Barleywine Blind Tasting Result

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by runner440, Jul 25, 2012.

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  1. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    My tasting group and I (8 total = 4 men and 4 women) did a blind bourbon barrel aged barleywine tasting last night, and I figured I would post the results on here for anyone who was interested. The only beer I have had before was the FW 15. I know, I know it is not technically a BB Barleywine, but I figured it was close enough and everyone wanted to try it. We rated the beers in order 1-6 from favorite to least favorite and compiled the scores. The lower the score the better the rating (like golf). I must say, I personally thought the #1 beer was in a league of its own and pretty far ahead of the rest of the pack. It did not sweep the #1 spot for everyone though. The two lovely ladies (quite the beer geeks mind you) who ranked it 2 and not 1 did so because it was too overpowering to them. Huge shout out to knifestyles and theshowat7 for the trades that helped me acquire some of these bottles. They are awesome BAs! The Results ...

    King Henry = 10
    Firestone Walker 15 = 20.5
    Mother of All Storms = 30.5
    Hammerhead Barrel Roll #4 = 31
    Barrel Aged Old Ruffian = 32
    Bourbon Barrel Below Decks = 44

    Individual Results:
    KH, Ruffian, FW, #4, Storms, Below Decks
    KH, Ruffian, FW, #4, Storms, Below Decks
    KH, Ruffian, FW, Below Decks, Storms, #4
    KH, Storms, FW, #4, Below Decks, Ruffian
    KH, #4, FW, Storms, Below Decks, Ruffian
    FW, KH, #4, Storms, Ruffian, Below Decks
    FW, KH, Storms, #4, Ruffian Below Decks
    KH, Storms, FW, Ruffian, #4, Below Decks
     
    #1 runner440, Jul 25, 2012
    eatabagofbooger and Knownfactor like this.
  2. coreyfmcdonald

    coreyfmcdonald Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2008 Georgia

    Wait, wait...you have 50% women in your tasting group?
     
    #2 coreyfmcdonald, Jul 25, 2012
    Dine and 2beerdogs like this.
  3. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    I've only had the KH, FW 15, and Mother of all Storms, and that is the exact order I would put them in
     
    #3 litheum94, Jul 25, 2012
  4. coreyfmcdonald

    coreyfmcdonald Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2008 Georgia

    I'd be interested to see where Sucaba would fall. I personally prefer it to FW15, yet I prefer MoaS to both. KH and MoaS might be too close to call for me, particularly because I prefer less sweet Barleywines.
     
    #4 coreyfmcdonald, Jul 25, 2012
  5. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    I agree. I have had it before and it was awesome. Would have been cool to add to the tasting, but I already drank the bottle I had. I also would have liked to put Genesis 15:15 in there. I had a year old bottle not too long ago and absolutely loved it.
     
    #5 runner440, Jul 25, 2012
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  6. ao125

    ao125 Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2010 Virginia

    Below Decks from Heavy Seas / Clipper City? You should try the cabernet cask version. I have 3 bottles of that left from last year. That stuff is delicious.
     
    #6 ao125, Jul 25, 2012
  7. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    Yep Clipper City. It was a hometown favorite I was hoping would place higher. I live about 5 minutes away from them and love all their offerings. I have 1 bottle of the Cabernet left too. Any idea how its drinking right now?
     
    #7 runner440, Jul 25, 2012
  8. DavoleBomb

    DavoleBomb Pooh-Bah (2,277) Mar 29, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Which year Ruffian did you have? The 08 is almost as good as KH the 09 isn't quite as good and I have t had the new one yet.
     
    #8 DavoleBomb, Jul 25, 2012
  9. PDXHops

    PDXHops Maven (1,459) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina

    That beats the hell outta my Tuesday night for sure. Thanks for sharing the results.
     
    #9 PDXHops, Jul 25, 2012
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  10. RBassSFHOPit2ME

    RBassSFHOPit2ME Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2009 California

    Genesis 15:15 was the biggest surprise beer of 2011 for me.

    Wish I would have bought a case at the $11.99 price.
     
    #10 RBassSFHOPit2ME, Jul 25, 2012
    runner440 likes this.
  11. brees6221

    brees6221 Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2009 Western Sahara

    Too many females in that tasting group, you should add me (ignore the avatar). I'll bring the Arctic Devil for next round! :grinning:
     
    #11 brees6221, Jul 25, 2012
  12. 2beerdogs

    2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Praise the Beer Gods!!!! It IS possible.:stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #12 2beerdogs, Jul 25, 2012
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  13. bierenutz

    bierenutz Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2010 Michigan

    Personally, I'm not necessarily surprised by these results. There's not really any competition against KH, imo, especially if the MoaS was an '11. Still gotta love those BA BWs!
     
    #13 bierenutz, Jul 25, 2012
  14. 2beerdogs

    2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Love me the MoaS!!
     
    #14 2beerdogs, Jul 25, 2012
    KAF likes this.
  15. ao125

    ao125 Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2010 Virginia

    I have one bottle of the 2010 and a few of the cab-cask 2011 and I know the 2011's are delicious. I drank one last month and it made me wish I had bought 5 more.
     
    #15 ao125, Jul 26, 2012
  16. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    The Ruffian was from the latest release of it. Great Divide sent it to me because of the whole infected BA Yeti debacle.
     
    #16 runner440, Jul 26, 2012
  17. runner440

    runner440 Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Maryland

    haha I will try to shoot you a BM next time we do a big tasting in Bawlmore. Cheers!
     
    #17 runner440, Jul 26, 2012
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