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

    I've got an Italian barleywine from Brewfist aged in Pedro Ximenez Sherry barrels tonight.

    [​IMG]

    Best by 12/30/25, not sure how old this is.

    The Sherry barrels are very prominent, there is a strong vinous note atop a nice, sugary, dried apricot flavor. Under all that this is a bruiser of an American barleywine. Charred caramel and a lingering hop bite that works well with the bitter oak. Only negative here is the body being a bit thin.
     
    #1341 DIM, Oct 12, 2022
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  2. DIM

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

    Couldn't wait to crack one these open. 4-6 years on bourbon barrels then 1 year in E.H. Taylor barrels.

    [​IMG]


    This doesn't have the big, creamy dream of a head that the other varieties of Bigfoot have. It's also darker in color, but does still have excellent clarity. The aroma is a huge departure from even other BA Bigfoots I've tried. Molasses, oak, baker's chocolate, and mellow whiskey. Surprisingly little heat here, smells divine.

    The flavor differs from the smell quite a bit. Up front there is brief, light sweetness in the form of honey and dried fruit. This is quickly joined by molasses and semi-sweet chocolate. The finish both dries out and heats up. Plenty of whiskey and bitter oak with some leafy hops close things out. I like the way this opens more than the finish but overall this is a definite winner. I put a stopper in this and plan finish it off in a day or three. @Resistance88 is right, sometimes they are even better a couple of days after you open them.
     
    #1342 DIM, Oct 14, 2022
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  3. Giantspace

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

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts, they make me feel better that I did not make this purchase.

    Enjoy
     
    #1343 Giantspace, Oct 14, 2022
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  4. DIM

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

    I'm curious, why do you say that?
     
    #1344 DIM, Oct 14, 2022
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  5. Giantspace

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

    I read what you posted and it did not come across as a beer you loved. Calling it a winner felt more like a toss in than you really meant it. If I misinterpreted I apologize. Most of you BW posts feel like you really enjoyed them and this post I did not get that at all.

    Enjoy
     
    #1345 Giantspace, Oct 14, 2022
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  6. DIM

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

    I was hoping this was going to the top couple on my all-time list and it didn't quite get there, so you aren't completely wrong. I did give it a 4.41 overall and as it breathes the heat is becoming better incorporated. It is really good. Cheers.
     
    #1346 DIM, Oct 14, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2022
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  7. augustgarage

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

    [​IMG]
    Was hoping for a more subtle peach note (like the memory of Summer, just passed, heh). Found this to be a bit too sweet and that the fresh peaches and peach brandy notes competed more than they complimented one another - wonderful nose though, and the base beer is excellent.

    Review here (4.15).
     
    #1347 augustgarage, Oct 14, 2022
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  8. DIM

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

    Funny, I was looking for a little more peach with this one.
     
    #1348 DIM, Oct 14, 2022
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  9. augustgarage

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

    I know! I had read your review before popping this one - I think we have similar impressions of the "peach candy" notes, but our desires went in different directions as a result :-)
     
    #1349 augustgarage, Oct 14, 2022
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  10. DIM

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

    [
    I don't want to, but I love those damn candies. If I recall correctly, I opened this at the beginning of peach season here and they weren't that good yet. I love peaches and I was desperately craving a good one.
     
    #1350 DIM, Oct 14, 2022
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  11. CarolinaCardinals

    CarolinaCardinals Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,231) Jun 11, 2003 North Carolina
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I am a SNBC Alpha Hop Society member and on their mailing list and was totally destroyed that the ABV exceeds NC ABV guidelines. Short of making a trade i am stymied on being able to acquire this. Totally jealous! Sounds like a winner given your evaluation!
    Cheers!
    Tom
     
    #1351 CarolinaCardinals, Oct 14, 2022
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  12. chipawayboy

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

    Ultra sweet - figgy/cherry - almost no boozy heat for 14%. Another winner from Cellermaker. Love these guys.
    [​IMG]
     
    #1352 chipawayboy, Oct 15, 2022
    SABERG, AlexIrigoyen, Raj and 12 others like this.
  13. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    Dig into my first ‘22 last night. Love the bitterness hit on the finish. This beer gets me.

    [​IMG]

    Nondescript black cap this year instead of the label match, I guess.
     
    #1353 Uberdachen, Oct 15, 2022
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  14. Beersnake

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

    Nice review! Upon further reading, I wonder if this was actually aged for 6 years in bourbon prior to the E.H. Taylor barrels. Their description is:

    Together we hand-selected Kentucky bourbon barrels to finish a 7-year vintage of Bigfoot Barleywine.

    This, to me, implies that they just used a 7-year old Bigfoot and finished it in the E.H. Taylor barrels. Did someone say that they were actually barrel aged that entire time? Just curious!

    Cheers!
     
    #1354 Beersnake, Oct 15, 2022
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  15. DIM

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

    @Beersnake1 Yeah their marketing here is not great. The vintage BA Bigfoot label was also ambiguous. But sierraterrence said the following in the release thread, from 4 different responses.

    Yes, the beer had been in bourbon barrels for up to 6 years (all was a blend of 4-6 years) and then transferred into 100% fresh EH Taylor barrels for the last year.

    Already barrel-aged for 6 years and then the last year (7th) in fresh EH Taylor barrels.




    Double barrel-aged. So it spent time in bourbon barrels (6 years) then was transferred into the fresh EH Taylor barrels for the last year.

    The tanks that went into these barrels were intended for production but it was back when we saw a dip in orders for our special release beers, of which Bigfoot was one of them. We went from producing about 3,500-4,000 bbl/year to about 2,500 bbl/year, today. Rather than dump the beer to drain, we found barrels and stashed them in the corner of our barrel-room.

    He also shared this video


    You need this and I have one for ya!
     
    #1355 DIM, Oct 15, 2022
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  16. Beersnake

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

    Thanks so much for the clarification! It definitely was a bit odd the way it was described on their site.
     
    #1356 Beersnake, Oct 15, 2022
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  17. DIM

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

    I was glad he chimed in to clarify. Not mentioning the first barreling was a strange choice.
     
    #1357 DIM, Oct 15, 2022
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  18. Hinda65

    Hinda65 Pooh-Bah (1,908) May 7, 2017 Utah
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Here's a great local barleywine..kinda in between American and English..Leaning more towards English with a little sweetness and fruit but a small bit of hops.. One of my favorites from 2 row

    [​IMG]
     
    #1358 Hinda65, Oct 16, 2022
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  19. MadMadMike

    MadMadMike Grand Pooh-Bah (3,555) Dec 11, 2020 France
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]

    Cigar City Brewing’s El Catador Club XV, second bottle offering.
    This is “Cronus”, a blend of cabernet, whiskey, and rum barrel aged barleywine.
    As a member exclusive, I enjoyed a tap hit of this elixir.
    It’s massive - one of the best BWs I ever experienced. Sips like cognac.

    I’m gonna sit on the bottles til Xmas cuz the tap hit was a bit hot and it’ll develop nicely in the cave.,
     
    #1359 MadMadMike, Oct 16, 2022
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  20. Beersnake

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

    Sounds amazing! I recently had a CC barleywine from the El Catador releases (Charleywine) and it was incredible. Cheers!
     
    #1360 Beersnake, Oct 16, 2022
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