Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2024)

2014 Bigfoot, my last one. I do have a few older bottles around.



I had a 2015 recently that was disappointing. In fact, I just found notes from a 10-year vertical I did over an extended period a few years ago and the 2015 was ugly then too.

This 2014 is fantastic, it pours bright and crystal clear unlike the muddy '15. Plenty of citrus pith and caramel, I'm not getting any honey like I did with the 2017 the other day. Distinct from the 2017, not better or worse magnificent in its own way.

I have a conundrum now. I put bottles of Bigfoot aside from the years my kids were born to share with them later, 2013 and of course 2015 dang it. He was born the last day of 2015 so he was born much closer to the time of the 2016 bottling. I have 2 bottles left and I think I'll swap them out. That leaves me with four 2015s to work through though.

 

I won't turn you in...

I am jealous that you have them going back that far though. 2011 is my oldest vintage.

 

Going with a fresh one now to compare and contrast. I've been enjoying fresh Bigfoot more the last couple years than I have in the past. I have to say though this pales in comparison to the 2014 I just finished. It's heavier, less refined. While I appreciate the assertive bitterness, I'm missing that light, delicate sweetness.

 

First night of vacation barleywine

 

Do you like that beer?

 

The old English custom for beer brewed on a private estate was that after the first son was born, they would brew a strong beer in the fall and then serve it 21 years later when he became of age. At least that's what I heard. Strong beer (or beer for keeping) was traditionally brewed in the fall and the spring. Bigfoot follows this tradition. My 2024 Bigfoot was packaged Nov 30th 2023.

If you'd like the beer to be as old as your child born on Dec 31, 2015, then a 2016 Bigfoot would be the way to go. A 2015 bottle would be a year older than your child, but if you want the year on the label to match the birthday, then a 2015 bottle is the way to go. If it's more fun to follow the English tradition, then a 2017 would be the way to go (since it was brewed in the fall following the birth).

Follow whatever logic you want and whatever is the most fun. I wrote the above so you feel good about whatever logic you want to use. Personally, I would put more weight on the chosen logic than any fear of a particular vintage - since it's more about the story than a great drink and we're talking about an eventual 21 years of aging anyway... but I can totally see why someone would want to save a beer in this way that had a greater chance of being a reward.

 

Enjoying Evil Twin's Psychopath, a nice barleywine courtesy of the Barleywine/Stout BIF last fall from @Mikexw . This has some classic EBW notes of caramel and dark fruit. But about mid can i started getting an orange marmalade flavor and bitterness that suggested ABW. Interesting brew, well done! Thanks Mike!
Cheers!
Tom

 

Thank you for the history lesson! For my best chance at having a good experience with my youngest when he's older I think I'm going to go with the 2016.

 

Absolutely. Though, this latest can was my least enjoyed of these so far - not sure if I can chalk that up to hitting its aging wall or just the day. Seemed sweeter and kind of separated compared to before.


Tonight’s, vacation day #2, delayed by a visit to the ER. A few stitches and a quick confirmation-that-the-antibiotics-are-cool-with-it later:

 

To be fair, the 2024 is an absolute beast. I found it to slap my face harder than any previous fresh vintage I've had. Keep a bunch of those for 2034

 

Bloody hot and dry here so I thought it was time for Winter Smooth from from Pohjala out of Estonia. This is a barley wine aged in cognac barrels.



The pour is Porter dark with a surprisingly long lasting mocha colored head. There is a little more oak than grape liquor in the nose but there is also some nice smoke in the background. The taste is pretty dry with that smokey oak coming across fairly prominently. There is a little fruit, somewhat jammy somewhat vinous, along with some chocolate and caramel in the background. This comes together well and I'm enjoying it more and more as I sip.

 

Dual Citizen - Mayhem & Mischief
I think I liked this better than ever tonight.

 

Enjoying this American barleywine (yes it is) right now. I loved this beer back in the day and I have never tasted such delicious nostalgia. This isn't hearing your favorite band on the radio, this traveling back through time and space to see them live in their prime. For me this is early to mid 90s Rage Against the Machine, Pigface, or Fugazi... suddenly I don't feel so old

 

Arbeiter brewing - Outlaw barleywine

Day #4, the last I brought with me.
Stopped by one place where I had some reinforcements in the cart, but their system crashed and they could make no further sales.

 

@Blogjackets, do you have one of these beers, so you can join me?

 

I currently am Bigfootless. Wake up is in 7 hours so I will bid you happy birthday and.goodnight. Cheers.