bottle, pour contents into two snifters. Enjoy. OR: Walk hand-in-neck into the middle of the woods. Use a shovel to dig a 2 x 2 hole three feet deep. Seal the bottle in a plastic bag. Place in hole & pack with dirt. Memorize location & leave. Return exactly one year later. Dig up bottle, open & enjoy." ​

Honestly, it could probably be kept in the ground for much longer than that, but I haven't had one since. I would love to try one that is a few years old.

 

These 4 are all shelf beer that should be beer that should be easy to trade for or shelf beer depending on your distribution region. Not to mention they are fantastic beers that are benchmark for the style.

American Barleywine: Great Divide Old Ruffian
English Barleywine: Anchor Old Foghorn
BA American Barleywine: CW Bourbon Barrel Barleywine
BA English Barleywine: FSW Sucaba

 

I never had something called olde school by them, this was something else, I thought it was good anyway, oh well, agree to disagree

 

O'dell India http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/267/52791/

 

I have not had good experiences with barleywines until I had Bigfoot. Fresh it drinks almost like a DIPA.

 

Sorry, I have to correct myself, I made a mistake the beer I was thinking of I drank so long ago that I forgot what it was until I revisited the website, the beer I was thinking of was their World Wide Stout, don't ask me why I thought barleywine, but I did. My bad.

 

When Old Horizontal is available again, that would be a great choice

I think, though, they're only releasing it in bombers/750ml bottles. I hope that's not correct because on a cold winter's night, drinking one 12 oz bottle (a perfect amount) of these puts me horizontal for the evening.