New to Barleywines. Recommendations?

I've had beers labeled barley wines and beers labeled old ales that support your observations... and ones that don't (but hallmarks and consistency aren't always the case in these waters). Let me ask you this, are you saying this just based on personal observation? (not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that)

 

Absolutely personal "observations" (to the extent I can remember).

Probably fair to say that it is rare for me to drink both styles in the same session.

It is definitely a comparison that I will need to make more directly the next time the opportunity presents itself.

 

As I noted I made the analogy in simple terms. Terms that fit my knowledge and experience as a drinker/taster of beers but not a home brewer.

 

Great replies, all. Also reminds me I have a 2013 Quakerbridge from Half Acre that needs to be found, and drunk. Hopefully not too late....but it's surely going to be a boozy malt bomb at this point.

 

Oh how I wish that were the case in America

 

Martyn Cornell wrote this article on the subject: he notes that the very same beer has been listed as a barley wine or as an old ale depending upon where you look!
http://zythophile.co.uk/2010/09/14/so-what-is-the-difference-between-barley-wine-and-old-ale

 

I just had a Tequila Barrel aged Barleywine from FTB (From the Barrel) Brewery of Londonderry, NH. Just released today. Very interesting. I expect I will have to add it to the BA database.

 

Straight to Ale's Unobtanium is crazy good, as is Central Waters' Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale. 2013-14 Bourbon County Barleywine is very nice and BA Bigfoot is pretty good.

On a slightly different note, Anchorage's A Deal With the Devil and Evil Twin/Westbrook's Perfect Nose are both Cognac barrel aged barleywines & they are a distinct departure from the bourbon barrel aged style, which I really enjoy... lots of jammy red fruits forward on the palate and plenty of booziness!

 

Nice article. I didn't get to finish the whole thing but it's well done.

I for one completely agree with the notion that English Barleywines are basically synonymous with Old Ale. American Barleywines however are a completely different beast. Much, much hoppier. Closer to an IPA, in my opinion, than a English Barleywine/Old Ale. The difference between an American Barleywine and an English Barleywine/Old Ale are quite juxtaposed

 

I just tried Flying Dog's Horn Dog and I was impressed. It's not quite at the level of Weyerbacher Insanity but it is quite good.

 

DuClaw Hell On Wood.... I call It the poor mans sucaba

 

Barleywines are my favorite style and I'm always seeking out new ones, so I love threads like this. I've had the vast majority of what's been listed here, and some of the more recent ones I've had that are quite good that I don't think have been mentioned yet include Barrelogenesis from Beachwood, Royal Oil from Bull&Bush, and Massive/BA Massive from Gigantic.

 

Definitely a lot listed here that I want to try! Not sure how much of it I will find in my neck of the woods, though.
Friday night I tried, on tap, Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk. A little acidic, but an amazing medley of dark fruits.

 

Just had clown shoes bluegrass billionaire. very very good I would definitely pick one up if it's still available.

 

Mother Of All Storms
Sucaba
Behemoth
BA Behemoth
Numbskull
BA Numbskull

These are the top for me in terms of ones that you should be able to get very easily. I listed regular and BA versions because I agree with the above poster that sometimes the bourbon aged ones are masked by the bourbon and you dont get the true flavor as much. IMO, Oak is the way to go when barreling barleywine.

Im huge into the style.....when done right I think they are the perfect beers. The best for aging too if you are into that. Here are some of the harder ones to find that are one my list:

King Henry
Brew 1000
Anabasis
Omega Point

 

Cannot believe I forgot about this one! I tried the Cognac barrel Behemoth on tap at the brewpub & then bought two bombers (ouch, that $40 price tag). It was so light, and so sweet, with blueberry and cherry and grape tones... definitely unlike any other BW I've tasted!

 

Weyerbacher Insanity. It's pretty easy to find in both NJ and NY, and it's pretty much my favorite for the style.

 

Perfectly said, and the past year or two this has become more necessary with all of the new breweries available, and the growing number of stores carrying good beer. It seems like there are 10 new beers on the shelf every time I go to a store. Without this site, I'd waste a lot of money on beers I wouldn't have enjoyed, and missed out on fantastic beers.

One thing to keep in mind when looking at ratings for barley wines, is the scores tend to be significantly lower than other styles. More than just looking at scores, I'll skim through some good and bad reviews, and judge whether to buy based on what the reviewers liked or didn't like.

JW Lees is by far my favorite, especially the Lagavulin cask. Thomas Hardy was the best, but it was discontinued about 15 years ago. I read that a brewery bought the recipe and is reviving the brand. I really hope this happens. Most barley wines improve with age, especially the superhopped American BWs. I need to revisit all the American BWs listed. I grew to love BWs when living a block away from a brewpub that made a phenomenal English Barley Wine. I feel like I've been chasing the dragon, expecting a BW to taste similar. I wasn't a big fan of most of the big name American BWs, but I never aged them. I will say, Third Coast is very heavy on the Summit hop, so if you don't like Summit, try something else.

 

Damn I never had that one. The regular and BA are pretty good that one must have been amazing.

 

I'm pretty fond of clown shoes pierre whatever billionaire. Its an english style barleywine. Super malty and sweet which is how I like my barleywines for the most part. The Cognac barrels really add to the brew. I like clown shoes barrel aged brews and that is one of my favorites.