Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2025)

Enjoying a Sierra Nevada 2024 Alpha Hops Society BA brew that is kind of like a Manhattan. This begins with Bigfoot already aging for six years and resting on tart cherries for much of that time blended with wheatwine aged only in bourbon barrels — except for a single aromatic bitters barrel. Interesting beer!
Cheers!
Tom

 

I thought of you Tim as i had my hands on Flesh to Stone from Bottle Logic the other day when i was in my Asheville bottle shop. I could not pony up $37 for a 4.25 beer

 

Helldorado - Firestone Walker

Definitely getting the Barleywine vibe, however still not convinced it fits the standard of an American Barleywine. Strong whiskey holds dominion over the aroma, with peat, oak, and vanilla occupying vassal status. Warmth adds a touch of coconut, and at room temperature lavender becomes apparent. The flavor is similar, high booze, add caramel malt. Warmth transforms the whiskey to rum-n-coke with stress on the rum. This is a contemplative beer, also good for reading. It pairs nicely with Fromage des Jaques (mildly funky Alpine cheese). The cheese brightens the beer’s flavors, while the beer mollifies the funk. I will drop this in the cellar thread, just to give that a bump.

 

Thomas Hardy's Ale The Historical. An 11.3% barleywine by Hepworth & Company. Cidery nose. Letting it up warm up. Cheers.

 

For the Packer game I drank a 12oz can of Central Waters Iced Barleywine.
Canned 2/11/2025, 17.0%. you know the routine, first sip at kick off, it lasted till the start of the 3rd Quarter. A chilled basement floor pull.

Taste is smooth stone dark fruit and bourbon with a hint of caramel. It changes at the finish then you get some vanilla and oak with a micro hint of coconut.
The alcohol is very well hidden considering the ABV, but shows up a little in the finish. Just slightly sweet overall. I did not notice any chocolate or molasses.
The mouth feel is smooth but slightly thin.
4.36/5 today.

 

I bought 2 bottles, 1 for @Beersnake , around 2 years ago after enjoying a class on draft at the brewery.

This is still but full bodied enough for a satisfying mouthfeel. I get lots of dried fruit that has some port-like qualities plus a nice hit of bourbon. The barrels themselves come through with an almost burned nuts note. A very nice beer to close out a busy day with.

 

Everything you put in that glass looks 10/10. Pour a Natty light into it tomorrow for science

 

I haven't posted in this thread before because I'm not much of a Barleywine fan, but I'll post this alert for a new beer from Founders for those who are interested. I don't know anything about the beer beyond what is shown in the pic. It's not listed on their website, so I don't know the size of the distro area. I didn't buy it, but I think the price is $14.99 per 4-pack.

 

Every time I say I’m cutting back on buying beer…

I’m not sure what to make of it at 50 ibu. Maybe it’s english style and not a direct competitor to bigfoot?

 

The reviews on this beer ….. have a wide degree of variability. I was on the higher end (maybe the highest) when it released a year ago at this time, and I still am, because I am LOVING the spicy chilies playing off the toffee and caramel as well as the tart tamarind. Gimme more.

 

Blithering Idiot barleywine. Cheers.

 

I love that beer. IJS.

 

Surprisingly I’ve seen it available semi-regularly. Cheers.

 

For Thanksgiving turkey meal. I drank (still drinking it) a 22oz bottle of Central Waters Milwaukee 3rd anniversary barleywine. It sat of my basement floor for about 1 year plus. the bottle is about 1 year and 3 months old. A good beer. My review stands. It hasn't changed much. it maybe stronger flavor wise than I remember.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/652/716599/

 

Exceptional!!