Blonde Barleywines

Blonde Barleywine isn't a real style, it's just a gimmicky thing like a blonde stout. English (not British) barleywines are more malt-forward and minimally hopped, unlike their American counterparts. Typically, most BA examples have a more subdued hop profile, even those heavily hopped in the American style (i.e. Bell's Saturn).

 

I can't think of anything easy to get.

As usual, I have an unhelpful suggestion: Day & Night by Trillium.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30654/158834/

 

Right, but at least the English ones are usually only Pale malt with no crystal malt character, which should be similar in taste profile.

I'm thinking start with some JW Lee's and move to the variants if you like it.

 

Not readily available and no help here but Behemoth from 3 Floyds is listed as a blonde barleywine as well.

 

If he doesn't like heavy hop bitterness, Behemoth is a terrible idea lol

 

This was darn good but, do they even brew it anymore? It's not on their website.

 

I don't really agree with the comparison or characterization. While many tend to be mahogany, barely wines can come close to running the full color gamut. A "blonde stout" or a "white stout" is most likely a brewer making a novelty beer... and if a brewer today makes a "pale stout" it might be a historic recreation of a genuine pale stout before "stout" changed meaning. Neither approach is applicable to a pale barley wine. When Firestone Walker labels Helldorado a "Blonde Barley Wine" they are just letting the consumer know what to expect. In this day and age of consumers rating beers, they might unfairly judge it otherwise. The thing that's crazy is how backwards everything has gotten. Helldorado uses the term "blonde" to set up expectations of differentiation rather than "bourbon." It's wacky to me.

That brings me to recommendations to the OP. It's hard to make a good recommendation because both of the beers mentioned are bourbon barrel aged. Not sure if that's what you are really looking for.

For something pale in a big bottle but without a bourbon influence:
Two Roads 20 Ton Ale

For something easily obtainable, relatively cheap, pale and oaky:
Founders Curmudgeon

For something not as pale but whiskey barrel aged and much easier to get than your examples:
Weyerbacher Insanity

For something very pale, oaky, but with wine characteristics:
Cambridge Brewing Company Arquebus

 

I will second jw lees harvest ale. Had a 2006 a few weeks ago and it was sublime. Not hoppy, not chewy, just toffee paradise.