Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2025)

IPAs are good sometimes

 

This version is fucking awful

sweet as fuck. like spoiled apple juice


beyond disappointment

 

Ha ha, that’s just the angle. There are plenty of other things about me that are creepy though.

 

Feeling better now, thanks. That's actually a really cute pic.

 

Onto round 3 of my PHX classic beer purchase, this one being Old Stock 2014 aged in wheated whiskey barrels.
Flavor wise this has held up pretty well. Getting a burny caramel and toffee baseline along with some blackberry and figs. Barrel lends a nice balance with a touch of vanilla tannins. It was a fun splurge but in the “battle of the wheated barrels” i prefer the GI BCB 2019 Wheatwine.
Cheers!
Tom

 

maybe it's because i drank it after the Bigfoot, but it was undrinkable to me. Straight apple juice....and i am one to never bad talk anything North Coast does

 

If it matters, I've had at least 2 bottles of 2024 and there wasn't anything wrong with them. What's the possibility a batch went bad after bottling?

 

I don't drink much during the week, and I just brushed my teeth, but in the name of Science...



Tastes like I would expect. A bit of molasses, some fruity esters, nice lingering alcohol heat. Even took a sip straight from the bottle, to minimize the nose, and it wasn't much different.

Wonderful. Glad I have 1 more in the cellar.

 

Met up with a regular from this thread @Spade for a beer and a small trade. Good to see you Harry! Even sent something along for you @Beersnake

They had a lovely old ale from the Buery on-tap. Acier from 2019.

Mellow booze, a hint of char, caramel, and more. Damn delicious.

 

Better than some of the newbies is saying something! I have one 2020 left sad to say, looking forward to it!
Onto my last (4th) round of the classics i purchased in PHX.
2-4-25 Drinking a 2016 edition on the 11th anniversary of my Pop’s passing while tending to my 91 year old mom who is coming down the home stretch of this thing called life. A toast to both of you, i look back with fondness on my childhood in Saginaw, would not trade it for any other!
Given the bottling date of 18OCT16, this gem has aged wonderfully. Toffee, caramel, figs, and prunes from the malt base. Barrel still bringing the vanilla tannins and some bourbon heat. Finishes pretty balanced with just a kiss of sweetness that is style appropriate. Glad i splurged on this one!

 

Sorry to hear about your folks. Like you say, it’s the fond memories that help.

 

Cheers to your folks and a happy childhood Tom, I cannot think of a greater legacy for parents.

 

Yep, had fun shooting the breeze over a few beers. We must do this again sometime.

 

Cross posted from Cellaruary thread

My last bottle of the 2021 release of Founders Nemesis. This was from the second 4-pack I bought that year. I also had greatly enjoyed the original 2010 release too.

This one was better fresh as it was a very hoppy black barleywine, but this is still tasty - the earthy dank hops are now in balance with the moderately roasty dark malt flavors. Still good underlying bitterness.

 

The barrel aged version they released in 2023 was outstanding. I went through a case.

 

Thanks Stewart, appreciate your sentiment!
Cheers!
Tom

 

Thank you Dan, very kind! I grew up in the pre-internet era, simpler times, we knew how to entertain ourselves as kids, always outdoors, and the folks applied an appropriate guiding hand to keep us in line (although my younger self would object to that notion)…always a challenge for a parent in any era!
Cheers!
Tom