Does Stone “Double Bastard “ qualify as a Barleywine?

Help Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by Braunmeister_1943, Jul 3, 2024.

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  1. Braunmeister_1943

    Braunmeister_1943 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,965) Nov 22, 2020 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I noticed that Stone “Double Bastard” was posted on the Barleywine appreciation thread. After looking at the can, I don’t see it listed as such. Its rating page has it listed as an American Strong Ale. Just curious!
     
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  2. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    My personal opinion is there are WAY too many styles and they aren't chosen with a common theme that makes them applicable in the way you suggest. I believe strong ale is a style name that could include at least a few other styles. Perhaps dark strong ale and light strong ale might better be used to describe all these styles, even though this would result in fewer style names. For some reason the idea of fewer style names is rejected as an idea by many/most other BA's, despite the obvious reality that the present system is unruly, lacks commonality, and easily could be improved with a different system of classifying styles that likely would result in a third as many style names, but cause much less confusion such as your question reveals.

    This isn't some crazy idea. My hobby of foraging edible mushrooms went through a complete reworking of names given mushroom varieties, which used to be a quagmire like beer style names, and now is regular, logical, and much more helpful
     
  3. Braunmeister_1943

    Braunmeister_1943 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,965) Nov 22, 2020 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thank you for the response! I’m in no way a beer expert along the lines of @JackHorzempa , @jesskidden , etc whose knowledge and opinions I deeply respect! I’m just a simple guy who likes beer and trying to learn as much as I can! Cheers!:beers:
     
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  4. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think the goal of making style names easier to understand and use in real life would benefit greatly a huge number of people who find themselves in your similar position of being unable to figure out WTF the reasoning is for the ones we have now. These people HUGELY outnumber the few experts.

    My favorite example is Dogfish Head 120. Is it an Imperial IPA? A Barley Wine? A Strong Ale? All three? Some other style? None of them? Your guess is good as mine.
     
  5. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    The topic of beer styles (e.g., number of beer styles) often turns into a morass. Whatcha gonna do!?!

    Cheers!
     
  6. DIM

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

    I think the question to ask yourself is, if someone offered you a glass and said try this barleywine, would you try it and say "barleywine my keister, this is an American strong ale!

    Lots of gray area in style interpretations as @cavedave said. Ryewine, oatwine, Munichwine, barleywine, speltwine, strong ale, wee heavy, etc etc etc. All strong, sweet, and delicious no matter what you call them.

    Truth be told, I put that one up on the barleywine thread hoping to start an argument:stuck_out_tongue:
     
  7. DIM

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

    The only question that matters to me, is it good to you?
     
  8. Braunmeister_1943

    Braunmeister_1943 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,965) Nov 22, 2020 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    When I think of Barleywine I immediately think of SN “Bigfoot “ right or wrong. Stone “Double Bastard “ is similar, but not as piney as “Bigfoot “! That being said, I like “Double Bastard “, nonetheless!
     
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  9. Braunmeister_1943

    Braunmeister_1943 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,965) Nov 22, 2020 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I would, but would have other questions!
     
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  10. Braunmeister_1943

    Braunmeister_1943 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,965) Nov 22, 2020 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    Your rhetorical question evokes this song! Sorry for the diversion!:sunglasses:
     
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  11. DIM

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

    Me too! Doublebastard was my first email address and I'm very glad those bastards brought it back!

    They can call it Peruvian Boom Sauce style beer for all I care, I'm just glad I was able to find a case.:grin:

    Cheers to good beer by any name:beers:
     
  12. Braunmeister_1943

    Braunmeister_1943 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,965) Nov 22, 2020 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG] I concur!
     
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  13. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No
     
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  14. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I’m fairly certain strong ale is just a catch all category that came to be in the early 2000s for breweries that didn’t specifically ascribe a style name to their stronger ales.
     
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  15. DIM

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

    [​IMG]
     
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  16. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I think the style has been around longer:

    https://www.alcoholprofessor.com/blog-posts/british-strong-ale
     
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  17. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    When I think of any “American” style, hops are generally prominent. That’s what separates American barleywines from their English cousins. American strong ale is just a somewhat generic term for beers that aren’t quite barleywines and also aren’t imperial IPAs or imperial stouts. It’s pretty vague but I don’t think it should be confused with any English styles.
     
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  18. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Amazing the style converntion for beers is so screwed up we have to make excuses for how we interpret them. IMO style names should be consistent enough we don't have to make excuses for them, or try to interpret what is and isn't meant by a name. I understand this would cut down the amount of conversation here, such as trying to figure out why there should be an "Italian Pilsner" style. Really, another IPA style name is needed? Better question is how come there are so many different IPA's when every one of them is pale malt, some kind of crystal/caramel grain, yeast, and hops with some degree of hop presence greater than many other styles. The question should be, "Do we really need so fucking many IPA styles that the name becomes a meaningless joke and an homage to unnecessary complexity and confusion?"
     
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  19. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    To answer the OP's help question...

    No. Double Bastard Ale isn't a Barleywine (and never was).

    ...so, it should remain listed in its current style (American Strong Ale).

    Thanks.
     
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