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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  1. DIM

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

    Sadly they don't distribute to PA.
     
    #1221 DIM, Sep 24, 2022
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  2. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Any idea about Virginia? Me and the Mrs. are going to be in Williamsburg next week.
     
    #1222 Spade, Sep 24, 2022
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  3. DIM

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

    I don't know, but here is there beerfinder-

    https://revbrew.com/beer/find

    Have a great trip!
     
    #1223 DIM, Sep 24, 2022
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  4. Beersnake

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

    It's Friday so let's open a mystery barleywine. This particular bottle from @DIM had a suggestion on the label to allow the sediment to settle. I did, and I poured this carefully. Blind notes:

    Poured at fridge temp. Pours a dark and very murky brown with ZERO head. Wow. Looks thick and tasty. The nose is incredible. This smells like a 30-40 year old Thomas Hardy's Ale! This is either an old bottle, or they somehow managed to capture this aged English barleywine vibe. It's waxed, so I'm guessing it's not really old. The nose carries hints of leather, figs, sherry, a slight smoky note, brown sugar, unami, tart cherries, and oak. I am not sensing any barrel aging here. I just can't get over the feeling that this is an old beer!

    The taste is both similar and divergent from the nose. Wow. Perky. Fruity. A tad sour. Funky. Dates, prunes, raisins, sour patch kids, leather, citrus (lemon), mint, vanilla. This is like a cross between a wild ale and a barleywine. Really exciting and interesting.

    [​IMG]

    The reveal: Funeralize from Tired Hands. A barrel-aged, mixed culture barleywine. Thanks for the adventure, @DIM !! This was really fun!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    #1224 Beersnake, Sep 24, 2022
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  5. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks. Found their beer finder (found a finder?) and it's fairly useless. So I will file it away for future reference.
     
    #1225 Spade, Sep 24, 2022
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  6. DIM

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

    Well you were right about it having some age, it was brewed 6 years ago. I like the Mead Barrel treatment here better than in Baller Baracus. Excellent write up on this one!
     
    #1226 DIM, Sep 24, 2022
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  7. Beersnake

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

    After seeing my review and thinking about this beer, I guess I shouldn't be overly surprised that a mixed fermentation beer would have the nose of a 40-year old beer. I really want to smell this side-by-side with an old barleywine and see if I'm crazy. With more time in the glass, I'm getting a strong jam taste. Strawberry jam. So good!
     
    #1227 Beersnake, Sep 24, 2022
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  8. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    [​IMG]

    Think I’m enjoying this more than I ever have before. Damn this is doing it.
     
    #1228 Uberdachen, Sep 24, 2022
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  9. Beersnake

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

    Just got one from @DIM and I'm super excited to try it!
     
    #1229 Beersnake, Sep 24, 2022
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  10. DIM

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

    I bought a case of the last batch and they're tasting really good right now. I plan on buying another case when I see it again.
     
    #1230 DIM, Sep 24, 2022
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  11. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    Understandably so! I think you will enjoy it.
     
    #1231 Uberdachen, Sep 24, 2022
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  12. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    All I’ve found have been bottled Feb ‘21. If they made it this year, it never showed up here. I checked their tracker periodically but came up empty. Saw a random drop like 6mos after I got most of mine and it was still the same bottling date.

    Total Wine weirdly has shown more coming in ‘23, a thing I’ve not noticed for other beers.
     
    #1232 Uberdachen, Sep 24, 2022
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  13. DIM

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

    I bought a case in January that was bottled in late December. Their website listed as available in January, I really hope to see this one again. https://www.3floyds.com/beer/barrel-aged-behemoth/

    It's the second or third cheapest barrel aged barleywine I've come across and it's damn good.
     
    #1233 DIM, Sep 24, 2022
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  14. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    ABSOLUTLY AGREED!!! Thanks for letting us in on the trade.
     
    #1234 SLeffler27, Sep 24, 2022
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  15. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    They have one of the best beer finders I have used. I suspect you are finding it useless because there is no beer for you nearby. I think the closest state they distribute in is Ohio, for you.
     
    #1235 Beer_Economicus, Sep 24, 2022
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  16. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Maybe. I didn't delve too deeply, but it seemed like I had to search for specific beers. I just need to know where they're sold; I can handle the shopping from there.
     
    #1236 Spade, Sep 24, 2022
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  17. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Weeeeeell, yes and no. So, yes, you "have" to search for specific beers. That's true, but it actually helps (if you know a little about their beers). For example, the only BBA beer that has seen even limited distro since last season is (I think) coconut deth. Of their BBA beers that are widely distributed, the ones you are most likely to see on shelves (depending on where you live):
    • Deth's Tar
    • Straight Jacket
    • Maple Jacket
    • Vanilla Deth
    • Ryeway to Heaven
    • Cafe Deth

    Not everyplace that receives their beer will receive their BBA beers. So, while I hear what you're saying, you're better off doing a little bit more work and searching for specific beers. Especially since you're really looking for beers from 8 months ago at this point.
     
    #1237 Beer_Economicus, Sep 24, 2022
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  18. DIM

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

    I've got time for a short pour while preparing dinner, time for another mystery from @Beersnake1

    [​IMG]

    Pretty beer, a deep ruby tinted mahogany color. Pours with a relatively small head that leaves lots of sticky lace in its wake. First impression is that this is quite sweet. Not the obnoxiously sugary kind, the luxuriously layered kind. Barrel aged for sure, probably bourbon but I'm getting a hint of a vinous note as well? There is some fruit here, all baked or stewed with brown sugar or honey added. Apples, plums, apricots, raisins… The finish is just amazing, bourbon and an increased brown sugar note join the mix along with some deep leather and tobacco. The mouthfeel is full and sticky with gentle carbonation. This is absolutely epic, one of the best I've tried. I'm going to guess English barleywine at a lucky 13% ABV.

    The reveal-

    [​IMG]

    Oh man, thanks so much for the chance to try this beast! This is from 2018, the years have been kind for sure. This is Arcane Rituals level good, maybe better! Bottle Logic does amazing things with barleywine for sure. It's funny, now that I see the label the brandy seems much more prominent. I love, absolutely love, bourbon and brandy/cognac etc barrels mixed together. Alone, I strongly prefer just bourbon over brandy for some reason. But the two together...Marvelous experience, thanks again! This has been so much fun! I can't wait to have the rest after the kids are in bed...
     
    #1238 DIM, Sep 24, 2022
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  19. Beersnake

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

    Nice! That was one of the first BA barlywines I had tried from Bottle Logic, and I loved it. They do a wonderful job combining those bourbon and brandy barrels! Great summary! Cheers!
     
    #1239 Beersnake, Sep 24, 2022
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  20. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I have tentative plans to be in Ohio next year and will file this away for a potential shopping trip.
     
    #1240 Spade, Sep 25, 2022
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