Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2024)

I have bottles from 2013, 2015, and 2021. I honestly thought it was an odd-year release, until I didn’t see any from 2023.

 

I think one difference between our perspectives is that you seem to be focused on the consumer being surprised or misled, while I'm focused on cultural corruption. Not sure if my focus makes sense to others (and I'm highly doubtful that my word choice is the best), but I totally get your side. It works for you and others because you understand the code... I'm not a fan because it's become the code.

That's not necessarily a hypothetical example. I see this quite a lot with other beer types in the brewer's description. "A traditional Altbier brewed with Frosted Flakes" (to make an example up). It always rubs me the wrong way (I know you must be shocked ), but the logic used is the same as "an English-style barley wine brewed with Frosted Flakes." They are describing what they started with and then what they added to it. Personally, I'm just more focused on what they are ending with.

 

I agree.....

 

I understand now where you're coming from and I appreciate your perspective. It was probably clear earlier but I'm pretty dense sometimes.

I personally like that breweries are experimenting and being creative. Sometimes. Barleywine with smoked figs? I am very excited to try that. imperial Stout rested on children's breakfast cereal? No interest whatsoever. As long as classic examples of my favorite style remain available and breweries are clearly labeling everything clearly, I am a happy consumer.

 

Just to be clear, I would love to try that too. If it was sold as an “English-style” barley wine, I’d roll my eyes as I brought it to the register.

 

Just checked the can and we are in the clear. Never More from Ex Novo. Barrel aged black barley wine (how do you feel about that designation?) with whole cocoa beans and smoked figs.

 

Why are you encouraging me?
Well, my knee-jerk reaction is that I tend to dislike all of the efforts to splinter barley wine, but I sympathize with drinkers who find that approach useful, and more importantly - with brewers who appreciate the interest it generates. In the end though, it’s barley wine or it isn’t. It can be pale or dark. Does it need to chase the interest in stout (and has the interest in stout ultimately done stout more damage than good)? Call it a stoutwine and I’m walking out in disgust though. Give it more dignity than that. I get why some call it that, but it doesn’t even make logical sense in the end.

 

Brewery Bhavana (Raleigh, NC) Cellar Door #4
Received a 750 ML bottle via my first trade with former BA @BMBCLT 1-14-23. 2018 vintage consumed 1-18-24.

Beer poured mahogany-brown with a very nice head with the original pour.

Nose is very nice with strong notes of dark fruits and a touch of leather and barrel lingering in the background.

Taste is truly a clash of the two barleywine styles as i am getting notes of fig and raisin from the malt base that is hopped by a still relevant citrus and resinous hop bill. Finishes balanced from the barrel that is just hanging on and the hopping that is still relevant.

Mouthfeel does not feel like a barleywine as i noticed a fair amount of carbonation present and the body being thinner than what is typically found with high-gravity beers.

Overall i am very thankful to @BMBCLT the opportunity to try a barleywine brewed on a 3-barrel pilot system! Overall rated 4.07.

Cheers!
Tom

 

Nice pour, bro. Wanted to age these longer, but, you can see how well that’s going. 1 2023 left and 2 2022s

 

Currently hitting a '23 Ol' Lifeline from Matchless.

Unfortunately, I'm not impressed. Cloyingly sweet booze bomb. Maybe it will get better with age, but it ain't much now.

 

2024's Bigfoot is awesome. Grabbed the last sixer at Woodman's ($11.49) but really hope they have more to bring out because it is delicious and would be hard to age this with how it's tasting today. Also related to barleywines, they brought out about a dozen of last year's 2-yr BCBS barleywine for $31 (consistent with last year's pricing).

 

Need to grab some Bigfoot next time I'm out, last year's was awesome. Hope I don't see the GI 2 year cuz I'll buy more. Opened one a few weeks ago and an already great beer was even better.

 

Found out too late (dammit) that halftime had Straight Jacket available, very glad to get some of this though. This is an all-time great and absolutely in my hall of fame. Magnificent.

 

Sharkeez from Horus - plum/beery aroma - flavor sweet/vanilla and slick berry - a little cloying. Unfortunately too much sugar keeps this one from being great.

 

I thought this one was pretty solid but getting through the whole can was a chore. It got sweeter as it warmed up

 

Never More is a fun one! I didn't find it super smoky but I was into it

 

"counterintuitive ferments" - Will Meyers