Barleywine

As a barleywine fan myself and a brewer of barleywines I find this style to be both fascinating and problematic. Fascinating as the last few years has seen a blurring of English and American styles with the classics from England fading from the conversation if even being acknowledged at all. I find it problematic as devotees are very particular on what is a good barleywine. Beers either hit the mark or fall far wide for each barleywine devotee. Retailers find similar challenges trying to retail this style. The brand/style either sells well or very slowly. Sometimes that's great as I love how many aged version I can find at my favorite stores but with IPA ruling the roost, it's a commitment by a brewer and the retailer (on or off premise) to want to offer this style of beer.

Personally I'm thankful for those (producer, sellers and consumers) who still hold up the banner of barleywine in a market dominated by the IPA. Variety is what the craft beer market was founded on and variety is what got me hooked on brewing so long ago.

 

@barleywinebrewer you are correct with the pickiness of barleywine drinkers. I used to like the hopped up versions, but have since sought out more delicate varieties since there are so may IPAs/DIPAs out there to get my hop fix.

And although I love the regular GI BCBS, the BCBBW is too sweet for my taste in barleywines. My ideal BW's which I have made a habit of picking up in Maine around the holidays the past few years are Sebago and Rising Tide Hesperus.

 

@kevdemers, thanks for sharing. I have conversations like this all the time with my friends and at my store. Back when I used to go to Portland for work I had a couple of bonus Sebago barleywines at the pub for lunch or after work with my team. I loved the beer and that it was within walking distance of the office. I would've loved a growler to go home or a bottle from the rack but it was always just on tap. I had the bonus opportunity to get a barrel aged version in a bomber and loved it. Lightning in a bottle. Haven't tried the Rising Tide yet. I stay away from GI. Way too sweet and expensive for me. I love a Fullers Vintage ale with a year on it and JW Lees with 4 years plus on them. I got a chance to have a cask JW Lees in Philly four years go. Bartender suggestion based on our conversation. Absolutely phenomenal. I was also sad to see the Gales Prize old ale line ended. Time moves on but I have a couple of cases in the basement which I break out every now and then. Thomas Hardy's..... Beauty in a time capsule... Another classic

 

It tastes like a very malty double IPA to start with. Then after some time, when the hops start to fade, it may change into something resembling a barleywine... So why is it a barleywine to begin with? Many beers will change over time and deviate from their original style, but no one thinks to call them a style they "ended up" as. It's only the so called American Barleywine that needs time to, hopefully, resemble a style it supposedly started out as.

 

As a barleywine enthusiest myself, I can't help but notice most of the suggestions above tend to be more of the "American Barleywine" style rather than "English Barleywines", which are two very different styles, IMHO. I only say this, because as one of the minority on this site, I'm very turned off by hop forward beers, barleywines in particular.

 

100% with you. Probably a bit of palate fatigue on the hoppy beers. But I've been all stouts and old ales of late. Beginning to prefer an English style of barleywines. Give me the malty deliciousness.

 

It is a little more difficult to be a BA right now if one is not into hoppy beers. I find my wife and brother-in-law are leery of visiting new breweries with me as non-hopheads, fearing that they will have an all hoppy lineup.

However even as a hophead (currently enjoying a Stoneface IPA), I like mixing it up with well made belgians, stouts, porters and barleywines. The maltier the better when I'm in that mood. Tomorrow for NYE I'll probably share a BA Narwhal and 2013 Sebago Barleywine (definitely on the English side of the style).

 

Anyone know how the Two Road Barleywine is (20 Ton, I think it was called)? Saw this today, but thought I'd see what people thought of it since there was a BW thread up. I saw the consensus is an 87, but I tend to ignore ratings. Any insight on this? Hoppy? Malty? Not ready and should be cellared? Pass on it? Pick up as many as possible and don't tell anyone its around?

 

Black Hog Barley Wine is excellent

 

Pretty Things Our Finest Regards is the best English style BW around. Stock up on it.

 

Founders Curmudgeon. It's an old ale, but it's one of my favorites. Buy a four-pack, drink one now and put the rest away for at least 6 months. It's amazing. I find it's sweet-spot to be right around 9-months, but any point between fresh and one year won't disappoint. It comes out around April, but at least in Western Mass, it's still on shelves.

 

I was going to say, "April?!" But it would totally make sense that this sits on shelves because it's not a "hoppy" english old ale

 

Ha! I can't help but agree with your sentiment...

I picked it up last year on the way home from working in our garden plot. It was probably mid-60s and I had worked up a sweat. I said to my wife, "I'm not sure why they release this one now. Spring's a little late for a 9% malt-forward beer." Now it's -4 fucking degrees outside and I've got a couple stashed away that are hitting their prime. I'm skeptical it was truly Founders intent, but it works for me.

 

One of my great memories in this style was indeed with Camp Travis. I believe it was aged six months or so when I got around to it. I remember the distinct flavor of coconut. No hot booziness, just complex malt flavors of sugars, dark fruits, and coconut. It was truly a watershed experience, and one I don't often get to repeat.

I still have one more bottle with maybe two years on it, and I'm worried if I have it I'll never get to have one again.

 

It's bourbon weather.

 

They usually have a whole night of barleywines @ the end of January.

 

Get some the Berkshire, Pretty things and Smutty. I'm in the Boston area too, many to try out.

 

For a great English Style Barleywine that tends to languish on shelves Adnams Tally Ho is a personal favorite of mine and can often by found for $3.50/bottle. On another note, God I miss Young's Old Nick!

Of the beers mentioned in this thread, Sebago's Bourbon Barrel Aged is fantastic and by far the best beer they make. I've included it in many trades and always get very good feedback on it. Old Ruffian has always been a favorite and if I could ever find another stash of J.W. Lees 1998 Harvest bottles I would be one very happy man! Also, if you every want to splurge Baladin's Xyauyu line-up is absolutely killer!!!!

 

It's scheduled for the evening of January 29 this year. Always a killer list of stuff from the cellar, and every year there have been at least a couple of vintages that have blown my mind.