Paste magazine 62 best barleywines

I'm happy to see the Sebago cans at number three. They are great and in a great format (packs of two 12oz. cans). I grab them when I see them and add them as trade extra's often.

 

Nice! Now I’m glad I’m still holding onto a ‘12 MoAS

 

Actually, that sounds like it’s no coincidence.

 

I’ve never had anything from BG, but now those guys are on my radar hard!

 

Got 2 from @smanson56 in the bigger porch BIF. Outstanding beer and left me wanting more for sure.

 

Usually these Paste rankings are fairly representative of the style that they are evaluating. However, this one seems like they are missing a LOT of heavy hitters. I know I know, the beers included are a combination of breweries that specifically sent a bottle for evaluation combined with some locally-purchased and some traded-for beers, but I've had 70-odd barleywines and I've only had nine of the 62 included.

And as noted, some big names are missing...

A Deal With The Devil
Mother Of All Storms
Sucaba
Old Numbskull
Hammerhead
Helldorado
Bigfoot (barrel-aged or otherwise)
Third Coast
Mirror Mirror
Mash
White Chocolate (especially given the inclusion of White Oak)

Brew 1000 is a very deserving beer for the top spot. Speaking of which, I find it hilarious that they managed to procure both Brew 1000 and Brew 2000, given their location (Georgia) and some the names that are conspicuously absent.

 

I love barley wines and they are my favorite style. I just wish breweries would stop dumping all of them into barrels as I prefer the non BA versions. To each their own though.

 

Aaron by Hill Farmstead and Anabasis by Side Project are missing as well.

 

Yep! And both of those aren't even Barleywines.

 

Managed to have 7 of the 62 they list. Just could really use more barley wines out in the market.

Love the B2k and B1k.

 

Fixed that for you!

 

I don't see
A Deal With The Devil | Anchorage Brewing Company
on the list but I need to let Jacob at Liquor Shed know to order it.

 

Ummm....no Mirror Mirror???? No Thomas Hardy's.....and truth be told
there isn't any Alesmith Numbskull. Can think of quite a few missing from
here, whether more mass produced or smaller in brewery distribution.

The list is rather scatter shot to say the least, granted it is not as common a
style as I would like it to be, but there are a multitude of offerings out there
from solid breweries.

 

Ive had all the JW Lees Harvest Ale varieties and all are great. Ive always been partial to the Lagavulin version but for some reason, that one always seems to get lower ratings. Cest la vie.

 

Personally, I'd easily take the regular version over any of the Sherry/Port/whatever versions.

 

Yeah, obviously, they didn't have samples of them to judge. They have to work with whatever they have on hand.

 

Its not the cheapest, but if you have access to all of them, they make for an interesting tasting altogether. Cheers.

 

Sebago BBA Barleywine is incredible. Been beating that drum for years.

 

I second that. Check my ratings, you all, if you don't believe me.