Where to start with Barley Wine.

I thought Against the Grain's London Balling was quite tasty... Doesn't hurt that it was Bourbon barrel aged.

 

As a lot of people have said, big foot is a great beer. If you like IPA's and DIPA 's it's the next progression after them. Very big on the hops.

 

Stone Old Guardian is a good one that you should be able to find . I've seen it here fairly recent .

 

Yup, another good one.

Cheers!

 

Begin and end with Bigfoot. Great price. Fresh its a great Hoppy barleywine as it ages hops fade and sweetness starts. I have had bottles as old as 7 years old and it never gets too sweet.

 

I'm a big fan of Weyerbacher Insanity. It's an excellent English barleywine.

 

Lagunitas Olde GnarlyWine. For the money it's hard to beat. Wide distro too.

 

Flying Mouflan is outstanding, although I don't know if Troegs bottles it anymore.

 

No love for Jackie O's Brick Kiln?

 

I came in here to say this as well.

 

If you want to appreciate the style with a classic, I cannot recommend Anchor Old Foghorn enough. It has history and is widely accessible. Try that or a J.W. Lees first and get a solid understanding of the style before venturing into barrel aged barleywines, etc.

 

Despite how they label it, Isn't 120 minute technically a barley wine?

 

120 tastes like a sweet Barleywine . Don't think you can get it in NC though . I believe their cap is 15% .

 

Even if you find that you don't like BW's you may like barrel aged BW's. I personally have not found a regular that I like or would buy again but I LOVE some of the barrel aged BW's. My favorites are:

Central Waters BBBW - have to trade for it (but will be easy)
Bourbon County BW
Sucaba

Have a few others in the cellar I haven't tried yet. I didn't like mirror mirror at all and regular Big Foot was just ok at best. The above are world class and some of my favorites of ANY style. Don't give up on them until you have tried one of the above (at cellar temp).

 

Troegs hasn't bottled Flying Mouflan since 2013 I believe. Bottle the BA version earlier this year and had the regular version on draft for a very short time. I have a '13 bomber and a bottle of the BA that I plan on drinking side by side when I have some reinforcements present to help.

 

What I do when getting into a new style is go to that style on ba and see if any of the top rated are readily available. You'll be surprised how many there are.

Try some true to style, for an American bwine I would try old raffian

 

Where in NC are you? There is an Olde Hickory Barleywine that sits on the shelf in Charlotte that you could try

 

Old Foghorn

 

Anchor Old Foghorn