Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2025)

@Beersnake appreciate the offer for Temporal but definitely not necessary! As far as Bigfoot goes, it is unfortunate that each annual edition is not a separate beer on BA given how the hops crop changes each year. I kind of remember 2014 being surprisingly abrasive in my tasting groups review of a cellar Bigfoot pack!
Been a few minutes but getting into a Barleywine from locally renown lager maker Zillicoah who is just coming back online and slowly getting back into production after being destroyed by the French Broad river during Helene.
Picked this up in May 2024. Interesting in that this is open fermented like a few of their lagers used to be. This is very clean in the fashion of a lager, not getting a ton of flavor out of the 100% Marris Otter malts. Hopping is very citrusy leaving a prickly marmalade on the back end. Pretty good representation of the ABW style, rated 3.89.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Stone Old Guardian-It's been too long old friend

 

A top-5 all-time Milwaukee Brewers moment to be followed by this 'Stallis legend.

 

Sipping on a 2020 bottle of Appalachian Walker from Olde Hickory Brewing in Hickory, NC. ABV is smallish for an English Barleywine, registering at 9.58%. Rested in Brandy barrels, this one brings intense raisin and fig flavor. While leaning sweet, it is style appropriate. This has aged very nicely.
Cheers!
Tom

 

2SP “St. Seditious “ Barleywine!

 

@Beersnake is on the microphone lamenting the lack of barleywine drinkers. Suddenly the music hits, then @Braunmeister_1943 appears. Then out of nowhere he tags in @GreenBayBA, handing him the Pennsylvania barleywine. The Fire and The Porch retain the title.

 

Where’d you get that, Tim? I love Grimm! They were shipping directly to PA for a while but stopped. Their product is on shelves here, but mostly IPAS. Their “Last of the Steam Powered Trains “ I have, but not this one!

 

Wow! That’s amazing! If you ever see “Double Negative “ from Grimm; buy it! Also their DIPA “Afterimage “ is one of my favorites!

 

Got a nice gift today, I'll be back soon. Tree House Barleywine never disappoints, the Thai banana in particular has me drooling...



Like @Braunmeister_1943 I miss Grimm shipping to PA

 

Sweet!!! Sounds delicious! I miss having Grimm shipping to us directly, immensely, too!

 

I can’t believe this is only my third contribution to this thread. I’ll do better - hopefully as good as what I think of this anniversary beer from a world class (IMHO) brewery.





4.5/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark mahogany brown with significant tinges of red and settles dark mahogany brown in the glass with a sudsy, sizzling tan head that evaporates in seconds. Looks great in the glass.

The nose has a significant alcohol note courtesy of the double barrel treatment, and there’s also a significant tart cherry aroma (and I love tart cherries), as well as vanilla and rich toffee.

The double barrel imparts a little booze on the taste and a LOT of alcohol warming at the back of the palate, which is good because it prevents the tart cherry flavor from overpowering the rich toffee and vanilla flavors. This is dangerously drinkable.

The mouthfeel is very full and creamy as expected. I really enjoyed this, especially as it warmed (I left it out for 30 minutes before indulging), and am glad I have 3 more cans to age and see how it develops. World class stuff, IMHO.

 

I'm very excited to try this one from Tree House, aged exclusively in rum barrels for 27 months before conditioning it on generous portions of wild Thai bananas, cinnamon, and freshly toasted coconut.



This is my second banana Barleywine and while it is better than the one from Bottle Logic, I still want more. The base beer verges on stout, dark with no roast but hints of chocolate peek through.

The coconut addition is perfectly toasted and potent. Just magnificent. The cinnamon is good but more prominent than I'd like. That combination relegates the bananas to the background unfortunately. They're there but I want more.

It's a fine beer overall and I'm enjoying it. Thanks TH.

 

I've had this bottle of Mighty Oak from Tree House for over 2 years, kept it cold. Pretty good fresh and maybe a little better now.



What bitterness there was is almost gone. I get lots of caramel along with candied cinnamon apples, sweet oranges, mint, and a bit of a lingering oak tingle. Tasting great right now, a victory for aging.

 

@Beersnake now that Sweetums is posting a bit more the page count should go up exponentially