A Barley Wine for Every Day

@zid have you tried the 2016 or 2017 version of Hell on Wood yet?

 

Here's one in conjunction with NBS:

Pretty Things Our Finest Regards barleywine

I've sat on this for more than a year at this point, and it's a beer I picked up upon hearing that they would be closing up shop. Here's hoping that the time did it some good.

It's an interesting, yet not unexpected, melange of flavors. If anything is dominant, it's a caramelized sugar quality, but mostly it's a seamless blend of that plus molasses, nuts, butterscotch, dried flowers, dried orange peel, sweet spices (cloves, nutmeg...), raisins, cookie dough and malted milk balls. Even though I loved and respected this brewery, with this style I usually fear that it will be a cloying mess, and my first few sips did bring that fear closer to the surface, but thankfully after a few more that sweetness is starting to calm down and I will gladly enjoy the remainder of the bottle.

My own preferences would have been to tweak the bitterness up a notch or so, as well as dry it out a bit more. Still, as it is, it's a full bodied, smooth beer with just the slightest touch of warming alcohol. And complexity to spare. An enjoyable B+ (3.75), but sadly not the one to remember them by.

 

I haven't had it. The local distributor only had cases, but the guy working yesterday seemed to think the owner would break it up for me so I could get a sixer. Guess I'll find out.

 

Devil's Milk definitely skews to the "American" side of the style - hops and bitterness dominate. I described the malt flavor as "grainy" - not very deep or complex compared to better barleywines. I will finish this 6 pack but probably wouldn't buy again.

You can see it's fairly light in color:

 

Had this one yesterday.

Cheers!

 

well then I am going to have to visit the shop. I am still enjoying the 750 saison as well. =)

 

Hercules amd maharaja are interesting. I've had both and felt a heavy malt presence similar to barleywines. I'm excited. I'm also curious to see if you find any Scotch ale in that lagunitas. I was half in the bag when I had it but I only remember sweet orange and pine.

 

Central Waters '16 BA Barleywine is superb!

 

A couple of months back I bought a bunch of brews on-line, many barleywines, old ales, wee heavys, maybe a scotch ale. If I remember, and it's ok, I will put up some pics/reviews here. Very Good Thread!

Cheers!

 

As someone whos tase buds have taken a good deal of time to appreciate the barleywine style, they have started to come around. This is the most recent offering I have had in the style, bourbon barrel aged and every bit well rounded and smooth as I would like one to be. A beautiful liquid.

 

This 6-year old Barleywine from NZ was a random find at a San Diego bottleshop last month. Could not pass this up! The label says they used London yeast with NZ hops. It certainly tastes like a nicely aged BW with smoothness all around, but incredibly sweet. Think stone fruit and maple syrup. Very soft bitterness. I did enjoy the leathery/ tobacco flavor though.

 

Revolution "Straight Jacket."

 

This is Barley Butcher, a whiskey barrel-aged barleywine from Maplewood Brewery in Chicago.

I had never heard of Maplewood, but I took a day trip to Chicago this past weekend and saw the attractive minimalist label while shopping for some other tasty beverages. I'm glad I took a chance on an unknown waxed bomber with no reviews, because it turned out to be just the sort of thing I enjoy.

Pours a deep ruby color with minimal head and no residual lacing, but it exhibits some modest legs when swirled. In keeping with the color, this gives the impression of a lightly carbonated sherry or port, rather than a traditional English barleywine. The hop character is minimal and the malt profile is English in character but subdued in volume. By contrast, the nose provides some really nice vinous notes and an appealing fruity sweetness. Minimal barrel character or whiskey heat on the nose, but this comes through more clearly on the palate, with more of an alcoholic twinge than is expected from the low carbonation and syrupy, full-bodied mouthfeel.

This stands out as distinctive, given its similarity to a dessert wine, and it's to my liking for that reason, but it may not be exactly what others are looking for if grading strictly to style. I don't particularly care about style boundaries and BJCP criteria, so I just find it to be tasty.