Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2025)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by Beersnake, Jan 1, 2025.

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  1. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Cross posted with New Beer Weekend Thread.
    Sampling a Breakside Brewing in Portland, Oregon tonight. This is Barleywine Life vol #1. Beer is 9.5% ABV and comes in a 22 oz bottle. Courtesy of @muchloveforhops3 and the Imperial Stout and Barleywine BIF#2. THANK YOU!!

    onto my review:
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    Sampling a cellar temp 22 oz bottle poured into my snifter. I dont see a date stamp on the label anywhere. the beer pours a rich clear chestnut to mahogany color with a creamy khaki colored head. Some light passes through the glass and the foam leaves some clingy lattice on each sip.
    Aroma is some caramel and toffee notes with a good amount of pine resin hops and also a bit of apricot or peaches mixed in as well. Has an olde school barleywine aroma, and definitely leaning more American than English.
    First sip reveals a smooth textured body with very fine tingly carbonation. Medium body and the beer drinks pretty easy for a bigger brew. Not super sticky feel , like some barleywines can get.
    Flavor is similar to the nose advertisements. I get toffee and some caramel with hints of brown sugar too. A little dried fruit, peaches or apricots again and then a good bit of drying slightly astringent bite. Some citrus rind sneaks in here too. the dryness lingers long after each sip. Not really fusol or black peppery bite, this seems to be hop driven on the finish.
    This is a tasty and definitely more olde school barleywine. Im enjoying it quite a bit and will sip over the rest of this evening.
    4.38 in the BA DB
     
    #481 sulldaddy, May 4, 2025
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  2. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

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    I haven’t had one of these in a while, and those that I have enjoyed were a lot older than this one. It’s great, world class even, but maybe not quite up there with my absolute favorites of the style.
     
    #482 Orca, May 6, 2025
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  3. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Trying something unique tonight. Le Héros Aux 1001 Visages from Brasserie du Grillen in Colmar, France. An English barleywine aged in red wine, rum, and whisky barrels. 11.5% ABV.

    Poured at fridge temp from bottle. Pours a nice reddish brown with a little bit of head. The nose is dominated by the wine barrel. The rum comes through a little bit, but the bourbon seems absent. Very fruity - almost a hint of mint as well.

    The taste is really nice, but I immediately get the sense that there is a bit too much going on. The three barrels adds complexity in every direction. The hops mixed with the rum and wine come across as a bit odd. Still very drinkable. Fruity and bitter. Tannins, stone fruit, and rum are dominant.

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    #483 Beersnake, May 7, 2025
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  4. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Enjoying this unique and delicious barleywine courtesy of @snaotheus Barrel Aged Year Two from Ladd and Lass.

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    This is unique somehow but all the descriptors that immediately come to mind are familiar. There is something of an earthy edge to it. I get lots of toffee, dark fruit, and stone fruit plus tobacco, brown liquor, brown sugar, and coconut. Is there a little roast at the end maybe? The can mentions "other selected barrel aged beer from deep in our cellar" to go along with the base barleywine, it would interesting to know the specifics. There might be some distilled grape juice barrels in the mix? Certainly other styles I think.

    Anyway, this is a joy to drink and I'm grateful for the opportunity to try it, thanks so much Ryan!

    I'm enjoying this with a 3-year aged Gouda and my face is absolutely in it's most happy place:blush:
     
    #484 DIM, May 9, 2025
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  5. GreenBayBA

    GreenBayBA Grand Pooh-Bah (4,265) Aug 30, 2015 Wisconsin
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

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    This is an exceptional barleywine. Courtesy of @Braunmeister_1943. The apple, brandy, and buttered toast flavors blend together perfectly. This is quite a special beer!
     
    #485 GreenBayBA, May 10, 2025
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  6. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I really enjoyed this one as well. Cheers!
     
    #486 Beersnake, May 10, 2025
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  7. MistaRyte

    MistaRyte Pooh-Bah (2,681) Jan 14, 2008 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No pic but I snagged a 4 pack of Mason BA Baracus bourbon barrel barleywine from Casual Pint in VA Beach. I got the last 4 pack. Sorry everyone after me. Hooray me.
     
    #487 MistaRyte, May 10, 2025
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  8. Braunmeister_1943

    Braunmeister_1943 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,965) Nov 22, 2020 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the selections that I sent you, Micah! I have to agree with you about this Barleywine! It is quite special. I’m hoping that it is available more often!
     
    #488 Braunmeister_1943, May 10, 2025
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  9. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Nice Barleywine from Foam Brewers, Burlington

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    #489 zotzot, May 10, 2025
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  10. Blogjackets

    Blogjackets Grand Pooh-Bah (4,816) Nov 22, 2017 Ohio
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thomas Hardy's Ale 2024. Cheers.

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    #490 Blogjackets, May 11, 2025
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  11. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Red Red Wine from Barreled Souls. A barleywine aged in red wine barrels for just over 12 months. 13.7% ABV.

    Poured at fridge temp. Pours a very dark brown with minimal head.

    The nose is quite nutty. A bit surprising. Armagnac, red wine, toffee, banana, and malts.

    The taste is super smooth. Again, walnuts are coming through on the taste initially. Followed by soft notes of red wine, caramel, raisins, bread, oak, tannins, and cranberries. Very interesting. I can't say I've tried a barleywine like this.

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    #491 Beersnake, May 11, 2025
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  12. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Infinite Syzygy from Temporal Artisan Ales in Vancouver, Canada. Barleywine aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels for 18 months, brewed with a double mash and boiled for 8 hours. 13.62% ABV. Wonderful beer! Loads of bourbon, toffee, tobacco, and prunes.

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    #492 Beersnake, May 12, 2025
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  13. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    2012 Harvest Ale from J.W. Lees. Poured at fridge temp but allowed to warm over 30 minutes.

    The nose is caramel, slight smoke, plums, figs, oak, and sherry.

    The taste is wonderful. Smokey toffee, maple, figs, dusty old leather books, tobacco, Armagnac, cherries, and slight vanilla.

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    #493 Beersnake, May 12, 2025
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  14. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Man, I now have the last 4 posts in this thread. Come on barleywine fans! Crack them open!

    I'm drinking a 2015 Bigfoot. Poured at cellar temp. The aroma is great. Lots of citrus and caramel, wet grass, slight pine, and biscuits.

    The taste is definitely still very hoppy. Grapefruit peel. Slight clove, mint, oak, and grass. Very dry. No sweetness detectable. Crazy how this has maintained its hoppiness.

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    #494 Beersnake, May 15, 2025
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  15. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Insanity from Weyerbacher. Don't know when this was bottled, but I'm guessing about 5 years ago. Fantastic stuff. Wonderful notes of toffee, biscuits, honey, banana, and a hint of maple.

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    #495 Beersnake, May 15, 2025
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  16. Mdog

    Mdog Pooh-Bah (2,539) Jan 7, 2004 Minnesota
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2025
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    Rich and hoppy, a nice treat!
     
    #496 Mdog, May 15, 2025
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  17. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    2014 Third Coast Old Ale from Bell's. The nose is wonderful. Marmalade, honey, toffee, wheat, and a slight hoppy note.

    The taste is super interesting. Quite hoppy, which is a bit surprising. Also getting notes of toffee, cherries, raisin, citrus peel, leather, and granny smith apples. Really enjoyable overall.

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    #497 Beersnake, May 16, 2025
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  18. Blogjackets

    Blogjackets Grand Pooh-Bah (4,816) Nov 22, 2017 Ohio
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hopefully they will brew this again one day. Keep your eyes peeled for us; if it does get made, it likely will only be for sale at the General Store in Kalamazoo.
     
    #498 Blogjackets, May 16, 2025
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  19. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    That would be amazing. Does anyone know when the last bottling was?
     
    #499 Beersnake, May 17, 2025
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  20. Blogjackets

    Blogjackets Grand Pooh-Bah (4,816) Nov 22, 2017 Ohio
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It’s no longer on the release calendar but I remember buying it in 2023. I cannot say if it brewed last year. If it was brewed then, I did not see it for sale here.

     
    #500 Blogjackets, May 17, 2025
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