Annual Barley Wine Tasting Suggestions

Olde School by DFH.
120 Minute by DFH. They call it an IPA but it's really a barleywine.
Thomas Hardy's and J.W. Lee's Harvest, natch.

Beyond that I'm not sure how many you will really find that hold up over 10 years, and even these will likely have fallen off some by then. But I've only had a couple of barleywines that were 10+ years old, so your mileage may vary.

 

Bigfoot and Bell's Third Coast Old Ale.
Bigfoot should be readily available for you, though you might have to trade for Third Coast.

EDIT: North Coast Old Stock has good potential, though I've not had it any older than 4 years. Again, easily obtainable for you in OR. Same thing with HOTD Doggie Claws. Or Fred. Or Adam.

 

If you can find some, Victory Old Horizontal. They stopped making it the past year or two, but they're putting it out again this year!

 

Stone Old Guardian.

 

Definitely go for Bigfoot. Also Stone Old Guardian.

North Coast Old Stock was mentioned. Although a good candidate for aging, it is actually an Old Ale

 

The recipe for North Coast Old Stock Ale is almost a clone for J.W. Lees Harvest ale, it deserves to be included.



I second all of the above mentions except Thomas Hardy's (I haven't had it) and Dogfish Head 120 (I hate it). I'm not sure how it ages, but Anchor Old Foghorn is another widely-available one which won't hurt the wallet too much. Plus, BARLEYWINE IN A SIX PACK.

 

That's fine if you want to include it, but my point was its not a barley wine

 

MoaS, Blighs

 

I have had a 2 year old Blithering Idiot from Weyerbacher and it tasted great. Not sure what would happen in 10 years

 

if you can still find some Brooklyn Monster Ale, its great with 5 years on it

 

Completely agree with the old horizontal suggestion. Just drank a 5 year old one last night and it was amazing.

 

Well somebody has to throw in Old Ruffian, so it might as well be me. Also, if you can get your hands on Central Waters BBBW, you'll have tasting friends for life.

 

Arctic Devil is one of the best barley wines I've had. I got one through a trade, but I've seen it available from internet beer sites before. I think it was letspour.com.

 

I guess there are a few different levels here. American or English? BA or non-BA?

Are you going to restrict them to local options only?

Blighs is available out there isnt it? Get that for sure.

Probably the best four pack I get every year is Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barleywine.

 

Troegs Flying Mouflan was the first one that came to mind for me.

 

Killer penguin comes to mind for me

 

Monster ale