Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2025)

I don't drink barleywines as often as I used to. Part of it may be changes in taste and metabolism, and part of it is definitely that they're not as easy to find nowadays (I've posted about that elsewhere). But part of it is that barleywines, to me, call for a certain kind of night. Cold outside, quiet at home, nothing to do but sit, relax and contemplate a bit. Well, my life is bananas so those nights are very rare for me but this happens to be one.



JW Lees Harvest Ale, 1986 Yeast Edition (not sure what that means exactly but I'm going with it). Bottled 2021 it looks like. Noticeably sweet but not syrupy or headache-inducing. Carbonated just enough. Full of those warming flavors that take me back to an earlier era. Delicious. Cheers!

 

I don’t struggle with drinking. I struggle with waiting. That 4 pack was quickly finished.

Here’s a pic from the bottle because I don’t think you’ll find much about it online. Whether a drinker would find it to be more “American” in tone is another story, but I usually think that there needs to be a very strong reason to classify something different from how it’s sold. I appreciate any work put into the database.

 

Had a Studly Big Unit barleywine a little while ago

 

I’m sorry @Beersnake . I wrote the above poorly. What I meant:
It’s my opinion that there needs to be an extremely clear and strong reason if a beer is going to be classified on BA as a style that’s different from how the beer is labeled. Shades of gray shouldn’t be a factor.

BTW, I’m not suggesting that the above has anything to do with how the beer was classified. I have a vague memory that this is probably a case of a brewer changing their messaging over time (and perhaps the beer - ?).

 

Celebrating the fact that we finally finished refurbishing our basement! We surprised our kids this morning with air hockey, foosball, and ping-pong. They had no idea any of them were coming!



Having triple barrel Deal With the Devil batch 17, aged 32 months in bourbon, cognac, and bourbon barrels.



I was curious about this one because of the cognac barrels, harkening back to the original ADWTD. I get more oak and vanilla than in the others I've tried. I'm pleasantly surprised by how prominently the cognac barreling comes across! The familiar boozy caramel and abundant bourbon are certainly noticeable but damned if cognac doesn't steal the show. I'm loving the marshmallow fluff note I sometimes get from grape booze barrels. And oh my the potent fermented grape juice flavors are amazing. Plenty of legs on the glass but this isn't quite as thick and sticky as others in this series. Overall this is an all-timer for me, absolutely loving this one.

 

I return here with this monstrosity:

Tree House - Double Barrel Tree of Light

Tree of Light OG was and is in my top 2 all time barleywines (VSOJ being the other). This is definitely in the same realm with its liquid sticky toffee pudding flavor profile.
It actually reminds me a little bit of Fremonts Batch 6000, but somehow much thicker. My only complaint for this is the thickness. It’s legitimately the same consistency as real maple syrup. Kind of hoping that drops out a little with some age. Says it can be cellared up to 10 years and I wouldn’t doubt that. $22, which is a lot, but some place like Side Project would charge $50 for something of this status

 

Thanks Tim! The kitchen/bar area in the background has always had my bursting at the seems DBF and overflowing cellar collection

 

Nice!

 

Having a St. Seditious from 2SP.



This has become a favorite.

 

A big old strong ale from Revolution - Dread & Breakfast. Cheers.

 

Steel Toe Before the Dawn Black Barleywine


Had this again for the first time in years last night, still excellent stuff.
Lots of barrel in the nose, lots of chocolate, vanilla, graham crackers, and booze. They call it a black barleywine, it is very imperial stout-like.

 

Weekend cuvée of peaberry coffee and Dread & Breakfast strong ale by Revolution. Delicious! Cheers.

 

The basement looks fantastic Dan, congratulations to the Fam and you on a job well done. ADWTD is a great celebratory brew!
Cheers!
Tom

 

This held up incredibly well and has opened up even more over the past hour. Lots of toasted toffee and caramel, a hint of dark fruit, molasses, Bourbon, and oak while ending on the sweeter side with pronounced warming in the back of the pie hole. So incredibly well blended with layers of goodness/complexity, one of my all-time favorite English 'Barleys. (!!!!)