Barleywine Suggestions

I just had my first 2 SN bigfoots these last couple nights. They were good, but there was just something that was a little off for me. I dont know if its just the style that I am not accustomed to yet, or what the deal is, but I just was hoping for some more recommendations to expand the variety inside the style.

 

Avery Hog Heaven
Southern Tier Backburner
Stone Old Guardian
Green Flash Barleywine
Great Divide Old Ruffian
Alesmith Old Numbskull
Anchor Old Foghorn
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale
Weyerbacher Insanity

 

Blithering Idiot, Heavy Seas Below Decks, J.W. Lees Harvest (pricey but worthy of a try). These are all English style.

Old Guardian, Old Ruffian, 21st Amendment Lower De Boom. These are hoppy American styles.

 

Arctic Devil by Midnight Sun is amazing

 

for my money, Old Ruffian is where it's at. beautiful beer. hoppy as hell, just the right amount of sweetness and none of that "only available in the winter" shit to deal with. she's there at your liquor store every day of the year waiting for you to take her home

 

You know, it's quite possible that it's not your style. You need not force yourself to like something. That way, there's more for the rest of us.

 

Bell's Third Coast Old Ale, DFH Olde School

 

I personally have no idea what it is people love about SN Bigfoot, but I have yet to drink an English-style BW I didn't like. The difference is really pretty huge.

 

Well, if it's any help, I'd say there's no need to try to get into a particular style. Your palate is your guide; drink what makes you happy and try different things with an open mind. You will know what you like. When trying a brew for the first time, you may want to try it as fresh as possible. If you don't like it then, chances are you may not love it down the line. That being said, there are enough brews out there that you could try a new one each day and still never live to see the end of that list. It's a wonderful choice to have - Cheers!

 

Id say your best bet is to go to a local store that you can mix a six pack and try to grab a bunch of different ones and see what you like. Once you do that, talk to some people about other barleywines with similar flavor profiles. If you are trying to get a sense for the style, stay away from any barrel-aged ones. Appreciate the regular ones before the ones that were made more complex in flavor by barrel aging. Thats not to say if you see some you shouldn't pick them up. But maybe save them for a later date.

And if all else fails, drink whatever you want.

Cheers.

P.S. The one that got me into them was Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot

 

Widely available/seasonal a good place to start is Bigfoot then try others

 

Maybe you just don't like them. Simple as that.

First (and only) Barleywine that I've had was one that's super popular -- Bigfoot. It wasn't bad, but I find that it drinks like a meal, and is just a bit too big for me. Same goes for RIS's. Huge beers like that I'm just not a fan of. You could be the same way. Nothing to be ashamed of.

 

SN Bigfoot and Bell's Third Coast are what really got me into the style. Some other ones I've enjoyed are Stone Old Guardian and Victory's Oak Horizontal. The Old Guardian and Bigfoot are a little on the hoppier side of things, so it takes away from the sweetness that I wasn't too fond of at first

 

Sucaba if you like barrel aged beers as well. Shit screw that let me fix it......
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Sucaba, if you like beer

 

If you're a hophead, I'd give Lagunitas Gnarly Wine a try if you can find it on tap. If you're more of a malt-guy, give Victory Old Horizontal or Oak Horizontal a try. Sucaba is great, and if you need help finding one, contact me, but it's definitely not a beer for people who are beginning to drink barley wines.

 

Green flash has one I enjoy.

 

I have some Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine just begging to be cracked open ! If they brewed it near as good as BBA Peruvian Morning, it's gonna be tasty!​

 

Sucaba
Weyerbacher Insanity
Leon

 

Weyerbacher Insanity, Great Divide Old Ruffian, Troegs Flying Mouflan, Hoppin Frog Naked Evil, Bell's Third Coast Ale,
SN Bigfoot are my faves..

 

I'll just mention (since no one else has) that you might want sit on some and age it. A lot of the rough edges smooth out after a couple years of aging.

If you ever get the opportunity to try a vertical you definitely should. You'd be surprised how much some can improve.