Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2022)

I don't drink barkeywines very often because there aren't that many to be found on store shelves nowadays, but my early experience with the American version was too much bitterness that seemed to blend into a sherry-like oxidized flavor that I didn't appreciate. My local former brewery, Arcadia which is now closed, made an English version called Cereal Killer that was outstanding. I wish I could get it again.

However, if I find a barleywine that is BBA, I'll like it regardless of whether it's American or English.

 

Probably not anything widely released. I don't think Yards has released Olde Bartholomew in a few years, and I wasn't really a fan. And Victory stopped doing Old (or Oak) Horizontal.

Stickman has released Proto Hipster in cans a few times, which was English style.

Forest & Main has had a few over the years. Back in the early days they had one called Ompahlos that was served on cask that was outstanding. Last year they released one in cans called Court Etiquette. It was good but I was a little disappointed - it was English style but very pale so lacked the rich malt flavors I enjoy.

 

Great thread. Some recent cellar pulls I’ve done. Both exceeded expectations. I prefer sweeter English versions but these two American Barleywines were nothing short of amazing.

2014 Bourbon County

Restrained sweetness - barrel in the background - balanced w/no detectable oxidation. Damn.

2012 Old Guardian

Caramel/malty/apple - some maple sweetness with a big bitter finish. Double damn! Decanting key here as the sediment was a solid visible 1/4 inch thick.

 

Another recent favorite check in of mine from Barreled Souls near Portland Maine. These guys doing all kinds of big barrel beers from Wee Heavy’s to Barleywines and Stouts. 2019 Soul of a Lion an English version - tart cherry - sweet/malty/oaky finish. They miss on a fair number of their more ambitious releases but this one a home run.

 

Glad to see this post as Benchtop is gonna can a non barrel-aged version of Olde Wooden Ship barleywine this week (they've bottled it past 2-3 years aged in various barrels)

 

Wow…that’s incredible. I had a ‘95 in 2019 and it stood the test of time. Dreaming of another shot at a crazy vintage but it will have to be from someone else’s cellar!

 

I have had 47 American and 20 English out of 3200+ beers reviewed. Love the style and shockingly i have imbibed on too few proportionately!

Maybe this was already covered but i have to look at the choices from a BA version of the two styles versus the non-BA versions: and then the two styles themselves. For the record i am a hop head by nature but enjoy the subtleties of the English style. And both styles age incredibly well!
Anyway, with that said, i have had some outstanding non-BA English including Traquair 2020 which i rested for 8 years in a wine cooler; and one i had recently from Asheville's Hillman; and Anchor's Old Foghorn.
With regard to BA English styles some of my highest ratings include GI BCBBA; Deschutes MIrror Mirror; Firestone Walker Sucaba; and Pelicans Mother of All Storms which i probably underrated in retrospect - miss having that beer!
On the American side for non-BA Bigfoot is my annual go-to. Another perennial is Third Coast from Bell which i think ages better than Bigfoot. I have Great Divides Old Ruffian as my highest rated and i remember it aging really well but i think they stopped making it a few years ago. And lastly Stone's Old Guardian was a favorite back in the day.
For American BA, i remember really liking Big Sky's Old Bluehair and had that several times when it made it to PHX. Firestone Walkers Helldorado stands out in memory as well.

In looking at my current inventory the only one i have is Founders Nemesis which is very solid.

Great topic @DIM!
Cheers,
Tom

 

SMS is back in bottles. I just bought a 4 pack. They had a good amount. Think it was just under $15,

Enjoy

 

YES! This is great thread. Love a good barleywine, American or English. The problem is you just don’t see as many of them as you used to. Loved Old Horizontal, Old Foghorn, Gratitude, Old Guardian, Bourbon County Brand Barleywine, Sucaba, Mother of All Storms (just to name a few) but my go to is Bigfoot. It’s the reason I found this site actually. Looking up some tasting notes on the beer in 2007 I found this site, lurked for a few months then became a member. The other great thing about Bigfoot (besides it’s easy to find) is that it’s the best of both worlds. Drink it fresh for a huge, hoppy American barleywine or cellar it for years to have a sweet malty English barleywine.

 

I've never seen that label. Awesome. The beer looks quite still. I was actually just in conversation with @JackHorzempa about Harvest and how Mitch Steele had compared it to October ale - an old beer type nobody talks about anymore.

 

It has made me wonder if some barleywines brewed in America become American Barleywines on the site here, since there may be no distinction on the label. Ultimately, I'd lean towards lumping the additional bottles that way, vs. guessing.

 

Without a doubt. I’m coming to the end of my old Bigfoots in the cellar, I have one 2010 left. I started purchasing six packs again in 2020 with the goal of being where you are now. I look forward to your post!

 

While Bourbon County barleywine was literally brewed in the United States...it is 100% an English barleywine. Brewer's intent > country of origin. I'll die on this hill. There was never a hoppy, American angle to this beer. In fact, I was part of a session in Omaha around 2013 where Greg Hall, in a proto-"Zoom" session via live feed, explained how his time at an English brewery informed his understanding of the style.

ALSO: RIP to Goose's Bourbon County Barleywine. We hardly knew ye.