King Henry

We opened one back in July and we all agreed it was one of the best beers we have had. I have one more and am waiting for a special reason to open it up.

 

Here were the full results of that blind tasting, which occurred in January, 2012 (8 of us voted). Most shocking to the group was how poorly the last three fared (MoaS, Abacus, Khunhenn) against the competition, since most of us had enjoyed each of those separately in the past.
#1: GI King Henry - 29 Points
#2: Dry Dock Bligh's Barleywine -17 Points
#3: Alpine Great 2009 - 12 Points
#4: Hoppin' Frog BA Naked Evil - 7 Points
The Rest
Schlafly's Reserve BW
Sebago Single Batch Barleywine
Town Hall Brewery Twisted Jim 2009 Growler
Mother of All Storms 2011 - 0 Points
FW Abacus - 0 Points
Khunhenn BBBW 2010 - 0 Points

I think when people comment that "there isn't that much difference between most of these top beers of a particular style, so just get Abacus and don't knock yourself out trying to land King Henry", there is an element of truth to that. However, I also realize from this tasting and others that in fact there can be a wide disparity between "top examples of the style" when you compare them next to each other.

 

FWIW, I think 2011 is the worst vintage of MoaS, by a substantial margin.

 

Sucaba is awesome, MoAS is righteous, Insanity is... well, insane, but King Henry and Bligh's are both on a completely different plain when it comes to English style Barleywine. Nothing else that I've had can even compare. KH is still drinking fantastic and I'm pretty confident it will continue to do so for years to come if waxed and stored properly. Glad I still have a few left, that's all I can say.

 

I'll trade mine. I just want something nice for it, like Fou Foune, etc.

 

This. A delicious fish but not worthy of Captain Ahab

 

Doing this exact trade on Saturday. It is the same thing with ba9k and cbs for me, I'll trade them but only for something nice. I repeatedly get offered shelf stuff lilke abyss. Why?

 

Payback for all the times midwesterners offer shelf beer for <200 releases from the rest of the country?

 

probably

 

Just traded my last bottle of KH for a DDG

 

Agreed. Just opened one a week or so ago thinking it would be awesome because I loved 2012 and was more than disappointed.

 

I would love to trade something nice for your CBS.

 

I hate to be a groupy, but that beer is past its prime. I liked bb9k a bit. Had it on draft three times. That one is way overrated too.

 

It sucks because I know it won't be what it was, when I eventually try it. But damn, I want it.

 

"Oh hey, everyone, I have CBS and BA9K. I'm setting up an auction covertly embedded in this thread. BM with your best offer."

 

If those are the only offers you get that might actually be what it's worth at the moment.

 

I'd trade you a 2011 Peated Oak Embrasse and something else for it if you are interested

 

I recently traded a kh for a backyard rye, 2 bapt5, and a permanent funeral. I was satisfied.

 

I might be able to come close to that.....depends on what the trader is looking for

 

I literally traded it yesterday for fou foune. I've had KH three times and never had fou