Barleywine

Interesting thought! I understand why porters aren't made more (less sales, and usually the slowest seller), but you'd think barleywines would sell. Why don't more breweries make barleywines? Maybe it has to do with the additional cost of malt, and possible aging times that tie up tank space.

 

Big foot barley good especially with a little age, dogfish old school got me started on barley wines, Sebago barley wine is always good,, just got bcbbw in a trade I cant wait to try, you probably cant get it thou so guess i'm just bragging about that one. Stone old guardian was very good, oak smoked great but they have several variants have a few more in cellar from out of town haven't tried. Good luck tasting... cheers

 

Malt isn't trendy right now. Hop-water is. A lot of people get mad if they can taste grains. No offense IPA, I still love you!

Our Finest Regards (Pretty Things) is a solid barleywine made in MA, though not exactly a 'hidden' gem. Few others come to mind. Under-represented style! BBC Holidale is touted as a barleywine but is kind of its own animal. I'm holding out hope for Bell's to arrive someday, their Third Coast Old Ale is outstanding.

 

NEBCO Premeditated Murder is superb. So is Attempted Redrum, the rum barrel-aged version, though that's brewery only.

 

It is. Check a CBC. Westford had them last time I was there.

 

Bourbon County Barleywine is excellent as you'd expect...I'm no Sam Adams fan typically these days, but I actually think Griffin's Bow is a solid Barleywine. Two Roads just released one that I've been seeing all over the place but haven't tried yet. Old Guardian is always good.

 

A few places still have Crunkle Sam around by Clown Shoes which is amazing. Not sure where you're at but there's a shelf of them at Curtis Liquors in Weymouth.

 

How would you describe it? Is it more towards English or American style?

Apex in Lexington has Crunkle Sam. As well as Billionaire.

 

Brown Shugga

 

Uinta Anniversary Ale is pretty good. Not the best, but it's still good. Available in Western Mass, so should be available in Boston area.

 

There are a lack of barleywines available, but they're not impossible to find. I love barleywines and old ales. The Great Divide Hibernation is a good old ale option (truthfully, I've been leaning more the old ale way). The Tap has an old ale called Snowbound which is a good beer, too. The Olde School was hard to find this year and they're not making it this year, so search for a four pack of that. I've got the other three in my cellar for a time to be decided later. Maybe around the time they don't appear next year. Our Finest Kind is more of an English style, too, so I'll mirror the applause for that terrific beer.

Bigfoot is an easy to find option and the Stone Old Guardian is around, too, and it is well made, but not really my favorite. And, yeah, I agree that Bell's Third Coast is outstanding. Have someone from NY pick one up for you!

 

I am not sure about Boston distribution, but Rock Art Vermonster is all over the place up here.

 

Had Alesmith Old Numbskull?

Also, Jacks Abby's Bride Maker scratches the barleywine itch.

 

It is available. Although, imo, to call it a barley wine is a big stretch. A malty hop bomb it rather is )

 

Smuttynose has got a pretty solid BW.

 

Speaking from experience, barleywines just don't sell that well in bars or at retail. While there are many available to us here in Boston, most places aren't going to stock more than a couple (especially outside of the colder months), unless it's the type of store that carries every single SKU they can. Personally, I'm partial to Great Divide Old Ruffian and Smuttynose Wheat Wine.