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. Beersnake

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

    Barnacles from Reuben's Brews & Hair of the Dog. An English barleywine. This was sent as a mystery beer in BIF 16 from @kemoarps (hence the detached label). Blind notes:

    Poured at fridge temp. Pours a dark orange with an inch of head. The nose immediately screams barleywine to me, although perhaps a bit more fruity. Definitely getting some caramel. Plums, raisins, a minty note, apples, peaches, oranges, and some grass.

    The taste is fantastic. Big notes of caramel and piny hops. American barleywine is my guess. A great balance of flavors. Tons of fruit as well - plums are dominant, with side notes of raisins, apricot, and orange. The hoppy notes become a bit more dominant with each sip. Pine needles, leather, grass, and a woody spice.

    Mouthfeel is medium bodied. The alcohol is definitely significant - gives a nice boozy burn on the way down. 12% ABV is my guess. I do not think this is barrel-aged, but if it is I'm guessing rye barrel. Great beer!


    [​IMG]
     
    #1561 Beersnake, Nov 14, 2022
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  2. Raj

    Raj Maven (1,272) Jun 25, 2014 Illinois
    Trader

    that glass is awesome !
     
    #1562 Raj, Nov 14, 2022
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  3. Resistance88

    Resistance88 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,462) Apr 9, 2015 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    My mom was visiting Seattle and brought me two 4packs of this one . Ive drank 3 cans so far and will prolly drink one more before the yesrs over.
    I really enjoy this beer and HotDs hand in this shines
     
    #1563 Resistance88, Nov 14, 2022
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  4. ZebulonXZogg

    ZebulonXZogg Grand Pooh-Bah (3,142) May 5, 2015 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Don't Hitchhike For Love from Ravinia a nice Barleywine aged in Willet barrels. Aromas of dark fruit, taste buds say it has some candy, toffee/caramel. Good stuff, will have to look for more from Ravinia!
    [​IMG]
     
    #1564 ZebulonXZogg, Nov 14, 2022
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  5. Beersnake

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

    Maris Goes Nuts from Timber Ales. An English barleywine conditioned on almonds and pecans. This is my second time trying this, and it's great. The nuts really come through! Cheers!

    [​IMG]
     
    #1565 Beersnake, Nov 16, 2022
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  6. DIM

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

    I tried the vanilla Maris and liked it a lot.
     
    #1566 DIM, Nov 16, 2022
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  7. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    [​IMG]

    Fan of this brewery, fan of this beer. Sports are hardly visible in the background. Go sports! End review.
     
    #1567 Uberdachen, Nov 16, 2022
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  8. CarolinaCardinals

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

    Received a bottle of De Struisse's Clash of the Titans Grand Reseva from @DIM , thanks Dan!

    I am not super experienced with BA Barleywines and so this one was kind of a new concept with the barrel aging in Sherry and Red Wine barrels. That said, got lots of notes of sherry, figs, and cherries with the barrel providing a tart finish. This was definitely fun to try. Thanks again Dan!
    Cheers!
    Tom

    [​IMG]
     
    #1568 CarolinaCardinals, Nov 16, 2022
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  9. DIM

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

    Glad you liked that Tom! Oxidation can be fun.
     
    #1569 DIM, Nov 16, 2022
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  10. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    #1570 BMBCLT, Nov 16, 2022
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  11. DIM

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

    2013 was the only year I did a Bourbon County style geek out. That was the year they introduced the barleywine and I REALLY wanted to try it. I worked Black Friday but made a few phone calls the following Sunday and was able to get a couple of four packs. It was undeniably great but I never chased Bourbon County again. Until I heard about this year's 2 year barrel version. I got one 2022 in a package with some vintage bottles, I think I'll try the older ones first. Here is the 2013 I loved 9 years ago.
    [​IMG]

    Well this is definitely past it's peak, as evidenced by the beginnings of rust on the cap. It's a little thin and a bit sugary, but it's still very enjoyable even if it isn't similar to the beer I reviewed 9 years ago. I talked about chocolate and dark fruit then but I don't get much if any of that now. Lots of bourbon soaked and toffee and caramel and not much else. If you have any of these I say open them now, it's still enjoyable but not getting any better at this point.
     
    #1571 DIM, Nov 17, 2022
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  12. Beersnake

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

    No, it's showing Friday delivery!
     
    #1572 Beersnake, Nov 17, 2022
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  13. Beersnake

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

    Glad to hear that you picked up one of the 2022 bottles! I plan to track one down as well. I have one of these barleywines as well. Thanks for the heads up! I will open mine this week or next week! Cheers!
     
    #1573 Beersnake, Nov 17, 2022
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  14. Beer_Economicus

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

    I personally think that this review is a bit unfair, given that you got it from MBC and have no honest idea what the storage conditions for this beer were. Just as an example - there shouldn't be rust on the cap if stored properly. -And, what's the probability a 9-year old beer sold on MBC was actually stored well rather than forgotten about? Pretty low, I think.

    I've been drinking 13/14 since 2017, and I haven't noticed much of a change - not significant enough for me to proclaim that people should "drink them now". I think what everyone gets out of this beer and other older BCBS is primarily tied to whether (1) you drink most of year beer fresh, (2) whether you drink your BCBS fresh, and (3) whether you're comparing it to a fresh beer.

    No doubt, this beer is old - 9 years now! It's for sure more oxidized than it was fresh. It doesn't have the same pop that a fresh does. And, for sure, there's a lot less Bourbon now than fresh, especially with it being a 3rd-use barrel. -And, from experience I can tell you that these older BCBS 12-ozers taste best in the first 30-60 minutes after opened, and taste less good if you consume them over 2-3. It's just the age of the beer - they have no room to open, really.

    This is really just to say that I think people, including @Beersnake1 , should keep an open mind. For the last 3 years I've had a fellow BA tell me that they've been opening older BCBS, and keep saying to drink them, drink them, and that they think they aren't just fading, but getting to the point they aren't really enjoyable or worth it. Every time they post that, I open the beer they said it about, and every time I am shocked by how good it still is.

    I think the primary difference is that I don't drink much BCBS fresh, and I drink a decent amount of BCBS overall (including the BWs). I'm also obviously a fanboy. So, I have bias on the opposing side.
     
    #1574 Beer_Economicus, Nov 17, 2022
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  15. DIM

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

    Wow, your review of my review is longer than my review! My review from 2013 noted stout-like chocolate and dark fruits. Did you note anything similar in 2017 or after? If not maybe they faded in 4 years? That is a long time in the life of a barrel aged beer. While we may not be able to make apples to apples comparisons regarding where this beer is today, since the origins of mine are suspect, we are definitely coming from a different places regarding our original opinion.

    I appreciate your passion, but I did not mean to make any proclamations. Just offering an opinion. And I did say it was really good. In my experience Barrel aged beer usually holds up well but doesn't necessarily age well, with a few exceptions. You wrote about oxidation increasing, losing "pop" and bourbon flavor, all excellent reasons to open these sooner than later. Fair point about not knowing how this beer was stored of course.

    This was actually better than I expected. Looking forward to a 16 or 17 tonight, never had either one. I didn't realize until today that they had switched from 3rd to second use barrels for these vintages, so I'm even more excited now!
     
    #1575 DIM, Nov 17, 2022
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  16. JJ_17

    JJ_17 Zealot (724) Apr 22, 2014 Indiana
    Trader

    I agree the Barleywine has held up and still tastes great for me. I am original owner on all vintages I'll comment on and the bottles have all been properly stored (never exceeded 65 F). I have seen where whatever rubbery material used on the underneath side of the cap to protect the beer is bubbled and I have seen rust as well. I over purchased BCS when I first started collecting and have been drinking through them. I think BCS is one of those beers that do well with time - so by falling off I just mean the beer has passed it's prime.

    BCBBW '14 tastes great - still have one for science
    BCBS '14 falling off - I've drank a couple in the last 6 mos. and I think this one should be consumed
    Rare '15 falling off - drank one maybe a month ago and I've got one more cellared. I'm not going to wait much longer before I drink my last one.

    I don't have anymore BCBS '15 because mine were all bad dates. But BCBS '16 through '21 are all drinking great. I think right now I tip my hat to '18 and think it's at a sweet spot. BCBW '16 and '17 are also drinking fantastic. Although I do wish they kept up with the 3rd use barrel as I loved the complexity they brought to the BW. I also feel that pasteurization has completely changed the way these beers age which is stating the obvious but I think it's robbed us of some of the beauty of aging BCBS/BCBBW.
     
    #1576 JJ_17, Nov 17, 2022
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  17. Beersnake

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

    I'm curious why you would think 3rd use barrels would have more complexity? I would think the opposite, given the potential for more barrel influence. First and second fill barrels always seem more intense and complex to me.
     
    #1577 Beersnake, Nov 17, 2022
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  18. Beersnake

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

    I appreciate your input here! I always keep an open mind. I have been trying the older BW since 2013, pretty much 1-2 per year (of the '13 or '14). I have stored mine at cellar temp since they were purchased. The last time I had a '14 it was very enjoyable, but I need to open one soon to refresh my memory!
     
    #1578 Beersnake, Nov 17, 2022
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  19. Giantspace

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

    Stopped at my beer spot to get some beer and on the way out I saw the Bigfoot BA tubes. I grabbed 2 at $26 each. Feeling much better about not getting to order from SN. I keep thinking I should go grab a few more as gifts this season.



    Enjoy

    [​IMG]
     
    #1579 Giantspace, Nov 18, 2022
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  20. DIM

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

    Having a 2017 Bourbon County Barleywine tonight. The only other vintage I've ever tried is 2013, when they used third use barrels. Very excited to try the second use treatment.

    [​IMG]


    As good as the 2013 was last night, this is much better. The body is full and lightly sticky, showcasing the layers and nuances nicely. The bourbon is robust and comes with a nice oaky tingle and a hint of vanilla. Lots of toffee in the base beer along with some raisin and hints of chocolate. If I was scoring this, it would probably be almost as high as the fresh 2013 from way back when. This vintage is worth seeking out.
     
    #1580 DIM, Nov 18, 2022
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2022
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