Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2023)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by DIM, Jan 1, 2023.

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  1. Beersnake

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

    I was worried about this bottle after hearing about infections. Well, I'm an unlucky one. Pours dark brown with a thin layer of head that quickly dissipated. The nose was very red wine forward, with a touch of sourness. Not really getting much else. Maybe some apple. The taste is quite sour with red wine and leather notes. Definitely some funk as well. Drain pour.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1841 Beersnake, Sep 18, 2023
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  2. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    When it comes to barley wines with birds on them, it's hard to beat the old paper wrapped Gratitude packaging. When the vintages are lined up, they unfortunately look like an open box of crayons though. The cans looks terrible.
    [​IMG]
    But is that a description from the brewer?
    And speaking of animals on labels -
    Considering the corners that Transient cuts on packaging by swiping from Maurice Sendak, you'd think they'd have more time for QC. :wink:
     
    #1842 zid, Sep 18, 2023
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  3. DIM

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

    True they aren't as nice, but a four pack of them today costs less than those gorgeous bottles did way back in the day. Those bottles were very rare splurges for me, but I intend to stock up on the cans when I make it to Pittsburgh next year.

    The green wax bottle is the only empty I keep as a souvenir. Just can't bring myself to toss that one.

    Great call on Maurice Sendak by the way:joy:
     
    #1843 DIM, Sep 18, 2023
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  4. VodkaPong87

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

    no, the description was from untappd like DIM said. It was really one of the more enjoyable barleywines I’ve had this year. How long since they switched to cans?
     
    #1844 VodkaPong87, Sep 18, 2023
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  5. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The switch was over time. Cans started in 2015. Bottles ended in 2020.
     
    #1845 zid, Sep 19, 2023
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  6. DIM

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

    Three Good Things from New Image. Rye barleywine aged 14 months in bourbon barrels. This is a beast at 16.89%

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    Not much of a head even with a hard pour, the carbonation is light but the body has a lip-smackingly sticky quality to it. Lovely legs (wolf whistle) on the side of the glass. This is an interesting one, there are some stout like vibes at work here. Belgian chocolate and a molasses note that comes across more stouty than winey. I also get strong raisins and dates, caramel, and lots of decadent booze; this one is not shy. The finish leaves oaky vanilla in its wake. Top notch for sure.
     
    #1846 DIM, Sep 19, 2023
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  7. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    An evening of adjacency. #1 says scotch ale but shows up here a lot (and isn’t anything like scotch ales as I’m familiar with them):
    [​IMG]
    Orkney Brewery - Skull Splitter. Cloudy as a chance of murkballs, I might’ve dumped it whole-ass into the glass. I was, how the French don’t say*, drankgry?


    #2 is hitting a lot of familiar taste targets:
    [​IMG]
    Great Turtle - Two Bluffs whiskey barrel aged amber ale


    *I don’t know this, I just say things on the internet
     
    #1847 Uberdachen, Sep 19, 2023
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  8. VodkaPong87

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

    Nod Hill anniversary barleywine. Never really had anything from them, even though they’re local. This was pretty inconspicuous for an anniversary edition barleywine. A lonely 4-pack of 12 oz cans behind some other stuff that had been sitting on the shelf and it had a sticker on it that said 2021. Thankfully I grabbed it because it’s aged beautifully. English style with no barrel aging. Really good.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1848 VodkaPong87, Sep 20, 2023
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  9. SABERG

    SABERG Grand Pooh-Bah (5,001) Sep 16, 2007 Massachusetts
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Enjoying this reach into 2015
    Slowly turning the corner from American hop forward, toward toffee, caramel delightful
    Cheers all
    [​IMG]
     
    #1849 SABERG, Sep 21, 2023
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  10. VodkaPong87

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

    I found one of those a couple years ago. I was surprised how bitter it still was at that point. Wish I could find more that old to see how it is now, but no luck
     
    #1850 VodkaPong87, Sep 21, 2023
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  11. Beersnake

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

    Kiitos Brewing 5th Anniversary Ale. Comes in at 15.5% ABV. Picked this up in Salt Lake City when I drove through earlier this month.

    Brewery description:

    60% of 6-month-old Imperial Barley Wine Aged in High West Rye Barrels; 20% of 3-year-old Barleywine aged in Wyoming Whiskey barrels; 20% of 3-year-old Imperial Stout aged in High West Bourbon Barrels.

    My notes:

    Poured at fridge temp. Pours very dark brown with minimal head. The nose is rich toffee, molasses, bourbon, rye, big malts, and booze.

    The taste is definitely on the boozy side, but it works amazingly here. Tons of rich toffee, rye, bourbon, some imperial stout, slight roasted malts, brown sugar, and big malts. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but it's not a big stout so it makes sense.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1851 Beersnake, Sep 22, 2023
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  12. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Van Moll - Shadow Assassin: Buffalo Trace

    "Black" American Barleywine aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels, from the Netherlands (11%).

    [​IMG]

    Pours a deep, dark mahogany coloration with a ruby red sheen when held up to the light and a small, fluffy head. Smells of roasted, caramel malt, dark fruit, with hints of raisin and fig, chocolate, licorice and pine, as well as bourbon and oak.

    Taste is an excellent balance of roasted, caramel malt and strong notes of dark fruit, with some raisin, fig and plums, licorice and bourbon-soaked oak, as well as lighter chocolate, toffee and vanilla, with just a hint of pine coming through as well. Finishes bittersweet, with a light sweetness and bitterness, as well as some dark fruit, licorice, vanilla and oak lingering in the aftertaste. Full mouthfeel with a rich body and low/medium carbonation.

    Although I suspect this to be quite old, it hasn't quite turned into an English Barleywine yet, firmly remaining an AMerican example of the style with its roasted, bitter and slightly resinous undertones, with the licorice really doing its part here as well. This "Black Barleywine" really is to Barleywines what the Black IPA is to IPAs though and I would have loved to taste this fresh to get a bit more of that resinous bitterness out of it.

    This is still superb due to aforementioned notes and strong Bourbon presence though. There is just such a lovely balance of sweet, roasted and bitter notes going on here that is just to my personal taste. Certainly one of the best Barleywines to my palate that I've ever had.
     
    #1852 Snowcrash000, Sep 23, 2023
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  13. DIM

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

    Cycle's Sunday 2023, barrel aged with coconut. The 2022 edition was one of my favorite barleywines from last year, so I overcame my trepidation about the coconut addition and went for the pricey bomber.

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    This right here is a straight up barrel aged mounds barwine. I get strong chocolate covered caramel alongside lots of raw and deeply toasted coconut. Saturating this liquid candy bar are immensely satisfying brownest of the brown liquor notes and a hint of vanilla. The body is wonderfully sticky with gentle carbonation. This is intensely sweet, lacking subtlety or sophistication but damn is it good.

    Very different from last year's and not quite as enjoyable to me but definitely worth trying.
     
    #1853 DIM, Sep 23, 2023
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  14. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Edmund's Oast BC collab with Magnanimous Brewing

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    In the middle of a party so can't say much. Really enjoying this. Aged in red wine and whisky [sic] barrels. Very good. The red wine is there, the whiskey is subtle.
     
    #1854 Spade, Sep 23, 2023
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  15. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Edmund's Oast BC collab with The Eighth State BC

    [​IMG]

    The party rages on...

    This is one of weirdest brews I've ever had. Looks like a wheatwine, smells like bubblegum, and tastes like cinnamon and molasses and mint. Always glad to try something new but probably wouldn't drink this again.
     
    #1855 Spade, Sep 23, 2023
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  16. Blogjackets

    Blogjackets Grand Pooh-Bah (4,816) Nov 22, 2017 Ohio
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Mother of All Bricks- an English style barleywine by Jackie O’s and Pelican. Oh my.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1856 Blogjackets, Sep 23, 2023
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  17. Beersnake

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

    Such an amazing beer!
     
    #1857 Beersnake, Sep 23, 2023
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  18. Uberdachen

    Uberdachen Devotee (355) Jun 21, 2019 Minnesota
    Trader

    [​IMG]

    Potosi - Grand Amber brandy barrel aged barleywine (2018)

    Incredible brandy nose. Flavor is there. A little light on the finish - a bit thin, maybe - but overall pretty enjoyable. Plus it came with a puppy.
     
    #1858 Uberdachen, Sep 24, 2023
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  19. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    In the bottle? Will the additives ever end?
     
    #1859 zid, Sep 24, 2023
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  20. DIM

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

    Missed out on bottles, glad I came across Firestone Double DBA Batch 10,000 on draft. This is absolutely a barleywine.

    [​IMG]

    I remember REALLY wanting to try this back in the day, glad to finally have the chance. There is an odd combination of sugary sweet and herbal heat at work here. For the most part it works well but I'm not blown away like I thought I'd be. Breakfast cereal style sweet raisins, brown sugar, and maple syrup up front. The finish dries out more than I'd like it to with a strange woody/medicinal cherry/booze combination at work. It isn't as unpleasant as that description sounds but I don't love it.
     
    #1860 DIM, Sep 24, 2023
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