Question about aging Barleywines

Do both- continue to age and drink. Sample some- do you like it? Then it’s aged enough. Still too much hop bitter, sugar sweetness, or alcohol heat- then age some more. Tastes kinda watered down, faded, a little cardboardy, anemic— too much age.

I’ve heard that Bigfoot is aged by others for up to 20 years; I had a 12 yo BF and I felt it was too long aged and should have been drinked sooner. Others would argue it’s just hitting its stride— in other words if it is “just right” from aging is completely subjective (meaning “just right” is different for each person).

So then, your only course of action is to crack open a BF and Olde School from ‘13 and see if that’s something that could use some toning down in the flavor department- if not, then drink up and earn that hangover!

 

Patrick Dawson recommends 4-5 years for BF in Vintage Beer, arguing against further aging because he feels it lacks the requisite complexity. As Beersnake1 accurately states, it's subjective.

Speaking of barleywines, have any of you cellared Jackie O's Bourbon Barrel Aged Brick Kiln? I had a fresh one of those bad boys recently and it was absolutely delicious but wanted to know if aging made it more so.

 

My personal experience with BBA Brick Kiln leads me to recommend drinking within a year or two at most. After a year, I've started to pick up more orange gumdrop and black tea notes from it, as signs of oxidation.

 

Opened a 2014 old school the other day. It was darn good! Also got a 2014 bcbbw the other to drink soon or lay on for a while. I like my barleywines with age. Iv aged them for 6 years and for about 6 seconds before. Both are great ways to drink a barleywine. If you have multiples, drink one, age one, trade one. Cheers friend!

 

I have had both beers mentioned by the OP at over 10 years and both have been wonderful. Around 10-11 years ago SN switched from twist off to pry off caps and that has made a difference to their durability. I say buy a bunch of each and enjoy 1 every few months to see how they evolve over the years. I don't cellar beer deliberately much anymore but non-barrel aged, hop forward barleywines age beautifully in my opinion and I love my cellar full of Bigfoots dating back 11 years. Enjoy them OP!

 

I'm drinking a 2013 Bigfoot right now and it's very good. The beer's too much for me until it's got a few years on it.

 

For a beershare a few weeks ago, I cracked a 10-year aged Revolutiion 3rd year beer (Barleywine).

It was blissful. Barleywines can age for quite some time. I feel like the more you age them, the more they become more of a wine and less of a beer. What I drank was basically a super complex, wet mead.

 

Think that's 5 (soon to be 6!) years old - released in 2013. Glad to know it's tasting well, think I still have a bottle left!

 

Drinking a Widmer Brothers Old Embalmer '12 Barley last night. Lovely aroma with honeysuckle, honey, floral and hint of sweet vinegar. Palate was not as good as the aroma though. Notes dropped off pretty fast on palate with some bitterness finish. I definitely see the evolution of barleywine on this one, and will continue to age and search for that great balanced aged barley.

My going forward approach: buy two of everything...try one now to get the freshness and age one to enjoy.

 

I don't know much about barleywine. But of the ones I have tried from US and Canada (and a few English ones) and from 2005 onward, I have to say that Fremont B3K (2019 vintage) is indeed worth the trip to get a few. I was surprised that many stores (e.g. Whole Foods, grocery stores) and pubs in Washington state carried them. I found mine at Whole Foods...and wished I had gone back to get more...

Tasted on tap at Elizabeth Station in Bellingham, B3K right off the bet exhibited rich chocolate, coffee, caramel, vanilla, raisin dried fruits. Super long finish with balanced acidity. Very smooth and does not hit you with alcohol at all. It was almost like eating a canneles dessert. This was a 2019 vintage and already ready to drink yet with long years ahead of it. Before B3K, I always thought you have to age barleywine to get more evolution of characters. I am glad I was wrong and I can indeed enjoy a barleywine even when it is young...when it is B3K.

 

Recently had a 2011 Olde School and it was horrible. The oldest BF I had was 7 years and it was a pleasant drink, but I prefer it fresh to 1 years out.