Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2023)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by DIM, Jan 1, 2023.

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  1. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I'll do this with gin to IPAs or pale Belgian-styles that I wish were a little more dry.
     
    #861 MrOH, Apr 13, 2023
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  2. UWDAWG

    UWDAWG Grand Pooh-Bah (3,241) Aug 22, 2017 Washington
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]
    Cheers!
     
    #862 UWDAWG, Apr 13, 2023
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  3. micada

    micada Grand Pooh-Bah (3,960) Jul 13, 2015 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I like Bear Temper. I gotta fight someone for more? OK. I’m a Leo, so that’ll be Bear vs Lion like Firestone Walker. I’m fat and old, but that’s all I’ll stipulate.

    I might be mis-reading the room. I’ll take more Bear Temper to balance my Lion Temper.

    I’ve been drinking Mortalis coffee stouts. Don’t mind me.
     
    #863 micada, Apr 13, 2023
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  4. micada

    micada Grand Pooh-Bah (3,960) Jul 13, 2015 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    B6K jumped the shark on sweetness for me. B5K was the line.

    …and anyone who doesn’t get the jumping the shark reference…f I’m old. You’ll have to do your history studies.
     
    #864 micada, Apr 13, 2023
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  5. Resistance88

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

    absolutely not. the 2 i got are for you ( im working a commercial out there tomorrow and friday so i can grab more!) and as SOON as i have time to ship stuff I'll get you and @LSMroz out . Been so gatdanged busy i barely have time for myself!
     
    #865 Resistance88, Apr 13, 2023
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  6. micada

    micada Grand Pooh-Bah (3,960) Jul 13, 2015 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Have to shore up the Bear Temper American Book End presence. I think if we both drink a Bear Temper at the same time, raise the glass up to the beer gods, a magic lightning bolt will arc between the two glasses, lighting up the entire sky.
     
    #866 micada, Apr 13, 2023
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  7. VodkaPong87

    VodkaPong87 Pooh-Bah (2,060) Oct 9, 2020 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've tried this before, but not in an already barrel aged beer. I don't think it would help the sweetness too much, would just add more true bourbon flavor and make it hotter. Might be worth a try if you pour a small glass and add a small amount of bourbon to it. I finished the whole bottle no problem. It wasn't "too" sweet, just at the upper end of the scale that I prefer.
     
    #867 VodkaPong87, Apr 13, 2023
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  8. DIM

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

    2 year barrel aged barleywine from Central Waters. Had one of these from last year and loved it.

    [​IMG]

    Brazen barleywine here. Big caramel plus plenty of strong whiskey throughout. The powerful oak and pine resin make for a menacing mixed forest at the finish. I even get a little chocolate at times. Love it.

    I love this series and I LOVE the pricing. It's a 15 hour drive to the brewery from here. Even with gas, tolls, lost wages, and hotels figured in, a trip might still help my annual barleywine budget.:thinking_face:
     
    #868 DIM, Apr 14, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2023
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  9. Beersnake

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

    2023 Bigfoot. First one from this year. I always love to drink a couple fresh and then tuck the rest away for some aging. This year's version seems more malty and definitely less hoppy than previous years. This should be perfect in a few years. Very enjoyable!

    [​IMG]
     
    #869 Beersnake, Apr 14, 2023
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  10. DIM

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

    Alright, you finally got some!
     
    #870 DIM, Apr 14, 2023
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  11. LSMroz

    LSMroz Zealot (672) Jan 25, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    [​IMG]
    Double Barrel Amburna Petit VSOJ.

    Holy jeez is this a good beer. It's like VSOJ with a cinnamon roll finish. Split 3 pours of this with a friend and only did that many since I have to drive home.
     
    #871 LSMroz, Apr 14, 2023
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  12. Beersnake

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

    Yes, it finally landed!
     
    #872 Beersnake, Apr 15, 2023
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  13. DIM

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

    Daaaaaaaaamn
     
    #873 DIM, Apr 15, 2023
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  14. Beersnake

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

    Kicking the weekend off with a new barleywine! Electric Roads (batch 2) from Private Press. A double barrel aged blend of barleywines. Comes in at 15.6% ABV. Not sure what the barrels are and couldn't find any information. Maybe @Dimidiata knows?

    Poured at fridge temp. Pours a nice dark brown with no head. Nothing too crazy here. The nose is freaking fantastic. Tons of toffee, brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, molasses, slight chocolate, raisins, port, and slight cognac. Definitely makes me want to take a sip!

    The taste is out of this world. Holy crap!! I was expecting it to be a bit too boozy at such a high ABV, but it isn't at all. Wonderfully complex and perfectly integrated. Big notes of caramel, vanilla, marshmallow, figs, raisins, bourbon, some oaky bitterness (especially on the back end), burnt sugar, and Armagnac. It is slightly boozy and this actually increases through time. Overall, a lovely barleywine!

    4.56/5 rDev 0%
    look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    #874 Beersnake, Apr 15, 2023
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  15. DIM

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

    Again, daaaaaaaaamn
     
    #875 DIM, Apr 15, 2023
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  16. DIM

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

    I thought this strong ale side-by-side fits here so-

    This side-by-side is a bit like comparing an iconic rock 'n roll act with a tribute band. Free Will recently put out batch 2 of Dystopias, a malt liquor weighing in at 20.1% that was aged in 6 different barrels for over 2.5 years. They don't offer any more information on the barrels used or the base beer unfortunately. This has to be an homage to Utopias right? I've got an open bottle from 2015 for this side by side.

    Sam Adams offers a lot more detail than Free Will does. This year, 2015, our brewers experimented with finishing Utopias in White Carcavelos wine barrels in addition to barrels that once housed cognac, Armagnac, ruby port, sweet Madeira, Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Some parts of the blend were already 20 years old at the time of bottling. There is a lot more information on the brewing and blending process on their website.

    [​IMG]


    The color on these is close to a perfect match surprisingly. Deep brown with a hint of amber, Utopias being a bit murkier. Utopias also has a lot more legs. The similarities end there. Utopias is 35% stronger and not shy about flexing its muscles. Each sip sends a wonderful warming sensation through the chest. This is not just a shot of generic booze though, it is deeply flavorful. Tons of grape based and brown liquors, charred wood/old tobacco, intense raisin and molasses, plus some brighter, lighter notes of honey and vanilla. On and on and on, this is an amazing experience that crosses a line beyond beer. I'm so glad I bought this bottle, even if it will be my only one. This is the clear winner here.

    Trying these side-by-side, Dystopias is coming across as more subdued than I perceived it to be over the last couple of days. I get port and bourbon, nicely warming and working well together. Subtle honey, woody spice, toffee, and candied nuts come to mind. This comes across as a high caliber BA barleywine to me. It isn't really fair to score this against Utopias. On its own Dystopias is great, well worth trying. Priced well I think at $50 for 750ml, a fraction of Utopias price. I love being able to enjoy these bottles over a period of months or more.

    Final thought, I don't love that Free Will labels this wonderful offering as Malt Liquor. This is akin to labeling a fine, aged Manchego cheese as old curdled sheep squeezins'.
     
    #876 DIM, Apr 15, 2023
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  17. TreyIsWilson

    TreyIsWilson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,051) May 8, 2013 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    [​IMG]

    Really dig this. Peach isn’t overdone & adds a nice sweetness to the base beer.
     
    #877 TreyIsWilson, Apr 15, 2023
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  18. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Obviously that term has a lot of baggage. But for an un-carbonated "liquor" strength beverage, it is brewed from malted barley. Not an inaccurate description.
     
    #878 jmdrpi, Apr 15, 2023
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  19. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Harvey's Christmas Ale. Barleywine from Harvey's Brewery in England. Big fruity and moderate caramel aroma, a touch of spice. Similar flavor, but not overly sweet. Lower carbonation, mouthfeel is a little sticky.
    [​IMG]
     
    #879 jmdrpi, Apr 15, 2023
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  20. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    Work is doing its worst. So, to even the scales a bit…

    [​IMG]

    The light just was not having it. Oh well, can’t ruin this one.
     
    #880 Uberdachen, Apr 15, 2023
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