Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2023)

not my favorite fremont bw offering but still solid. kind of a weird take on the style - take an already inherently ugly looking style of beer and make it uglier but it had nice bourbon barrel aromas and flavors as well as leather and some light hops.

cheers!

 

I revisited a DFH 120 yesterday. It was a 2021 bottle sitting by the cash register at my local store for $9.99 so I figured what the heck and bought it. Was tastier than I remembered if, been at least 3-4 years or longer since I last had this beer. Big and bold but a perfect balance of subtle caramel/toffee and buttering hops. But it’s definitely boozy and the alcohol is noticed.

 

From earlier today. After many bottles of Bigfoot over the years I’ve decided it’s not really among my favorites. It’s nice to have one on occasion, and it occupies a special place in American craft beer history, but I’d be OK if I never had another. I think I’ve got six or seven more bottles from various vintages in the beer fridge.

 

While I’m having barleywines, I decided to crack one of the oldest bottles in my cellar. I think I like this one better than the Bigfoot.

 

Big Lake Brewing - English Barleywine

It is indeed.

 

Going back a couple nights… 2019 Elysian Cyclops
I like these so much more than I did at first. Really good right now, and pretty sure they ran about 10.99/4pk when I grabbed them. Just incredible. Unfortunately, have not seen a single one since.

 

A few months ago I bought a 4-pack at Total Wine when I was visiting Vegas. I think it was 2021 that they had it for $14.99. Still a fantastic price and beer!

 

If I ever saw this I would by at least two 4-packs. Never even heard of it until now, but it looks incredible. BBA barleywine is so hard to find in the wild

 

i feel lucky to live in the midwest (central IL) and to be able to find straight jacket, ryeway, BA Behemoth and pillar of beasts on the shelves. never really thought about BA BWs being hard to find but i guess it doesn’t surprise me. it’s definitely an acquired taste.

 

It's extremely slim picking out here. Even BA stouts are tough to find. Luckily BA Ten Fiddy and Narwahl have been shelf staples the last year or so, but only get shipped out once or twice a year. Dragons Milk is really the only one you can count on finding almost anywhere. Barleywine on the other hand, is a rare treat. I pretty much buy it whenever I see without hesitating because of how few and far between they pop up.

 

forgot about CW too.

luckier than i even initially thought

 

Dammit lol, the mixed vintage 6 pack I picked up last year did not include a 2010 bottle. Naturally it came with the surrounding years of 2009 and 2011. They knew what they were doing

 

Enjoying a half-pour of Fonta Flora Birthdaywine 9, an English Barleywine double barrel aged English Barleywine matured for 8 months in Bourbon barrels and 8 months in Sherry casks. Acquired this in a trade with former BA @BMBCLT. Unfortunately, the Sherry overwhelms the bourbon barrel, other than the alcohol heat, and to my palate comes across with too strong of notes of dark fruit and brown sugar.
Plan on sharing the other half of the bottle with my tasting group. We are hosting a neighborhood Beer, Brat & Bourbon benefit for the Hendersonville Veterans Healing Farm. I am definitely staying away from the "Old Fashioned" station - the guy running the station has a world class collection of Bourbon. Should be fun. Rated 4.03
Cheers!
Tom