Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2022)

I have just started to explore this style. Recently tried a Thomas Hardy and it was mighty fine. I need to try more of these though.

 

I drank my last bottle in 2020. My post in the cellar sub-forum about it
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/cellar-reviews-2020.630642/page-9#post-6922310

 

My speculation would be that like most the older regional breweries, they probably just saw all the newer breweries taking their market share by selling mostly IPAs, and then put all their focus on rotating IPA brands.

 

I appreciate this thread.

 

Tom, I attended a few of those events but I have no recollection of which ones. I am happy to report that I left those events in relatively good shape since after a while the sweetness of those beers were overwhelming to me. Plus the basement of Sugar Moms would get too smoky and I just needed to get out of there in order to breath properly.

Cheers!

 

I have not tried a wide variety of Barleywines. My first encounter was Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot. They’re not a go to for me but I do appreciate them. I do like Dogfish Head’s Olde School and Treehouse’s Tree of Life. I also really liked Carton’s Roasted Pineapple and Maraschino Cherry Barleywine that was part of last year’s Extreme Beer Fest.

 

I would think it was changed to conform to the BA style list and (I would assume) the more common US spelling. Do you know if the revived Thomas Hardy's is no more? I assume it's dead again.

 

I agree with @Beersnake1 - it's excellent right now but it ages well so if you're not compelled to drink it right now let it age. Better yet, if you can get another bottle drink one and let the other age a bit. Cheers!

 

That one was delicious. If they brewed it again I'd legit make a trip down to NJ to stock up

 

I concur

 

DIM thanks for starting this thread! I fell in love with barleywines and Imperial Russian stouts when I first traveled to the UK in the 1980s. I sought them ought and have collected/cellared them for years. I like both styles but prefer English because they're more balanced right out of the gate. Some of my prized possessions include Royal TH (1983), TH (1986) and Courage IRS 1989. Bigfoot ages incredibly well and I have bottles going back to 1984.

My rule for my vintage 1986 Bigfoot stash is that I can sample one, and only one, a year if, and only if, the local temperature dips below 0F on the date of sampling. There are years where I haven't opened one because the temperature never got that low - and I'm fine with that. However, we were close two days ago when the low temperature was 0F. I am eagerly awaiting this Thursday/Friday for the forecast temperature to be -4F!! Happy sampling.

 

Mother of All Storms! That’s all I have to say.

 

I’ve had about 100 across both styles but I just don’t see BWs on the shelf these days.

 

You seem to remember a lot for not being able to remember much.

 

I absolutely love the English style barleywine, no finer winter libation in my opinion. I actually fantasize about being snowed in with nowhere to go and an ample supply of barrel aged barleywines.
My all time favorite was a bottle of Omega Point I acquired in a trade sometime in 2015 or 16 I can't precisely recall. But I do remember being blown away. I also really like the Central Waters Brandy Barrel variation.
Two that have always eluded me are Bligh's and Barrel Aged Naked Evil ... what I wouldn't do to get a bottle of each to try.
I don't much care for American barleywines. In my opinion the hops just don't work with that style. Troegs Flying Mouflan was an exception however. One beer that I can't ever seem to appreciate is Bigfoot believe it or not. I still have a 17 Bigfoot on hand but I swear I'll never but that beer again. The Barrel Aged Bigfoot was amazing a few years back though.