Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2023)

Just poured mine! Notes in a few minutes!

 

Huge thanks to @CarolinaCardinals (Tom) for sending this one! Claremont from Olde Hickory. Barleywine aged in bourbon, brandy, and tequila barrels. Comes in at 13.1% ABV.

Poured at fridge temp. Pours a very murky dark brown with a solid inch of foamy head. The nose blows me away with its complexity. A whiff from a few inches away yields grapes, brandy, and lovely fresh toffee. Getting the nose close in changes things. The tequila pop here. Wow. I can't remember the last tequila barrel-aged barleywine that I had, but I'm pretty sure I've had one. Also getting a sweet honey note here.

The taste is excellent. Definitely brandy barrel forward initially, but the tequila really dominates on the aftertaste. In the middle I'm getting a nice layer of nuts, raisins, toffee, oak, plums, and a slightly bitter leather. There is definitely an earthy note and a hint of citrus peel. The nutty flavor really shines after a few sips. This is just a great integration of the three barrels. I would say that the bourbon has the lowest impact on the flavor here.

The mouthfeel is pretty thick and the aftertaste is a combination of toffee and tequila. Overall, a winner of a barleywine! Thanks for sending this one, Tom!

 

Nice! Yeah, I think English barleywine as well.

 

Double Barrel V.S.O.J. from Revolution. Barleywine that comes in at 16.8% ABV.

Poured at fridge temp but allowed to warm for 10 min or so in the glass. Pours dark brown with a fairly thin layer of head. The nose is super intense. Huge notes of bourbon, vanilla, oak, raisins, black currant, toffee, molasses. Boozy!!

The taste is equally as insane. Boozy chocolate and dark fruit. Toffee, raisins, prunes, molasses, vanilla, maple candies, and tons of bourbon. Wow. It's sweet, but not cloying. It's actually quite amazing how hidden the 16.8% ABV is on this one. Getting more dark fruit with time. Figs, blackberries, black currant, and slight tobacco.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied. The aftertaste is sticky toffee, molasses, and booze. Overall, a wonderful treat.

 

Im about 9 hours behind you! Review in next post and from same sender!!

 

Cross posted with NBW #146 AND What Northwest Beer are you drinking. But I really wanted to make sure I drop barleywines in here when I can. Otherwise I probably wont get invited to @Beersnake1 and the forthcoming awesome Barleywine BIF event!
Another west coast treat from @snaotheus and his crazy porch bombing actions in NBS BIF #17. Thank you!! Not a new brewery but def a new beer for me.
This beer probably doesnt need an intro, Fremont Brewing in Seattle, WA and their Brew 6000. This is an 11.9% English Barleywine. I m really excited to break into this one.....so here we go!!

onto my review:

Sampling a cellar temp 22 oz bottle waxed with purple and poured into a Fremont stemless tulip esque tasting glass. Figured I should go proper glassware to break in the new glass with a Fremont beer.
Label isnt datestamped, but does say April 2, 2022, which I presume is the brew day for the commemorative beer.
The beer pours a fairly dark mahogany color with no light passing through my glass, except on the very edges which reveals a bit of ruby highlight.
Aroma is rich and malt forward with a lot of complexity and sweeter notes. I get toffee and brown sugar mixing with some figs, a good dose of bourbon and a little bit of raisin. No hop character and no fusol heat here either. Impressive for 11.9%
First sip reveals a robust body with slightly sticky texture, leaving some residue on my lips. Carbonation is fine and spacious, fairly gentle on my palate. Feels like a big barleywine, I like where this is heading!
Flavor is rich and malty, just like the nose. I get brown sugar and bourbon notes, mixing with figs and raisin fruitiness again. Here I also pick up some toffee too that lingers through the finish along with sweet bourbon notes. Hops dont show through at this point either. And there is also no warming from the ABV, further enhancing the drinkability of the beer.
Ive had some Fremont beers so far and never been let down. This one furthers my happy impression with these big beers and their general sweetness and complexity. Glad Ive got a few more waxed bottles in the cellar to enjoy!
4.67 in the BA DB

 

Nice! Great review!