Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2024)

Having a barleywine from Edmund's Oast blended with sour ale and blackberries. Acquired at a July festival i volunteered at in Greenville, SC (RIP Eighth State Brewing).
Well, this is quite the sour assault on the palate as the first sips were very puckering, and it took about 4 oz to calibrate with my slow brain. I was not sure how to classify this, a beer, wine, a cocktail? In the end i gave up thinking and just started drinking and once i acclimated it was pretty good and concluded it was a decent aperitif. This was fun to try.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Onto round 2 and finally cracked my bottle of Don acquired last year. This is very smooth, a fine sipper! Will do an official review in the near future.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Been nursing this for the last 4 hours or so.



So the golden anniversary offerings were fine but I wasn't going to invest in any more of them. This more traditional barleywine is much better. Not sure how different the recipe is from the brewk series though? Anyone have any insight? Regardless, I'm liking it.

I get lots of brown sugar with lesser notes of raisin, butterscotch, and vanilla. The booze is NOT shy at 15%+ but it is just sooo smooth. This is familiar and comforting, a wonderful sipper.

 

Nice! I look forward to reading your thoughts on this one as well. Any thoughts on a comparison with Dystopias? Cheers Tom!

 

Sounds like a nice blend Tim! How many barleywines have you reviewed on BA but now?!?

 

463, slightly more American than English. I'll bet you dozens more new ones in reserve!

 

Dinner at Forager brewery. Warmed up with an adjacent scotch ale. Then:

Romp barrel-aged barleywine (English-style blend of five barleywines, 15.2%)

Leaning a bit sweet but I would not have been disappointed if it were the only barleywine and I’d had to keep drinking more.

But

Taking Flight - double barrel barleywine collaboration with Horus, 14.8%. In adorable on-site 6oz bottles. Absolutely stellar. Up there among the best I’ve had.

 

I ordered a case

 

Good day BAs! Today's New Breakfast Beer:



Bite of the Beast – from Hoppin’ Frog. 8.45 fl oz cans. Picked up at their brewery, Akron, OH, 18/10/24, $ 10.60 (Including tax), $ 1.25/fl oz. Reviewed 21/10/24 (Review 3374). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “BEST BY SEP 10 2034”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 62.9 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 64.7 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), reddish tint, clear.
Body – Ruby (SRM ?), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, ruby, and clear.
Head: Average (Maximum 1.6 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density. Reduces to a 0.2 cm crown and no cap.
Lacing – None; no surprise there.
Aroma – 4.5 – Weak caramel malt, sweet. No yeast, no hops. Slight burning of the eyes as I snort the vapors. No ethanol (16.66 % ABV according to the label).
Flavor – 4.5 – Follows the nose. Instant heat but not intolerable – decent burn on the palate, with a pleasing gastric heat. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol.
Palate – 4 – Medium; slightly syrupy; soft, barely noticeable, carbonation.
Style: Follows the style guidelines, as condensed by BA.

Final impression and summation: 4.25 Excellent barleywine, less hops than expected but also less burn from the Thai chili peppers, but more flavor than expected. Lacks the vegetal taste that accompanies most chili brews.

Rating 4.37, rDev +2.3%

 

Dan, i have to withhold judgment as my 4 oz pour of Don the other day was my second taste of the day. I will make it a priority this week!
Cheers!
Tom

 

Came across this at my beer gas station recently, part of a mixed sixer for $12.99. My original review goes back to 2006 and re-review in 2015.
Wow, the Stone brewing team nailed this remake down very nicely. This is fresh Bigfoot souped up, so in your face hoppy but yet so silky smooth to sip. I saw it again today when i stopped for "gas". Definitely need to go back and pick up what is left! Rating stands at 4.31.
Hopefully we will see some Old Guardian in the near future!
Cheers!
Tom

 

this is drinking swell. cheers!!

 

Mahogany and Tweed. Barleywine given to me by @HoppingMadMonk. Thanks Al. Cheers.

 

Rev Boss Ryeway. canned 12/29/2022 and tasting excellent. i never did like this one as much as Ryeway To Heaven but it’s still damn solid. lots of caramel flavors. plenty of spirit barrel presence. it is pretty ugly (even for a barleywine) when it’s pouring out of the can though. cheers!

 

Having an 8 oz pour of Don 2023 for the official review. Such a complex beer with the four-barrel blend going on. Finding this to be dark fruit forward, a touch nutty, and getting the light fruit flavor as well and is nicely balanced with the rye/bourbon barrelage. It is a touch warming but the alcohol is pretty well hidden. Excellent, rated it a 4.45.
How does this compare to Free Will Brewing's Dystopias? I found Dystopias to have more of an influence from the base barleywine and the bourbon barrels as i picked up more of that barrel's characteristics (leather, vanilla), and less port/brandy influenced. Well ironically enough i rated this a 4.45 as well with both being world class beers. Very privileged to have tried both!
Cheers!
Tom