Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2023)

Mmmm. Big and black

 

Oops! You did it again!

 

Boulevard / 3 Floyds pale barleywine ale aged in rye whiskey and Madeira wine casks (2021)

Drinking mighty fine right now.

 

Central Waters Barleywine - Brewer’s Reserve 2 Years


Central Waters Barleywine - Brewer’s Reserve 3 Years

Got the 2, 3, 4, 5-year and Iced, along with some other Wisconsin goodies, in a great box from a former BA today. Drank the 2-year first and now I’m sipping on the 3-year.

The 2-year poured a ruby-and-maroon-tinted brown with a thin tan head the quickly fizzed away into a wisp and crown. The 3-year was noticeably darker, with an even shorter-lived head that didn’t even bother with a wisp. I give the younger the edge in the looks department.

The 2-year had a sticky-sweet aroma with fig, cherry cola, vanilla, a touch of leather and tons of bourbon barrel. The 3-year was all about vanilla, caramel and toffee, with some raisins, hops and leather behind. Older wins here.

Older does even better in the taste department. I found the 2-year neither as hot or sweet tasting as I expected from the nose. Lots more leather, some vanilla and some relatively-restrained raisin or prune juices instead of intense fruitiness, all tempered by some hints of cocoa, underlying piney hops and cardboard, which, while tasty, weren’t super harmonious. The 3-year is better blended, with both oak and lingering hop bitterness well integrated with light vanilla and raisin.

The feel of the 3-year is a bit thicker, too, with softer, more restrained carbonation. The 2-year was a touch too fizzy to my preferences.

I enjoyed the 2-year, but the 3-year presents more mature, with the American elements coming together better with the base and barrel, IMO. The 2-year had a hint of cardboard, that had me a little worried about the older vintages. Surprisingly, the hop presence was clearer to me in the 3-year, but, again, most as clash-y. Looking forward to trying the 4-year — but probably not tonight.

 

Central Waters Barleywine - Brewer’s Reserve 4 Years

This one pours a tawny brown with a small tan head that quickly settles into a wisp and crown. It’s definitely darker than 2-year, but maybe a hair lighter than 3, and certainly with a better head. I’ll rank them 2, 4, 3 in the looks department.

At this age a hint of sherry shows in the nose, along with leather, pine, fig and vanilla. The aromas of each are noticeably different, but pretty close in enjoyablity. Let’s say 3, 4, 2, if I had to choose. The youngest had some cola elements that weren’t my favorite, but the figgy raisin character popped best there, too, so…

As for taste, I really liked the lingering bitterness of the 3-year. That’s largely absent here, but the 4-year is definitely the most complex sipper and also the hottest, of the three I’ve tried. Whispers of pine needles float in an alcoholic sea of vanilla custard, dried fruit, leather, oak and fortified wine. Age really does meld things quite beautifully. I literally said “wow” on my first sip. 4, 3, 2.

This vintage’s mouthfeel is just on the hefty side of medium bodied, and creamy, with a nice restrained fizziness slowly cutting through. Again, 4, 3, 2.

I’ve always greatly preferred English Barleywine to American Barleywine, but maybe that’s changing, because I was jonesing for more of the bitterness from the 3-year in the 4-year version. That said, the 4-year is definitely more complex and impressive on the whole. These have all been great, but I’m going 4, 3, 2 overall.

Here’s hoping 5 is even better still and that the Ice wows me in some other way. I do like big, hairy beers — none of which I’d describe the 2, 3 or 4-year as being.

 

Installed a brand new water heater, I deserve a reward.

Classic BW on the nose, makes me anticipate a harsh bite to come. Vanilla peaks out.

Dead looker for apple cider. No head, the cheekiest of lacing.

Nice remnant carbonation keeps it from being flat. Vanilla on the breath, oak shines with it and improves it measurably. Maple waves hello as it drops down the pipes. Some booziness lingers, but not in a bad way.

Perfect weight, not cloying, smooth drinking.

2017 bottling and I think this is the top of the mountain for it. I am being I'd not have liked it as much when it was green. I am disappointed to have only found it now. Brewery knows the style clearly and what works within it.

 

This local annual, has enough heft in the body,
Semi sweet footprint, and intriguing depth.
So glad it’s back again
Cheers all

 

Ha, be a lot smaller if it was that.

 

Not to mention, “Ashphalt” and, “pouring” concrete.

 

Boooo, hisss. You’re dead to me now. Too much?

 

This could be a new off topic thread for us cantankerous curmudgeons.

How about, “My bad.” Just say you’re sorry dipweed! [Not you, the person using that phrase].

 

Interesting take, i will tuck that away when i finally get into sampling this beer.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Barrel-Aged Behemoth from 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
13.6% ABV

I've had this one before and it stood out enough to want it again. It has a bit of an earthy aroma with the scent of wet leaves and wood, but there is a brown sugar scent which gives the impression of sweetness as well. There is alcohol on the nose as well but it blends into other date and fig scents which come across a bit like a rum fruitcake.

There is a pleasant toffee flavor with light hints of char and molasses. A bit of plum and raisin flavor comes through. There are notes of brown bread towards the middle and back of the palate.

This year's Barrel-Aged Behemoth tastes a little more fruity and less sweet compared to last year's.