Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2022)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by DIM, Jan 4, 2022.

Tags:
?

Which type of Barleywine do you prefer?

  1. American

    97 vote(s)
    17.0%

  2. English

    295 vote(s)
    51.8%

  3. That's like asking me to choose my favorite child, I love them all!

    162 vote(s)
    28.5%

  4. Neither, if Barleywine is life then life has no meaning.

    15 vote(s)
    2.6%
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 77 of 97
  1. Rug

    Rug Grand Pooh-Bah (3,454) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #1521 Rug, Nov 4, 2022
    Resistance88, CarolinaCardinals, Uberdachen and 1 other person like this.
  2. VodkaPong87

    VodkaPong87 Pooh-Bah (2,060) Oct 9, 2020 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]
     
    #1522 VodkaPong87, Nov 6, 2022
    Nugganooch, Resistance88, sulldaddy and 9 others like this.
  3. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Harvest Ale - Seneca Lake

    [​IMG]

    The head leaves ample lacing and never actually goes away.

    The aroma opens with spicy caramel, probably due to the alcohol fumes. The fumes are mild, yet very much present. Light fig and raisins follow, with a late sense of old leather. Two years of age may have subdued this one.

    Light bitterness is evenly matched by sweetness. The raisins and figs are quickly displaced by light molasses. Maybe there is a note of sherry. The finish is mild and drawn out, brining back the raisins. Warmth elevates the sweetness over bitterness while adding an earthy sensation.

    Dryer than most Barleywines, with a full body and a slick silky texture that becomes creamy with warmth. While the alcohol is pronounced, there is no heat and it feels lower than as labeled. Carbonation is soft and creamy throughout.

    This is a pleasant sipping beer, and definitely has characteristics of cask ale. Maybe age has softened, rather than concentrated the aroma/flavor. It lacks the layers and character that I expect. All said, this is much easier to consume than most Barleywines and has a cozy nature.
     
    #1523 SLeffler27, Nov 6, 2022
    Nugganooch, Resistance88, sulldaddy and 12 others like this.
  4. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wooden Cleat from Kane. Blend of barleywines aged in Woodford Reserve double oaked bourbon barrels. Comes in at 14% ABV.

    Poured from a bottle at fridge temp. Pours super dark brown - almost black. Minimal head. Appears to be very low carbonation. The nose is rich toffee, plums, raisins, vanilla, bourbon, wood, and a nice layer of brown sugar.

    The taste is fantastic. Follows the nose, but with greater intensity. Also getting significant notes of port and sherry. Toffee, plums, raisins, brown sugar, vanilla, sweet candy, a hint of molasses, and a nice oaky layer. Super intense. Definitely boozy, but not in an off-putting way.

    The mouthfeel is rich and thick. Overall, this is an intense and phenomenal barleywine. Glad I got to try it.

    4.5/5 rDev -1.7%
    look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

    [​IMG]
     
    #1524 Beersnake, Nov 6, 2022
    Nugganooch, JJ_17, Resistance88 and 13 others like this.
  5. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If I'm awake, I'm thinking barleywine. NOW is ALWAYS the time!
     
    #1525 Beersnake, Nov 6, 2022
    Resistance88, CarolinaCardinals, readyski and 4 others like this.
  6. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Nice, I really dug that one too! Kane is about 2.5 hours from me, I need to make the drive sometime when they have a good selection. I have 1 bottle of the recent wooden cleat done in Weller barrels that I need to open soon. Wish I had a cellar full of their stuff.
     
    #1526 DIM, Nov 6, 2022
    Resistance88, CarolinaCardinals, Uberdachen and 2 others like this.
  7. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    That's about the perfect distance to be a bit too far or just close enough. Kane is amazing. Period.
     
    #1527 Beersnake, Nov 6, 2022
    Resistance88, CarolinaCardinals, Uberdachen and 1 other person like this.
  8. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah it's far enough that the selection would have to be pretty great. Hope they start shipping to PA again next year. I've got 2 more to try from them and then that's it. Everything so far has been absolutely stellar.
     
    #1528 DIM, Nov 6, 2022
    Resistance88, CarolinaCardinals, Uberdachen and 1 other person like this.
  9. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well the name makes me smile! But given the amount of money I spend on barleywine while under the influence of barleywine I know this isn't so.

    [​IMG]


    I bought this kind of reluctantly, vanilla and cinnamon don't sound too promising in a barleywine. It's okay at least. The cinnamon does help cut the vanilla sweetness but they jibe together very well.

    2022 was my year for the gameification of barleywine, try as many as I can no matter what. It's been a lot of fun and I've had some very pleasant surprises along the way, but dang it I could be enjoying a Bigfoot right now instead of this. I expect to be a bit more selective next year, avoiding E.T. pastrywine for instance.
     
    #1529 DIM, Nov 7, 2022
    Nugganooch, Resistance88, sulldaddy and 10 others like this.
  10. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not sure if this counts for this thread! Liquid Piñata from Põhjala - a stout barleywine blended from maple syrup, tequila, and bourbon barrels. Conditioned with Mexican and Madagascar vanilla. Excellent beer!

    [​IMG]
     
    #1530 Beersnake, Nov 7, 2022
    Resistance88, sulldaddy, MadMadMike and 12 others like this.
  11. VodkaPong87

    VodkaPong87 Pooh-Bah (2,060) Oct 9, 2020 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Maybe it's just the glass, but this looks so good. Whenever BW looks like stout, I'm here for it
     
    #1531 VodkaPong87, Nov 7, 2022
    Resistance88, sulldaddy, CarolinaCardinals and 3 others like this.
  12. Rug

    Rug Grand Pooh-Bah (3,454) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It sure as hell counts and sounds delicious
     
    #1532 Rug, Nov 8, 2022
    Resistance88, CarolinaCardinals, Uberdachen and 2 others like this.
  13. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Having Whiskey Barrel Aged Barleywine (For Lou Reed) from Zebulon courtesy of the very kind @arizcards

    [​IMG]

    Zebulon has a series of barleywine named for various people from Stanley Kubrick to Andre the Giant. I'd like to suggest one for the Kinks.

    The base beer comes across almost potpourri like to me, dried fruit sans sugar, pear and plum mostly, plus apple pie spice, cinnamon most prominently. The barrels are doing good work here. I get light vanilla, plenty of stinging whiskey, and some wood to go along with some leafy hops at the end. This all comes together really well and I'm glad to have tried it. Thanks Tom!
     
    #1533 DIM, Nov 8, 2022
    Nugganooch, ZebulonXZogg, Resistance88 and 13 others like this.
  14. VodkaPong87

    VodkaPong87 Pooh-Bah (2,060) Oct 9, 2020 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just don’t have the patience to age them as long as I intend to

    [​IMG]
     
    #1534 VodkaPong87, Nov 8, 2022
    Nugganooch, Resistance88, Rug and 10 others like this.
  15. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sounds like you need to buy a whole case.
     
    #1535 DIM, Nov 8, 2022
    Resistance88, Beersnake, CarolinaCardinals and 2 others like this.
  16. CarolinaCardinals

    CarolinaCardinals Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,231) Jun 11, 2003 North Carolina
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Glad you enjoyed Dan and another great description. The Zebulon owner/brewer, Mike Karnowski, does some really interesting concepts. Last summer our neighborhood tasting group got to enjoy a history of IPA's which went back to the1800's thru a Pliny clone. We were able to experience very small IPA's (due to heavy tax in England during the World Wars), IPA clones sent to the troopers in India (very highly hopped and barrel aged so you got the Brett influence), to Pliny. The best brew that i have reviewed from Zebulon was a traditional English Imperial Stout, near perfection IMHO. Unfortunately missed the base barleywine for Lou Reed but would hazard a guess that it was quite good!
    Cheers!
    Tom
     
    #1536 CarolinaCardinals, Nov 9, 2022
    Resistance88, Uberdachen, DIM and 4 others like this.
  17. CarolinaCardinals

    CarolinaCardinals Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,231) Jun 11, 2003 North Carolina
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Enjoying an English Barleywine aged 14 months in Apple Brandy barrels from Divine Brewing in the NODA area of Charlotte. The main takeaway i am getting is that this comes across as a Fig Newton, dark fruit forward with apple and a good dose of barrel presence booze. Finishes balanced with the appropriate amount of sweetness for the style. Not a world class beer but was very solid - 4.18. @DIM Dan, i did look for this at my main bottle shops but was unable to find.
    Cheers!
    Tom

    [​IMG]
     
    #1537 CarolinaCardinals, Nov 9, 2022
    Nugganooch, Resistance88, Rug and 9 others like this.
  18. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    SOOO cool! I love events like that.
     
    #1538 SLeffler27, Nov 9, 2022
    Resistance88, Beersnake, Rug and 3 others like this.
  19. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    These beauties came in the other day...

    [​IMG]

    Fonta Flora Birthdaywine (2022)

    Double barrel-aged English Barleywine matured for 8 months in Bourbon barrels and 8 months in Sherry casks.

    I plan on cracking one open on Thanksgiving. Hopefully I like it as much as the last year's Birthdaywine. :sunglasses:
     
    #1539 BMBCLT, Nov 9, 2022
    MadMadMike, JJ_17, Resistance88 and 10 others like this.
  20. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Nice! I didn't even get a tracking number yet...
     
    #1540 DIM, Nov 9, 2022
    Resistance88, CarolinaCardinals, Beersnake and 1 other person like this.
Page 77 of 97
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.