Barleywine Suggestions

Thanks again for all the suggestions, y'all. All very much appreciated.

I went to the corner liquor store by my place last night to pick up the last pack of KBS they had in-stock and noticed there was a bottle of Firestone Walker Sucaba behind the shelf. I grabbed it and am planning on cracking it open in a few weeks when we finally get moved and settled in to our new place. Excited to see what all the hubub is about on this one.

 

Stone's "Old Guardian" is my jam.

 

Mirror Mirror by Deschutes is my favorite barleywine that has a little hop. Bigfoot is also very good.
On the sweeter side of things are Sucaba and Bourbon County. Also very stoked to try and get some Stickee Monkee this year. Outstanding beer.

 

You should try Sucaba. Then you should try Sucaba, and then Sucaba

 

Not a barleywine, but when I get a hankering for something strong that's been aged in oak I reach for this widely distributed brew:

 

Avery Hog Heaven is a good 'un

 

I love English style. Not much of a fan of American style. my first few were american style and it turned me off to barleywines for a while. finally had a few english style, and then bourbon aged barleywines and I love them.

 

The first barleywine I had was Weyerbacher's Blithering Idiot. A very good brew for my first I must say. Not one of my favorite styles but I still buy some here and there. Especially love BCBBW and have been sitting on a few Sucubas for a while, so I think I will drink one this weekend.

 

Short's Bourbon Wizard

 

Excellent find. Sucaba is one of the best BA ones out there. Don't drink it to cold though,

 

Agree on NC Old Stock!

 

Foghorn

 

Revolution Straight Jacket is the best barleywine I have ever had. It's still available around Chicagoland if you do some searching.

 

Someone else mentioned it, and I gotta put my 2 cents in. Probably my favorite barleywine is Great Divide Old Ruffian.

 

I've been really into barleywines lately, but I feel like the best experiences with them come at about a year of age or more.

The Avery Hog Heaven is above average when fresh, the Pretty Things is really good when fresh. I've got Olde School from DFH and another BW from Dieu de Ciel. There are a couple others in my cellar like Bigfoot and Hibernation, stuff I'm not eager to take out of the cellar yet. I've had them all fresh (they are all still within a year old) and I'd like to see them age with grace and be able to drink them, say, next fall/winter or even later than that. I'm okay with this.

That being said, can you recommend any barleywines that might be good now for Thanksgiving? I guess this would be limited to national breweries, or, if you're local to New England, something locally. Welcoming donations, of course, for Hill Farmstead's Aaron.

 

Third Coast or Blithering Idiot

 

Mad River John Barleycorn Barleywine, perhaps?

 

Alaskan Barleywine I drink fresh. It's one that I don't enjoy it aged. Great when fresh.

 

Had this last night. Kinda disappointing.


That said I love the style. My favorites have included Founder's Sweet Repute, Clown Shoes Billionaire, FW's Sucuba, and Hoppin Frog BA Naked Evil. Easier to obtain would be Bell's Third Coast Old Ale, that one's money too. I think you should easily be able to obtain the Bell's in time. Maybe someone in your area has billionaire hanging around as well, good luck and Happy Turkey Day!!!

 

I had third coast last month for the first time. Regrettably, I didn't take any home to MA. No Bell's here. Expedition on shelf too. Travel fail.