Revolution Peach Brandy Barrel D.B.V.S.O.J English Barleywine, 15.8% ABV. I rated this 4.56. They call it DBVSOJ, but then go on to say it's aged in Bourbon, Rum, and Peach Brandy barrels. It's TBVSOJ guys, fix that!
To me, double barrel means aged in one barrel and then transferred to another. It cannot be two different barrels blended together. The same goes for a triple barrel, it must be aged sequentially in three different barrels. This beer was a blend of bourbon and rum barrel aged aged barleywine that was then aged in peach brandy barrels. Definitely double barrel aged. I am prepared to die on this hill. Well, I am at least prepared to drink myself into a stupor on this hill. Possibly then stumbling to my death... Anyway, whatever you call it, it's another great beer from Revolution!
Totally agree - sequential is important, even though some breweries call things double barrel aged when they combine two barrel-aged beers.
My sense is that it would. Spending two years in one barrel would likely enhance the barrel notes. Mixing two beers that each spent one year in different barrels probably wouldn't bring as much barrel to the table.
And aging that same beer 1 year each in 2 separate barrels sequentially would bring the most barrel character. @bbtkd consider how faint the peach notes are in PBDBVSOJ even though the entirety of the batch spend time in Peach Brandy barrels. If it had only been a third of the batch it might have been undetectable.
I like the analogy of music. Think how much more rich the sound is when adding instruments with different timbres. Say a violin vs. a string quartet. All the same notes, much more depth of texture and layers than just four violins.
I am absolutely loving this release. Yes the peach is VERY subtle but there are so many subtle nuances at work here. Revolution is the barrels g.o.a.t. @bbtkd Looking forward to your thoughts @Beersnake !
Enjoying Fallen Hero EBW from Forest & Main. This has been rested in bourbon barrels, and then apple brandy barrels for up to 39 months. I am getting figs and raisins up front. The bourbon wood then takes over while the brandy lends a nice sweetness that is tamed on the back end from the wood theme. This is very good fresh (April 2026 bottling) but i can't help to think that resting a second bottle for several years to see how things coalesce. Many thanks to Jeff @jzeilinger for the opportunity! Cheers! Tom
Black Bombs from Barreled Souls in Maine. This a barleywine aged for a year in Smoke Wagon bourbon and Jamaican rum barrels. 14.3% ABV. Poured at fridge temp. Pours a nice dark brown - almost black. The nose is insane. Huge notes of gooey toffee, vanilla, light rum, raisins, dark cherries, and brown sugar. Damn this is nice. The taste is really interesting. The sweet bourbon is strong here. Graham cracker, toffee, light chocolate, sweet red grapes, strawberry jam, and a bit of honey. I can detect the rum barrel on the aftertaste - like a solid 10 seconds after it's gone down. Super smooth and mildly sweet barleywine. Although I can taste the bourbon, it doesn't overpower in a boozy way. Really nice.
I don't normally post in the appreciation threads...I'm usually over at the NBW and WBAYDN thread...but this is a special one. Real Ale Sisyphus. One of the old school Barleywines made in Texas. This is a 2024 bottle, and I can't remember the last time I had a bomber...but there you go Still plenty of hops, with an orange/citrus/almost passion fruit flavor. The bitterness is toned way down from what I remember, which is also a bit expected. Caramelized sugars, leading to toffee, chocolate covered cherries. Chewy and sticky with a full body. Not oxidized at all, and a wonderful sipper. I have been spinning a bunch of Miles Davis records for his 100 anniversary. This is his last live album of the 70's before he went into a 7 year retirement, and seemingly disappeared from the public all together (until he reemerged in the 80's). Agharta...the legendary, mythical kingdom rumored to exist in the Earth's core, where artistic freedom opens up a spiritual and Utopian civilization. Yep, that is what Miles Davis' live album Agharta is. This is on another playing level IMO. Need a big barleywine while spinning this one
Thomas Hardy Ale 2024, English Barleywine, 11.3% ABV. Pours copper colored with a ring of off-white bubbles that left no lacing. Aroma is light toffee, slightly sour. Taste is slight toffee, faint sweetness, slight bitterness, faintly sour. Slightly heavy carbonation, overall excellent. 4.1/5 rDev +1% look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 Having this beer almost seems like a rite-of-passage for English Barleywine fans, though it's far from the best I've had. Admittedly, I prefer BBA English Barleywines.
Final Form: Existence from Moksa. An English barleywine aged 18 Months in VSOP Cognac barrels then 18 months in Elijah Craig 20 Year bourbon barrels. For some reason, Moksa double barrel beer have double the wax, which made this almost impossible to open. 19.7% ABV. The taste is insane. Again, loads of cognac and, to a lesser extent, bourbon. Blackberries, prunes, raisins, vanilla, toffee, red wine, and a solid amount of molasses. So freaking good. The mouth feel is robust, but not syrupy or too thick. Strong cognac aftertaste. Great overall.
Dug into storage for a big weekend-ending stout. Spotted this instead and couldn't resist. No regrets.
Firestone Walker XXVIII Anniversary American Strong Ale, 12.7% ABV. Pours dark reddish brown, with a ring of beige bubbles that left no lacing. Aroma is caramel, grape, spice, bourbon, and dark fruit. Taste is dark fruit, charred malt, spice, caramel, and light grape, slightly sweet, equally bitter, some bourbon burn. Decent semi-dry mouthfeel, overall excellent. 4.31/5 rDev +0.7% look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25 Thanks to @CarolinaCardinals for sharing this with me! My rating puts this close to their three previous anniversary beers I've had (23, 25, and 26).
29 is one of the best - definitely try to track one of those down. I'm looking forward to grabbing a bomber of 30 soon.
