Barleywine

Did this just come out again?

 

Yes, they had it at RSVP in Portland a couple weeks ago.

 

id assume wonderfully. If it's a mellowed out version of the unbelievable two I've had fresh this year, I'd ask what your local store is!

 

Last year's list should give you a pretty good idea:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/events/info/65798/

The Sazerac barrel Blunderbuss tasted like a well-mixed cocktail. Extraordinary.

 

I thought the Smuttynose barleywine was a pretty good double ipa. Really hoppy, malty finish. Great for a DIPA; Not what I was looking for in a barleywine. Much prefer their wheat wine.

 

That's what I was going to say. Their wheatwine is where it's at. And while we're on the topic (and since apparently I'm refusing to suggest actual barleywines), Mystic's Powderhouse is a phenomenal wheatwine.

 

I'd say it's more on the malty/sweet side. At one point in the experience I was reminded of Fruit Stripe gum (the gum with the zebra on the label), which I haven't had since the 90's. It didn't blow me away or anything, but it's a pretty solid beer. The 87 rating sounds about right to me.

As for other barleywines, I'm on the Pretty Things bandwagon (if that's a thing), and Our Finest Regards is an awesome beer. Smuttynose also mentioned already, I think. Brooklyn's Hand & Seal was good, but, admittedly, I opened that on New Year's Eve after tasting a few other beers, so my memory could be skewed.

On a different note, I grabbed Boulder Beer's Killer Penguin a few weeks ago. Not sure if it's still available, but I'm also not sure it flies off the shelves. I poured it out after half of the bomber. I would absolutely not recommend it, but - different strokes for different folks.

 

What about six-packs of barleywines/old ales?

Jubilation, Bigfoot, Hibernation, Olde School ... anything else? Look, I love big 22 oz. of a 12% beer as much as the next guy, but c'mon. Let's give some love to those of us who want to simply split 12 oz of something so strong!

 

Worst barleywine I've ever had. Even if you want to call it a modern interpretation, it still fell flat on its face even judged solely against itself. Hardly any aroma, very light color, and the only flavor that comes through is sugar - like straight cane. The one thing I thought was good about it was no off flavors or high alcohol, otherwise just not something enjoyable. I hope they tweak (the hell out of) it.

I recently saw that Firefly Hollow is just releasing their own Ye Olde Twinkler barleywine with some nice artwork. Havent had much interest in the brewery, but this will certainly get me there.

 

Completely agree: Smuttynose Wheat Wine is much more barleywiney than their Barleywine.

Same here. It was over a year ago, can't remember the details, but I thought it was VERY MUCH off; didn't like it all. And no, they definitely don't fly off the shelves.

 

Well, GI Bourbon County barleywine ) Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot and Insanity, Anchor Old Foghorn come to mind among those available in MA. J.W. Lees collection comes in small bottles, too. And I still see Brooklyn Monster Ale around.