Barleywine Suggestions

I love BWs, but there's a LOT of variability. For me, the hoppier the better, and the sweeter the worse. My favorite so far has been Old Numbskull. Stuff that's easier to find...Bigfoot and Old Ruffian.

 

what year(s)? I find I like SN after it ages for a while. Even just a year rounds it out and makes it way better. I'm sure you want to go drink w/e now, but Barleywines are much more enjoyable if you hang on to them for a while.

 

Thanks for the advice on those! I've drank two. Loved 'em and was wondering was aging them would do to them. You said even a year . . . should I age even longer?

 

Point Brewery's Whole Hog Barley Wine is pretty decent for a $7.99 4-pack. It reminds me of Blithering Idiot, sweet and not real hoppy. Worth checking out.

 

I've read reviews of people who have done 5 year verticals. They loved all of them, and they said the older the better. So, age away.

 

LoL@ the clowns recommending BBA barleywines. Seriously guys? He's trying to ease into the style and you're recommending $15 bombers to him when there's plenty of stuff cheaper and still excellent.

My personal favorite readily available ABW is Great Divide Old Ruffian. It's the beer that got me into the style.
Stone Old Guardian is great also, but varies a bit year to year.

 

Uinta Anniversary BW is solid, not too extreme, and not too pricey.

 

Can't really ease into Barleyswines, it goes against the nature of the beer. Do you like high ABV beers like American Strong Or Barrel Aged? I found BWs too much at first then started drinking stronger beers and then BWs became an easy transition.

 

I've seen old ruffian at a few spots around here so i think that will be my next purchase. thanks for that!

 

I've liked every style of beer I've tried so far (though I know I have a ways to go), and I have gotten very few beers under 7 or 8% this last year. I have also had many over 10%, and have preferred these to many of their lesser abv counter-parts. So, I know I like stronger beers as a general rule of thumb, but am just having a hard time getting into the barleywines.

 

Stone Old Guardian
Heavy Seas BA Below Decks

 

I like the way you think sir.

 

Yeah, I realized that after I posted. My bad.

 

I've had this beer for years, but recently rediscovered it after not having it for a while. Sensational day that was.

 

Sweet-Sucaba. A bit harder to get, but OHHHH so worth it, Mother of all Storms (MoaS on BA)

 

Three words:

Su. Ca. Ba.

 

If it's in your area, I actually think the newly released Deschutes/North Coast/Rogue Class of '88 Barleywine is a really easy intro barleywine, it does all of the things a barleywine does without overwhelming you (which is why some barleywine heads prob don't like it so much, but I think it's good...)

 

I don't care for Bigfoot either. But I do like barleywines. There's hope for you.

 

I don't think 3FFFs Behemoth has been mentioned. when fresh it has that hop profile characteristic of 3FFF.

It could be that as mentioned before that barleywine isn't a style for you. Bigfoot and Stones Old Guardian are a couple that I like. I look to drink barleywine when I'm burnt out on hoppy IPAs (my favorite style). Bigfoot with a year in the cellar is very good, I prefer to cellar for a year before I drink.

 

i third this. Old Ruffian is really good, and generally easy to find.