Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2024)

An all-timer.

 

One day…

 

This is light-years better than the '15!



Clear bodied with bright, bold flavors of honey and toffee with light raisins and faint citrus pith. Outstanding, going older with one soon.

 

Thornbridge Bracia

It’s been a long time since I had this beer. I don’t know the age of this bottle, but I’m gonna consider it old. The beer is brewed with honey - something that doesn’t fill me with promise. The beer is very dark and has an intense char character. Is there chocolate malt in this beer? There’s also a fruity English character under all the char, but the balance isn’t there.

 

Smisje BBBourgondier

This one is new to me. I bet the bottle is rather old. I can see why it’s classified as a “quad” on BA… and why the importer calls it a Belgian barley wine. The label just calls it an “ale.” It’s made with lemon balm and valerian - not that you would know it from just drinking it. The candy sugar is another story though. Its impact is felt. The beer is low on carbonation. This beer (in this condition) isn’t coming together for me.

 

2022 Bigfoot



This has aged nicely. I have one more from 2022 that I'll cellar for a while; maybe 5 years total.

A great way to wind down a near perfect day. The weather was incredible and I got a lot done.

 

Thursday started with a crowler or Nouvelle’s American barleywine. Canned in January, so a bit unfair to it perhaps, but delicious still.


Tonight starting off with Wild Mind Ales - Terror Bird American style barleywine. This thing pours like nitro. Crazy. And deep and rich. Wish their BA version was at this level.

 

Enjoying an American BW from Edmund's Oast in Charleston, SC. They brew a lot of different styles and i appreciate the versatility but like most of the beers i have from there this is a good solid offering, just not spectacular...1st world problems!
Cheers!
Tom

 

I second this statement.

 

Didn't get to have a father's day barleywine yesterday so I'm having this Father's Day present to myself today. Tree of Possibility from Tree House. Most of this was aged over 2 years in bourbon barrels.



This is as great as I expected it to be. I love the low carbonation combined with a thick, chewy body leaving long, lovely legs languishing luxuriously down the sides of the glass.

Molasses is prominent and works extremely well with smokey caramel, dried fruits, and abundant smooth bourbon. Hints of coconut and vanilla at the edges. Marvelous beer.

 

Oh man I wish I had some of that left. One of my favorites of all time and one of the great bargains of all time to boot.

 

I bought a case so a little less

 

I'm sipping on a bottle Fremont 8000 that I received from @John_M
This is a nice beer. Glad to try it out.

Taste is (In order): dark fruit, plum, a little fig, toffee, vanilla/wood, bourbon, raisin. Sweet over all but not cloying. I consider the barrel to be mild. ABV is very well hidden. Smooth and easy drinking.
Feel is very good, thick but not syrupy, smooth, slightly creamy at times.

I would but this in the 4.4 to 4.55/5 range. Nice medium duty BA barleywine.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20680/698832/

 

I popped into TH on Father's day and was close to buying another one of these. But, my bill was racking up and at $25 and having already experienced it (really enjoyed it), I dedided to pass. I did grab another Tree of Fortitude, though. Really want to see how that one rounds out after some time

 

I was kinda kicking myself for only buying one but like you my bill was plenty high. I did not regret buying another Fortitude for sure. That one is great AND unique making it worth revisiting I thought.