Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2023)

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

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 99 of 119
  1. tennisjoel

    tennisjoel Crusader (401) Nov 21, 2007 Minnesota

    This is one of my favorite barleywines. I haven't seen it this year but hopefully soon.
     
    #1961 tennisjoel, Oct 18, 2023
    kemoarps, ZebulonXZogg, GreenBayBA and 5 others like this.
  2. seakayak

    seakayak Pooh-Bah (1,823) May 20, 2007 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Harvey's Christmas Ale English Barleywine, 7.5% - $2 on clearance! Cheers! :beers:

    [​IMG]

    -Look: Gorgeous dark mahogany with a creamy tan head that stays.
    -Aroma: Fig, toffee, vanilla, and walnut cake - nice!
    -Taste: Dark fruits, caramel, walnut cake, mild alcohol.
    -Feel: Smooth and round, full and soft, warming.
    -Overall: Tasty sipper with a wonderful soft dark fruit and nut character!
     
    #1962 seakayak, Oct 18, 2023
    Nugganooch, Spade, GreenBayBA and 17 others like this.
  3. Beersnake

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

    Here's a blast from the past. The last time I had this was in 2014 when it came in bottles. This is a 2022 can. American barleywine aged in bourbon barrels and comes in at 10.5% ABV.

    It's clear immediately that this is an American barleywine. Has that nice pine needle hop character. Caramel notes are there but take a back seat. Some fusel alcohol, clove, every so slight maple, and some leather. A hint of dried fruit peaks its head out as well.

    Overall, a nice barleywine that I would definitely try again!

    [​IMG]
     
    #1963 Beersnake, Oct 19, 2023
    Nugganooch, Spade, GreenBayBA and 17 others like this.
  4. Luscious_Malfoy

    Luscious_Malfoy Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,068) Oct 5, 2016 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]

    been waiting since the beginning of the year to find the right time to crack this bottle and something about this evening was the right time. really good stuff. hits on the classic BC BW notes with a little nicer barrel treatment. cheers!!
     
    #1964 Luscious_Malfoy, Oct 19, 2023
    Spade, GreenBayBA, Jasonja1474 and 18 others like this.
  5. DIM

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

    Nice one! I need to revisit soon...
     
    #1965 DIM, Oct 20, 2023
    GreenBayBA, Resistance88, Beersnake and 3 others like this.
  6. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]

    Almond '22 Torbata

    This Italian 8.7% bottle conditioned beer is made with chestnut honey, orange zest, sugar, and some sort of peat smoke influence. BeerAdvocate has it in their English barley wine box, and the brewer claims it’s inspired by English barley wine. It’s rated a 77 on BeerAdvocate with one reviewer stating, “This is a truly terrible beer,” so I’m looking forward to trying it. :slight_smile:

    The very first sip slaps me with an intense “oh boy.” The peat character is totally out of the safety zone. It’s more plastic than smoke. The body feels somewhat thin and the beer doesn’t offer up anything that can compete with the medicinal plastic. I can see why people find it terrible… but I actually really like it. The first sip was rough, but by the end of the bottle I liked it for what it was and I wish I had some more. I can’t say I would have predicted this before opening it.
     
    #1966 zid, Oct 20, 2023
    Nugganooch, Spade, GreenBayBA and 16 others like this.
  7. DIM

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

    Wow, that does sound intriguing.
     
    #1967 DIM, Oct 20, 2023
    GreenBayBA, Resistance88, CarolinaCardinals and 3 others like this.
  8. VodkaPong87

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

    I have 4 left. I went full hoarder mode on this one (minus the hoarding, because I've already drank two)
     
    #1968 VodkaPong87, Oct 20, 2023
    GreenBayBA, brewskis, micada and 6 others like this.
  9. Luscious_Malfoy

    Luscious_Malfoy Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,068) Oct 5, 2016 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    i didn’t get any… was lucky to land one in a trade hence the “idk when to crack it” attitude

    you’re definitely good to store properly. this one drinks like it has life to give yet.
     
    #1969 Luscious_Malfoy, Oct 20, 2023
    GreenBayBA, Jasonja1474, brewskis and 6 others like this.
  10. DIM

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

    It's been over 15 years since I had my only bottle of Kuhnhenn's 4th D. 2022 bottle, I'm opening this before I try the BA version for the first time.

    [​IMG]

    This is a gorgeous beer, it's a ruby tinted copper color and it pours with a massive head the leaves lumpy lace in its wake.

    I taste soft dark fruits, potpourri like baking spice, cherry cordials, caramel pudding, hints of King's syrup, and some bitter black tea building into the finish. What a lovely beer, I didn't appreciate this enough way back when giving it straight 4's.
     
    #1970 DIM, Oct 21, 2023
    Nugganooch, jkblr, Spade and 21 others like this.
  11. VodkaPong87

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

    I actually feel bad that you live in Illinois and didn’t get any. Was it by choice? I picked up 2 of these a few weeks ago around here. They had been on the shelf for a while and I finally said YOLO and bought them
     
    #1971 VodkaPong87, Oct 21, 2023
    GreenBayBA, brewskis, CarolinaCardinals and 5 others like this.
  12. Luscious_Malfoy

    Luscious_Malfoy Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,068) Oct 5, 2016 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    definitely by choice. i didn’t seek them out so nobody’s fault but my own. just glad i had a chance to try it. who knows, maybe i’ll try for another!
     
    #1972 Luscious_Malfoy, Oct 21, 2023
    GreenBayBA, brewskis, CarolinaCardinals and 5 others like this.
  13. DIM

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

    Back with barrel aged 4th D tonight, my first time trying it. 2022 bottling.

    [​IMG]

    Well the barrels killed the lovely, large, lumpy head, all I got with a hard pour was a small ring. The body is darker too, kind of a deep muddy brown.

    On to what really matters, how does it taste? It is lovely and I slightly prefer this over the non BA version. The black tea notes here but bitterness is largely blunted by a lovely boozy butterscotch flavor. I don't get as much potpourri or baking spice, but both are in the periphery. Dark fruit and tangy cherry come out towards the finish. What a wonderful beer.
     
    #1973 DIM, Oct 22, 2023
    Nugganooch, jkblr, Spade and 20 others like this.
  14. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Im dropping this one in here, its a strong ale, but how much difference is that to a barleywine? So enjoy the words and Ill enjoy the beer! This is Pipeworks Brewing out of Chicago and their Special Vintage Reserve 2017 Strong Ale. 14.9% ABV. beer is courtesy of @FBarber and winnings from EPL fantasy league. Thank you!


    onto my review:
    [​IMG]
    Sampling a 16 oz can poured into a snifter. The beer has been in my cellar for about a year I believe. No date stamp on the label and my can says 14.9% ABV.
    The beer pours a dark cola brown with revealed garnet highlights when I hold up to a light source. Fizzy beige head is a surface covering and then nothing but a spinning wisp in the center of the glass. There are a few large pieces of sediment in the bottom of my glass that snuck in on my pour. I left about an ounce behind in the can.
    Aroma is pretty complex and dominated by malt. I get some dark fruits, raisin and plum with a bit of bourbon and brown sugar mixing in. There is a little peppery booze, so the ABV isnt completely hidden, but the hops are absent.
    First sip reveals a medium body with silky yet also sticky texture. It feels a little weird on my lips. Definitely coating my palate, but also very soft feel. Carbonation however is fine and sharp on each sip.
    Flavor is sweet and malt driven. I get brown sugar and raisins mixing with some bourbon and vanilla notes. There is a bit of warmth for the booziness again. hits my mouth and lingers on the swallow, the ABV is not hidden here. Hops never show up on this beer. It is definitely on the sweeter side of beers and the booze makes this quite a sipper. Glad to have tried this one.
    4.0 in the BA DB
     
    #1974 sulldaddy, Oct 22, 2023
    Nugganooch, jkblr, GreenBayBA and 17 others like this.
  15. CarolinaCardinals

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

    I am so happy that the Arizona AnswerBacks have snuck their way into the World Series, and spared me the humility of reviewing a gumdrop Kettle Sweet and Sour IPA. To enjoy the unlikely victory, today i have found in the Beer Fridge a Brew 6000, courtesy of our biggest Barleywine advocate. Some notes follow:

    Nose is awesome, full on with the barrel with dark fruits lurking in the background.
    Taste is something spectacular! The large malt base gives me plums, raisins, and brown sugar while the barrel gives a good dose of vanilla to go along with the residual bourbon. Finishes with enough bourbon to help tame some of the sweetness which is at a very appropriate level.
    Mouthfeel is perfection. I think this even beats the perfect Belgian Quads as this is full bodied, velvety, viscous; just everything i love in a high gravity brew.
    Overall, wow, this is better than i thought it would be, thanks Dan! Rated 4.66.

    Cheers!
    Tom

    [​IMG]
     
    #1975 CarolinaCardinals, Oct 25, 2023
    kemoarps, jkblr, Spade and 15 others like this.
  16. VodkaPong87

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

    $95 for all these ADWTD bottles on Tavour. Can’t do it
     
    #1976 VodkaPong87, Oct 26, 2023
    micada, GreenBayBA, Luscious_Malfoy and 9 others like this.
  17. DIM

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

    Nice Tom, glad you liked it! I plan on revisiting that one soon, maybe if my baseball team ends the season on a high note. Great review sir!
     
    #1977 DIM, Oct 26, 2023
    GreenBayBA, Luscious_Malfoy, Beersnake and 2 others like this.
  18. DIM

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

    I wonder what the quadrupled-barreled ones will go for:rolling_eyes:
     
    #1978 DIM, Oct 26, 2023
    GreenBayBA, Luscious_Malfoy, Rug and 5 others like this.
  19. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    105 and sell out. So hey can't blame them!
     
    #1979 stairway2heavn, Oct 26, 2023
    kemoarps, micada, GreenBayBA and 7 others like this.
  20. DIM

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

    Fair:money_mouth:. A couple or three years ago there was a batch of the triple barrel that came through my Tavour feed a few times over a period of months, just didn't seem to be selling. Also it seemed like maybe they were running through a glut of inventory with all the "different" adwtd/stout blends they've put out in recent years. I thought the hype was winding down on these, clearly not yet though!
     
    #1980 DIM, Oct 26, 2023
    micada, GreenBayBA, Luscious_Malfoy and 4 others like this.
Page 99 of 119
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.