Chicago Barleywine Releases (2021)

I fully support this thread!

 

Hear, hear!

 

Obvious: Straight Jacket by Revolution...barrel-aged, and kick-ass
Old standby: Bigfoot by Sierra Nevada...it's even at Walmart now?!?
New: Evolutionary State by Foreign Exchange...with maple and vanilla, pretty tasty
Missed: Boathouse Reserve BA Barleywine by Crystal Lake Brewing...haven't seen it this year?
Passed: Central Waters Bourbon BA Barleywine...I tried the Brandy BA version this year - pretty good
Upcoming: On & On: Part 2 by Revolution/Half-Acre...a weller BA barleywine to be released at Half-Acre sometime in 2021

...clearly, I support this thread and all those that contribute to it...

 

I heard that this year's will be a 2 year BB aged barleywine...

 

Excellent thread idea! #islife, after all

I don't drink a lot of barleywines, but when I do it's usually by Revolution. Which got me trying to remember the last non-Rev barleywine I had... and it turns out it was barrel-aged Kaput by Noon Whistle. I remember liking it but don't have any other lasting impressions.

Aside from that Solemn Oath has put out a couple good BWs that I can remember: Starkers and Heavyweight Ticklefight Champion of the World. I think the latter also got some interesting barrel-aged variants, including rye and port, for an Old Order release a few years back.

 

Is this on shelves already?

 

I started a similar thread a few years ago, and I learned that while many of us love barleywine, few Chicago breweries bother to make barleywine.

I have a feeling that we are a vocal minority; if there was really an over-arching demand, it would be filled, but most people are unfamiliar and/or uninterested in the style.

That said: Rev is king (not just in Chicago, but probably worldwide at this point). Hop Butcher put out a banger with Candlebright, and Smylie Bros. did a Kveik yeast barleywine with a cool Queen reference (I Want To Ride My Kveik Cycle) that was excellent.

I hope 2021 is the year I'm proven wrong and we get a deluge of (English style*) barleywines, and this thread gets to 200 pages.




*personal preference, keep your overly hopped barleywines to yourself.

 

Came to this thread to mention this. Beers with maple tend to scare me a bit because of how over the top that flavor can be but this one was pretty good.

 

It would appear that I may be off a bit on this one. Looks like a non-distro one. So, not too thread relevant.
https://mobile.twitter.com/WIbeerbaron/status/1358898428810567680

 

Roaming Elephant by More was exceptional.

also, I think Begyle made / makes a good one?

 

It most certainly was. We need more places trying to age barleywine in third use barrels. I want Rev to do this. I want Very Special Old Deth Jacket.

 

I’d have to second that preference to the English variant of the style. Even more so, my penchant to the barrel aged variety of English Barleywines is needing to be quenched

 

I found the maple in this to be way too much. It over powered everything else to the point I felt like I was drinking straight maple syrup.

 

Spiteful Belligerent Bob is always a great option. Three Floyd's Behemoth and Pillar of Beasts too.

Do any of the Transient ones come to Chicago? They are usually very sweet, but some have been very good.

 

Agree with this 100%. Based on other reviews I'm thinking it might be can variation, but my mouth was completely coated in maple by the time I was halfway through with my can.

 

I love Behemoth, and I'm hoping it gets put in 4-packs the next time it's released. BA Behemoth 4-packs would be fantastic also. They put Pillar of Beasts in 4-packs, so I have a feeling it's coming.

I generally prefer the English-style barleywines to the American style, but if you let Behemoth sit in your cellar for 18 months, it becomes a great English-style barleywine.

 

I think I saw Parker hit distro last year, but I could be wrong. I enjoyed the draft pour I had at the brewery

 

Was going to mention this - was available at Beer Temple at least, for a while, I bought a few.

 

Great thread idea! Love Flossmoor Station's Wooden Hell