Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2025)

I tried it this weekend. I'd say it's definitely a barleywine first (more American to me), and a coffee beer second. The coffee notes were really subtle and mainly on the back end.

Also FYI I've seen at least one store in Ohio offering the full variety 6-pack of the Alesmith Coffee & Beer and not just the Masthead collab singles.

 

My local shop had all six cans, but sold as singles. I only picked up the barleywine and will try this week.

 

Those are at least 6 months old now, right?

I remember wanting to go to the release but wasn't interested in 4 of the 6 and it was only available as 6 packs .
Fucking shit reyes/alesmith and their shit distro. Haven't seen any of thes packs/singles anywhere here and Alesmith is less than 2 hours from me

 

Fair State/Central Waters collab Northern Rivals American Barleywine, 12% ABV. Pours deep copper with a 3+ finger light-brown head that left lots of foamy lacing. Aroma is fruit (like juicy fruit gum) and caramel. Taste is caramel and dark fruit, somewhat sweet, and equally bitter. Decent dry mouthfeel, overall excellent.

3.94/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

 

It's a new version of that variety pack for this year with 6 new collaborating breweries and roasters. I think they just did the event again at the end of February.

 

Old Foghorn

Shame on me - This pic is from a week ago, but I never got around to posting it. I knew the beer was quite old, but just now I realized that the beer was bottled April 15th, 2015. Dang it! If I waited a little, the beer would have made it to 10 years old. Darn Anchor code. I am not good at waiting though. My annoyance pushed me to post. The beer was very good and better than expected. I'd even go so far as to say that this old bottle is possibly the nicest expression (in my eyes) of barley wine compared to any new bottles/cans on shelves here (barring Bigfoot)... not that there's much competition for that.

 

Quick post. I thought this was a stout but it’s billed as a barley wine. Notes in WBAYDN. Overall a big win for a $5.99 close out pack of beer.

Enjoy

 

Aslin - SUNDAZE - BA Imperial Stout +Barleywine blend - syrupy sweet cherry chocolate booze bomb!

 

Finishing off this bottle I opened in January. This line is just magnificent and worth the splurge once in awhile. So many layers of subtle sweetness at work, the perfect slow sipper.

 

Best case I ever bought, maybe $120??? So damn good.

 

Nope

 

Still in the mood for still beer...



This scratches my beer and whiskey itch at the same time. Wonderfully warming, it does pack a punch, but there is an awful lot going on here.

 

Trails To Ales French Crick Furry Big Ass (English) Barleywine, 12.5% ABV. Pours black with a one-finger light brown head that left no lacing. Aroma is roast malt and toffee. Taste follows, slightly sweet, moderately bitter. OK mouthfeel if a bit overcarbonated. Overall excellent.

3.98/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Thanks to @Ozzylizard for sharing this excellent barleywine in a LIF box associated with the Stout/Barleywine BIF.

 

Central Waters Brewing 4-Year-Aged Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Barleywine. 2025. This is the sweet spot. The caramel flavor is just right. What a treat. This is the perfect night to experience it.