Barleywine Appreciation Thread (2025)

Landed in PHX early this afternoon, time to kill before checking in at the hotel so hit one of my old locals and picked up a few items specifically for this forum
I missed out on a pretty limited drop of this in WNC but finding this was worth waiting for, classic FW BA Barleywine brings toffee, caramel, and some molasses with the barrel being fresh still and lending a nice balancing edge. Dig it! Been awhile since I’ve had one.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Sorry this one didn't hold up for you. It was never one of my favorites but I attach a lot of sentimental value to Olde School. My dad and I spent a weekend birding in Delaware in 2006 when I was first getting into beer. We visited dfh Rehoboth for dinner and got to try the original pilot batch of Palo Santo Marron. Got a couple packs of Olde School to go that we enjoyed over the years. Never had one as old as yours, but I think it was at its best around 5 to 7 years.

 

NBW cross-post. The Explorium Brewpub Barrel-Aged William 1066 Barleywine Salted Caramel. Please note the Good City Brewing glass, as The Explorium Brewpub recently purchased that brewery. This is the most delicious barleywine creation I may have ever experienced.

 

There’s a very good chance that @DIM has had this and a very good chance that @Beersnake has not!

 

Outstanding! Very English Barleywine-ish!

 

I have not, I need to connect with @Spade !

 

It’s readily available around here! I bought this at Wegmans!

 

Yes. Yes you do. Just holler when you want to meet. I'm lazy and rarely have anything going on.

 

By chance have you figured out if it's a yearly brew? I swear I sent them a message and never got a response. Or maybe I was drunk and imagined I did.

 

I do not know. I’m hoping that it is. This is the first time that I have seen it!

 

Onto beer #2 from my PHX classic beer purchases yesterday. This is the 2019 edition of GI BCB Wheatwine. My original review was for the 2018 edition aged in Heaven Hill barrels while this is aged in wheated Larceny barrels. The 2019 edition was excellent, gave it a 4.4. It seemed so soft and smooth and the vanilla tannins from the barrel blended so nicely with the malt base that gave me a nice toffee and figs flavor. Although i rated the 2018 edition a 4.2, my notes indicated it was a bit rough and could stand for some aging. Well worth the $25 or so spent!
Cheers!
Tom

 

I’ve not had many Barleywines, but the few I’ve had have been stellar! SN “Bigfoot “ is the benchmark of which I measure them! This 2025 is fabulous!

 

Well! Look who finally got up from his nap. It’s Max.

 

The Killer Awoke Before Dawn - Aurora

Gosh, I hope he’s not looking for Dawn. Aurora seems to be a grossly underrated and overlooked brewery along the East shore of Cayuga Lake. This is an American Barleywine that holds back on the bitterness, allowing the flavors to sing. Intense black tea, toffee, and birch are in control. The aroma has that and pine tar, as well as a touch of musk, old leather, and peat.

 

Great pic but the one eyed dog in the background is kinda creeping me out.