Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2022)

I'm turning myself in for not buying more of this one. In actuality, I only got offered it because I chatted about the store clerk very enthusiastically about barleywines. LA seems to have a bunch. He mentioned having something else I should try, and man - OH man - am I glad he did. 375mL doesn't feel like enough, and yet it feels like plenty thanks to the ABV.



El Segundo & Horus's B.O.B. 2 (Big Ol' Barleywine).

FWIW, I really adore El Segundo's Old Jetty, another barleywine I got to try on my LA trip. Both this and Old Jetty are hop forward, as opposed to my usual barleywine favorites. The rye whiskey is a splendid touch too, but I am a fan of rye whiskey.

 

Been thinking about trying to acquire Poet's Walk, but there are several beers I'd like to trade for and try first. I'm just generally curious about Suarez.

 

Got a bottleshop near me that has 4 or 5 Baladin XYAUYÙ barleywines. I want to try some of these. Anybody drink these before. I'm a big fan of Baladin.

 

This one was really good.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1675/75692/

 

That's the best part of it for sure. It's because they intentionally oxidize it. Cool stuff

 

When I read this I was like: what!?!

Then I read the description on the BA entry for this beer (with emphasis in bold by me):

“Our “glass-aged” barley wine brewed the day after Xmas in 2017. From there we lagered in a stainless steel tank for just over three months before bottle conditioning in 375 mL bottles. We’ve been sitting on these bottles since then allowing for time and oxygen to do it’s thing—bringing complexity and depth. Sensory notes of peanut brittle, olorosso sherry, twangy pomegranate molasses, date-walnut, maple sugar, dried fig, leather, tobacco, dark toffee, loam, wine macerated sultanas.”

This is the first time (to the best of my recollection) that I read of a brewery ‘pre-aging’ bottles before selling them.

I suppose some other breweries might do this but I have never purchased those beers.

FWIW every aged beer I have consumed have been beers that I have purposely cellared/aged. For example, I have a bottle of Duck Rabbit Barleywine that I purchased a few years ago (2019?) that is probably best enjoyed sometime later this year? I will find out when I drink it.

Cheers!

 

This potential upcoming collaboration might garner some interest in this thread. Same collaborators as the previously released Obadiah Poundage I believe. No idea on any potential release date.

 

Been many years, but I remember liking it a whole lot.
Have a bottle downstairs that has a fair amount of dust on it.
Have to break it out sometime.

 

Okay, so...I know I chose English BW as my favorite, but here is another American BW that is absolutely phenomenal and under-appreciated locally (to me).

Santa's Brass (2021) aged in Heaven Hill Barrels with Williamette Hops. Outstanding!

https://untappd.com/b/drake-s-brewing-company-santa-s-brass-2021/4626564

 

Found these hitting shelves… no idea what to expect with this one

 

I actually picked that up off Tavour, then found myself in Oakland for work the week after my box landed. Went from never hearing about Drake's, to ordering it online, then visiting.

I had a pour of Mama Tried Maple while there. It's an American barleywine.

 

When a barleywine is aged in bourbon barrels, all rules and regulations that define American vs. English are null and void. There's enough bourbon character that masks whatever hops might exist in that beer so that the barleywine is now defined as Kentuckian.

 

Thanks, Bro! I see that, but I went with what Untappd said since I am talking about the 2021 version. But, like @PapaGoose03 mentioned, with it being barreled up, who really knows? Ha! The Williamette hops were very subtle and balanced here. Really nice barrel character came out as it warmed. Cheers!

 

If any of y'all are going to be Seattle at the end of February, this event might be of interest to you: http://washingtonbeerblog.com/hardliver-festival-20th-anniversary-why-barleywine-matters/

 

Killed this Jackie O's offering the other day. Heard a few Ba's expressing their pleasure with this one so I had to try it. Very tasty

 

So, it was pointed out to me in the NW forum that I hadn't posted the outcome of our Barleywine bottleshare last weekend. Here's the update.

Thanks to the miracle of Untappd, and a couple Hobos who are anal about checking in, I can provide a decent list: Crazy Mountain Local's Stash-Black Barleywine, Boulder Beer Killer Penguin '12, Sucaba '12, Bigfoot '05, '07, '09, '10, '11 '12, '15, '16, '17 '18 '19, '20 Claim 52 Emerge, Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller '14, Wander 3Ton '15, '16, Revolution Blackberry Finn, Rogue Old Crustacean '02, Bell's Third Coast, Westbrook The Perfect Nose, Revolution Maple Jacket, Fremont Brew 4000, Ecliptic Orange Giant Pineapple, Machine House Barleywine, 3 Magnets Old Skook '19, Midnight Sun Arctic Devil, Pelican MoaS '15, '16, Buoy Love Lost at Sea '21, Evil Twin Hot Toddy-ish, Farmstrong Brahma, Boundary Bay Old Bounder '18, Scuttlebutt Barleywine '16, Red Racer Thor's Hammer, E9 Aniak, Pfriem Bourbon Barrel BW. I'm certain there were others as well.

I'm pretty sure the Bigfoots were year inclusive starting with '09 up to '21, but, that's enough UT scrolling for one day. Add in various Lagers and IPAs as Glass Rinsers and Palate Cleansers, and some beer was drank. We had mac n cheese, pizza, some grilled meats, cake, and various snack stuff, so it wasn't just all beer. It was another success. Maybe some of y'all can make it up next year.