Bourbon barrel barleywines.

Also, I will add another vote for BA Brick Kiln. Ive had success getting it from traders in Massachusetts.

Amazing, we have so many beautiful hopped-up beers here in New England that I'm completely over and more than willing to ship away for big delicious english barleywines.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but what are the collective thoughts on other barrel-aged English barleywines? I tried some Deschutes Mirror Mirror that had been aging for 18 months and didn't get much flavor from the barrels. Other than that I'm considering Breckenridge Batch #2 (aged in wine barrels) and Clown Shoes' Pierre Ferrand Billionaire (aged in 30 year-old cognac barrels for 6 months).

I'm skeptical of Breckenridge Batch #2 after being underwhelmed with Deschutes Mirror Mirror, and from my understanding cognac barrels are retired after 40ish years anyway (as they stop contributing flavor at that point) so I wonder if 6 months was really enough time for the Clown Shoes' Billionaire to pick up any discernible flavors. Thoughts?

 

Central Waters BBBW.
Goose Island BBBW
/thread

 

I just drank a 2014 Mirror Mirror last night. While I agree I didn't get a huge amount of barrel flavor, I'm not so sure more would have made the beer any better. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Also, remember that breweries will reuse barrels. I don't know if that was the case for 2014 Mirror Mirror.

Give billionaire a shot. 6 months could be plenty.

 

Of course Bourbon County and Anchorage's A Deal with the Devil... But recently, I had Against The Grain's London Balling. Quite tasty. Also, Sun King's Tin Star (tap only) was quite memorable when I had it on tap not too long ago...

 

Central waters is the best one I have had, but I haven't tried too many.

 

'14 Mirror Mirror is not aged in bourbon barrels, just 50% Pinot barrels I believe

 

Central Waters BBBW is pretty easily my favorite and not too hard to trade for. It comes out in January every year. It sits on shelves for a few weeks at least. Throw up a ISO and try to get a couple of 4 packs. Will be much easier than anything else to obtain.

 

Mother of All Storms changed my life. I really want more if anyone wants to extend a life line lol

 

Saturn is insane. I wish I had more of it.
Sucaba is a must have. If you are able to find Ol Leghorn, I highly recommend it. I do not think it was well perceived, but it is a great BA barleywine.
If you can find it, Revolution Straight Jacket is probably my favorite.

 

I politely disagree. No comparison, imo.

 

Evil Twin just released Torst Room 2.0, an American barleywine aged in wine barrels (I couldn't find specifics). But I swear it drinks just like a BA English BW, and at 11-12% it packs the heat too. Worth seeking out.

 

Sorry to see that distro to MI was that limited. I would not have guessed.

One suggestion: Expand your search to encompass old ales, which essentially are barleywines. Assuming you get North Coast in MI, then their BA Old Stock is a no-brainier.

Beyond that, there's Bommen and Granaten if MI is a Shelton Bros. state and receives De Molen.

And if all else fails, there is nothing finer than some aged
Third Coast Old Ale. I swear it's better than Saturn.

 

To me, definitely try the Pelican Mother Of All Storms, one of the best out there, hands down!

Cheers!

 

To each their own, I will say Scuba is the better beer, but Insanity I feel is a good cheaper version.

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23973/104821/

 

"It's good to be the king "

 

I'll agree with the Weyerbacher Insanity, Deschutes Mirror Mirror (whenever they release it again), Clown Shoes Billionaire, Arcadia Cereal Killer (if you can find a BA version), and if Jackie-O's distributes to Michigan, the BA Brick Kiln. I'd add the barrel-aged versions of JW Lees Harvest Ale to that list too. Pelican doesn't distribute to Michigan, but you surely noticed how many mentions their Mother of All Storms got upthread. Worth it. Message me privately and maybe I could help you out with that.

Also tasty, and cheaper than most, but Heavy Seas does a cabernet barrel aged barleywine.

 

the reasons i drink barleywine are 50% because i like it and 50% because i'm hoping to recapture any small glimpse of the greatness that was 2012 insanity with 1+ years on it. no barleywine or even beer i have ever had can touch that in my book. the problem is this beer is not consistent from year to year, and 13 and 14 weren't anything that special. i think there is hope for this year's though, i've had a few when it came out and just recently, and i would absolutely suggest trying some in november-december. i wouldn't argue with someone saying "of course sucaba is better than insanity" because sucaba is a great beer, but personally i would trade a keg of it for 1 bottle of insanity how i first remember it.

 

A Deal W the Devil...cognac barreled actually.