Cellar Worthy: BARLEY WINEs

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Rollzroyce21, May 15, 2012.

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  1. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I think it'd be interesting to gather some hard data on what the BA community has actually aged, tasted, and thought some age on a particular BARLEY WINE is definitely better than it being fresh.

    If you experienced this with a barley wine listed below, then copy/paste the list and +1 to each barley wine you experienced. Let's consider "aging" to be at least a year old in the appropriate environment.

    Feel free to add a stout if not listed, but you experienced it to be cellar worthy.

    If you disagree with any listed, then just simply disregard. We'll let the numbers tell the truth.

    BARLEY WINEs

    (1) Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
    (1) Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws
     
    #1 Rollzroyce21, May 15, 2012
  2. Knifestyles

    Knifestyles Initiate (0) Jun 7, 2005 New York

    Stouts? I thought this was about barleywines....
     
    #2 Knifestyles, May 15, 2012
  3. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    yeah, corrected that. thanks.
     
    #3 Rollzroyce21, May 15, 2012
  4. BdubleEdubleRUN

    BdubleEdubleRUN Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2009 California

    So if I have had experience with one but not the other and my experience was better fresh then you do not want me to post?
     
    #4 BdubleEdubleRUN, May 15, 2012
  5. youradhere

    youradhere Initiate (0) Feb 29, 2008 Washington

    Unfortunately I haven't had coffee yet and your directions are a little confusing, so I'm going to list some stuff that I have experience with. I am unclear as to whether or not you do want stuff we don't like aged, so I put them down and you can disregard it if you want.

    Bigfoot- oldest I've had is '02, it was good, lots of chocolate toffee. Fresh is great, '11 tasted like a honey hop-bomb, 09 I didn't care for much. It's fun aging this, grab a few sixers.

    Doggie Claws- had it 2 years old in bottle and fresh, fresh was a better version of Bigfoot IMO (more flavor and body), 2yr old was great as well, I snagged a few more bottles of this year to age ($5 a 12oz- ouch!)

    Mirror Mirror- great bwine IMO, never had an infected one.

    John Barleycorn- really sweet and viscous fresh, I held onto a few to see how it does after a year and if I feel it is worth buying more of.

    Gratitude- had it fresh and ~4yrs old, love this stuff. Loads of pomme fruit, great thick body and smooth mouthfeel.

    Schlafly- didn't really care for it, but that is just me.

    Old Boarhead- not worth aging, I didn't care for it past a year old.
     
    #5 youradhere, May 15, 2012
  6. JdoubleA

    JdoubleA Pundit (903) Apr 27, 2011 North Carolina

    Anchor - Old Foghorn

    MUCH better with a few years on it.
     
    #6 JdoubleA, May 15, 2012
  7. halo21

    halo21 Initiate (0) Oct 12, 2004 New York

    Agree with Bigfoot; recommending Brooklyn Monster. This year was smoother than last. A personal cellar Dave.
     
    #7 halo21, May 16, 2012
  8. ChadQuest

    ChadQuest Initiate (0) Mar 4, 2009 Illinois

    I drink -Bal aged ones fresh and age hoppy ones and ones that are cloying for 2-4 years.
     
    #8 ChadQuest, May 16, 2012
  9. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Count so far...

    BARLEY WINEs

    (3) Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
    (2) Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws
    (1) Anchor Old Foghorn
    (1) East End Gratitude
    (1) Brooklyn Monster
     
    #9 Rollzroyce21, May 16, 2012
  10. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    No, b/c you wouldn't be able to affirm that aged is at least just as good. I'm in that same boat as well with a lot of barleywines. Had one but not the other. The two I posted were the only one's I've had the opportunity to compare.
     
    #10 Rollzroyce21, May 16, 2012
  11. mulder1010

    mulder1010 Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2008 Australia

    Avery Hog Heaven
    Great divide Old Ruffian
    Gratitude
    Arctic Devil
     
    #11 mulder1010, May 16, 2012
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  12. matthewalee

    matthewalee Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2010 Indiana

    FFF Behemoth - 3+ years = awesome
    Flying Dog Horn Dog = any period of time
    Arcadia Cereal Killer
     
    #12 matthewalee, May 16, 2012
  13. vonnegut21

    vonnegut21 Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2012 New York

    Old Guardian ages very nicely. It's excellent once the hops tone down a bit.
     
    #13 vonnegut21, May 16, 2012
    ZX6Chris likes this.
  14. EricCioe

    EricCioe Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2010 Montana

    Alaskan Barleywine is incredible with a few years.
     
    #14 EricCioe, May 16, 2012
    zipper8650, ejeffer11, UnknownKoger and 2 others like this.
  15. sliverX

    sliverX Maven (1,459) Oct 5, 2007 South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands

    Curious about the Arcadia, I just found 3 '08s dusty in a store. For $7 or $8 I'll take a gamble.
    Just had a fresh arctic devil, kinda harsh would think a year would be nice for it. I did just start picking up more barleywines for the cellar within the last few months though.
     
    #15 sliverX, May 16, 2012
  16. muletrane

    muletrane Initiate (0) Oct 26, 2006 Pennsylvania

    +1 for Bigfoot

    And +1 for Brooklyn Monster
     
    #16 muletrane, May 16, 2012
  17. funkel81

    funkel81 Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2011 Colorado

    fff behemoth with 2 years is a completely different animal than when it's fresh. and it's delish

    here's a somewhat surpriseing one, harpoon leviathan. very impressive
     
    #17 funkel81, May 16, 2012
  18. Rollzroyce21

    Rollzroyce21 Pooh-Bah (2,211) Oct 24, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Count so far...

    BARLEY WINEs

    (4) Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
    (2) Brooklyn Monster
    (2) East End Gratitude
    (2) Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws
    (2) Three Floyds Behemoth
    (1) Alaskan BW
    (1) Anchor Old Foghorn
    (1) Arcadia Cereal Killer
    (1) Avery Hog Heaven
    (1) Flying Dog Horn Dog
    (1) Great Divide Old Ruffian
    (1) Harpoon Leviathan
    (1) Midnight Sun Arctic Devil - Experienced the same; really hot fresh and can imagine what some age will do with this one
    (1) Stone Old Guardian
     
    #18 Rollzroyce21, May 16, 2012
  19. woosterbill

    woosterbill Pooh-Bah (2,807) Apr 6, 2009 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    +1 to Bigfoot, Old Ruffian, and Gratitude. I'd add Old Crustacean and all the varieties of J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (especially Lagavulin and Port).
     
    #19 woosterbill, May 16, 2012
  20. xpimptastikx

    xpimptastikx Initiate (0) Oct 8, 2008 Texas

    I love aged barleywines! These are the ones I have/had that I believe benefit from aging.
    * = favorites

    Bigfoot*
    Monster
    Gratitude*
    Doggie Claws
    Behemoth
    Old Fog Horn
    Old Ruffian
    Old Guardian*
    Arctic Devil*
    3rd Coast Old Ale*
     
    #20 xpimptastikx, May 16, 2012
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