Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2022)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by DIM, Jan 4, 2022.

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Which type of Barleywine do you prefer?

  1. American

    97 vote(s)
    17.0%

  2. English

    295 vote(s)
    51.8%

  3. That's like asking me to choose my favorite child, I love them all!

    162 vote(s)
    28.5%

  4. Neither, if Barleywine is life then life has no meaning.

    15 vote(s)
    2.6%
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Page 36 of 97
  1. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know its dark lager tasting, but I felt the need for something stronger and after sharing some imperial stouts over lunch, I figured may as well contribute to the barleywine thread!
    this is barreled Souls Woodford Bourbon Barrel Aged Big Bang, a 13.3% barleywine. Really love this brewery and they rarely miss on the big beers, so very hopeful here!

    onto my review:
    [​IMG]
    Sampling a cellar temp 500 ml bottle poured into my snifter. Bottled on 4/27/2021 after 11 months in bourbon barrel. Picked up at the brewery on October 2021 and been in my cellar since then.
    The beer pours a deep rich mahogany color and reveals garnet highlights when held up to a light source. A large fluffy beige colored head of about 2 cm foams up even with a gentle pour. This foam sticks around throughout the sampling as a dense surface covering and creates dense lattice when I take a sip or swirl the glass.
    the aroma on this beer is bold right from the cap popping! I get big brown sugar notes and bourbon richness mixing. there is a bit of a fig note as well and a little bit of fusol alcohol bite on the nose. No hint of hop character here.
    First sip reveals a sort of thicker body with sticky texture that leaves residue on my lips on each sip. Instantly notice a sweetness on the flavor, and the carbonation is very soft, spacious and mild.
    Flavor is brown sugar, vanilla, bourbon and some fig and raisin notes. Definitely on the sweeter side and again not really any hop profile. Booze is also pretty hidden with no heat or pepper bite. Danger at 13.3%!
    This is a great BBA barleywine, which is no surprise from this brewery. Easy worth the purchase, but dangerously easy to drink!
    4.5 in the BA DB
     
    #701 sulldaddy, May 15, 2022
    tobelerone, BMBCLT, adrock314 and 13 others like this.
  2. chipawayboy

    chipawayboy Pooh-Bah (2,181) Oct 26, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Had the non BBA version of @sulldaddy ‘s check in last night. Very clean/sweet - almost no detectable bitterness. Another nice (dare say crushable?) Barreled Souls Barleywine.
    [​IMG]
     
    #702 chipawayboy, May 17, 2022
    tobelerone, BMBCLT, adrock314 and 12 others like this.
  3. cheeseheadinMinneapolis

    cheeseheadinMinneapolis Pooh-Bah (2,011) Sep 20, 2017 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Should I drink it soon (this weekend)? or age it?
    Mayhem and Mischief 2021, Dual Citizen Brewing Co., St. Paul, MN
    Gold medal winner a few weeks ago at WBC.
    They claim I bought the last bottle last night. #82 of 100 750ml bottles. Bottled about 2 months ago. It's in the fridge now.
     
    #703 cheeseheadinMinneapolis, May 20, 2022
    Uberdachen, Beer_Economicus and sulldaddy like this.
  4. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If it already won a gold medal how much better can it get? Drink it now.
     
    #704 DIM, May 20, 2022
    Bitterbill, zid, Uberdachen and 7 others like this.
  5. augustgarage

    augustgarage Pooh-Bah (2,703) May 20, 2007 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]

    Lovely overcast day here in SoCal - perfect weather to open this up. Review here (4.25)
     
    #705 augustgarage, May 20, 2022
    cheeseheadinMinneapolis, Bitterbill, CarolinaCardinals and 9 others like this.
  6. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    open it....or else @DIM and I will make a road trip to you and open it for you! :slight_smile:
     
    #706 sulldaddy, May 21, 2022
    Uberdachen, SLeffler27, DIM and 2 others like this.
  7. cheeseheadinMinneapolis

    cheeseheadinMinneapolis Pooh-Bah (2,011) Sep 20, 2017 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I plan on drinking it soon, in the next week or two.
     
    #707 cheeseheadinMinneapolis, May 21, 2022
    Hinda65, sulldaddy, Uberdachen and 2 others like this.
  8. Blogjackets

    Blogjackets Grand Pooh-Bah (4,816) Nov 22, 2017 Ohio
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Holy cats, is this one good - Central Waters Brewers Reserve. My first try. I was also recently given a 2017 bottle of the same beer.
    [​IMG]
     
    #708 Blogjackets, May 21, 2022
    BMBCLT, ZebulonXZogg, micada and 14 others like this.
  9. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    I had one earlier in this thread, and after that I am aiming to sit on my other bottle for a while. Not sure if I had some ailment affecting my taste because I enjoy a lot of bitter stuff but it was pretty overwhelming upfront on this one.

    I grabbed one of their previous batch as well and wish I could expect it to tell me what a year would do, but it looks like they completely change it up every year.

    On the topic of unreliable taste, I found some of that Surly/New Belgium sour barleywine on tap and it was way better than my first go. It was like liquid tootsie pop sucker, the last bit of candy shell dissolving with whatever owls eat that’s trapped inside those things. Went back a week later and added it to another flight and it was different yet again.
     
    #709 Uberdachen, May 21, 2022
    CarolinaCardinals, Beer_Economicus, cheeseheadinMinneapolis and 2 others like this.
  10. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I dont think I ve had any misses from Central Waters and their big beers.
    Cant find em in Connecticut anymore though.:cold_sweat:
     
    #710 sulldaddy, May 21, 2022
    Uberdachen, DIM and Blogjackets like this.
  11. Blogjackets

    Blogjackets Grand Pooh-Bah (4,816) Nov 22, 2017 Ohio
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I got that one and the 2017 from @KBS but I do see them on occasion in one shop nearby. Never tried Central Waters beers on tap and that would be a treat. Solid brewery for my tastes.

     
    #711 Blogjackets, May 21, 2022
    CarolinaCardinals, Uberdachen and DIM like this.
  12. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Periodic Motion from Fonta Flora, bourbon barrel aged barleywine. In the era of Technicolor cans, I find this minimalist label very attractive.

    [​IMG]


    I get a strong, charred, smokey molasses that I'm liking a lot. There's also some toffee, fig, and raisin, all dripping with that molasses note. The heat isn't shy, it's biting with plenty of whiskey, but it is well incorporated.

    Love the beer but not the large format, waxed bottle. Turns out they ship to PA, if they package offerings like this sensibly I'll place an order for sure.
     
    #712 DIM, May 22, 2022
    Bitterbill, CarolinaCardinals, adrock314 and 7 others like this.
  13. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    They package really well. The only thing is cans and bottles will not ship together so shipping gets a bit big.

    I have not had a bad beer from Fonta and most have been better than very good. I keep thinking about joining their barrel club but just can’t push the button.

    Enjoy
     
    #713 Giantspace, May 22, 2022
    Uberdachen and DIM like this.
  14. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Recollection from BKS. Insanely good barleywine aged in apple brandy barrels.

    [​IMG]
     
    #714 Beersnake, May 22, 2022
    BMBCLT, sulldaddy, cheeseheadinMinneapolis and 14 others like this.
  15. Shiredave

    Shiredave Pooh-Bah (1,661) Aug 29, 2002 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    It's hard to beat JW Lees - no barrel aged or other marketing ploys - just the straight up BW aged or not. The balance and complexity is unmatched iMHo. I love many of the more bitter and malt heavy American examples including ( older versions) of North Coast Stock Ale if not technically a BW , but none seem as refined and "rich" in both flavor and tradition. Hair of the Dog used to make a great BW or two but it's been a minute since I've had one. Wyerbacher Blithering Idiot was a solid example at one time as was Old Crusty from Rogue.... in the 7oz. bottles.
     
    #715 Shiredave, May 23, 2022
    SLeffler27, micada, Bitterbill and 6 others like this.
  16. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,790) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Local spot has a bottle of Old Horizontal brewed by Victory. The date has to be older than 2016 it must be I didn't look but I may pick it up
     
    #716 Urk1127, May 24, 2022
    micada, sulldaddy, Bitterbill and 4 others like this.
  17. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hair of the Dog ships if you want anything before they close, they have lots of Doggie Claws vintages. Also, you inspired me to open this. Been a LONG time since I had one.

    [​IMG]


    This isn't as sweet as I remember, which is nice. Charred, smokey toffee, golden raisins, hints of honey, and a light, leafy earthiness. I'm enjoying one this more than any other I've tried. Still prefer the barreled versions, Calvados and Port in particular.
     
    #717 DIM, May 24, 2022
    MadMadMike, SLeffler27, Bitterbill and 8 others like this.
  18. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thought I was done ordering from Hair of the Dog, then I saw this. Aged for at least four years in each of four different barrels.

    [​IMG]

    Got a few more goodbyes coming!
     
    #718 DIM, May 25, 2022
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  19. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,837) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    You bastard. I didn’t need to know about this.
     
    #719 thebeers, May 25, 2022
    tobelerone, SLeffler27, micada and 7 others like this.
  20. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    You're welcome:grin:
    I'm pretty sure we won't regret this purchase.
     
    #720 DIM, May 25, 2022
    SLeffler27, Bitterbill, CarolinaCardinals and 2 others like this.
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