Bigfoot 2011 v. 2012

Was at a tasting last night with 09,10,11 and 12. The progression is very noticeable and I think it defiantly got better with age. The Bitterness tends to fade out while the malty sweetness comes out in the earlier years. Apparently somebody brought at '86 to the tasting the year before. The host said it was more like a brandy than a beer at that point. Not bad, just an entirely different drink.

 

I did one with an 07 and a 10 a while ago. The 07 was still very hop forward/bitter.

 

I drink Bigfoot while it's here,
I can't save one for a year.

 

it's my wife's favorite beer so needless to say i typically have a nice supply. 2 beers into my last 6'er of 2011 and i decided to get some 2012. she appreciates the hoppiness and bitterness in the beer fresh and prefers the 2012. i far prefer the 2011 as i'm more of a malt guy when it comes to barleys.

CANNOT wait for the barrel aged bigfoot!

 

I just had a 2011 tonight. I had a 2012 last week. The color on the 2011 had deepened to a slightly bronze tone, and the hops that blasted up front in the 2012 had calmed down a bit. The aroma on the 2011 was much more bready and doughy than the 2012 which was mostly hop, and the 2011's taste had picked up a caramel finish absent in the fresh 2012.

I definitely could see the opportunity to age it more, and I can see why people have 10+ year old bottles of Bigfoot sitting around.

 

I also should note that I enjoyed BOTH the fresh 2012 and the year old 2011, which I can't say about some other barleywines. For example, I love aged Stone Old Guardian, but it's too harsh when fresh.

 

I did an '08-12 vertical with some buddies last weekend. I'd agree with everything above that age treats this one really well. The hops were still relatively up front with both the '11 and the '12 but you started to get more of the sweet, fruity flavors with every year you had on the bottle.

 

Last year had alot more licorice and fennel. A touch more caramel and brown sugar.

 

I have an 08 OG sitting in my fridge for when a friend comes by this weekend. Never had it before, so hopefully 4 years is a good amount of age.
Never had Bigfoot either, but I have 4 bottles sitting in the fridge from this year. Definitely saving a couple for next year and maybe like a few years.

 

Me too. In the past I've actually tried to hide the odd bottle or two but in a few months I get a hankering and remember and before I know it they're in a glass. Its pointless.

 

I have several 04's left. The age really does wonders.

 

I only have 10-12. I am trying to land some older vintages but I like mine with a little age on it.

Cheers!

 

Fry and Bender chatting... how quaint.

I don't have any 2011 OG, but I put a bottle of 2012 in the cellar for next year. Let me know how the 2011/2012 goes.