1. You need Untappd for Business. Get a demo, get a $25 gift card. It's that easy.
    Dismiss Notice

English-style Barleywine Tasting

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by travMI13, Jul 14, 2012.

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 3
  1. travMI13

    travMI13 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    My buddy and I enjoyed a few top-notch English barleywines last night for comparison's sake, so Ithought I would post our rankings:

    1. King Henry
    2. 2011 Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barleywine
    3. 2011 Mother of All Storms
    4. 2012 Weyerbacher Insanity

    I hate to add to the King Henry hype train, but it really is that damn good. It's the best barleywine I've ever had, and one of the best overall beers I have ever had. I could not believe how complex that beer was. I am bummed that I only had one bottle, and that it is ridiculous to trade for at this point.

    Kuhnhenn BBBW was a distant second, but it was the closest of the other three to KH. I was surprised about that. For me, the flavor is incredibly similar. I will be buying large quantities of this whenever it comes out again

    MOAS was also outstanding, but very different. It was not as smooth, I didn't think, but it had a ton of vanilla, which I loved. This is another one that I want more of.

    Insanity was very good, but a little thin. It finished last easily, but it was still a very good barleywine. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who likes really sweet beers. It reminded me of a candy apple.

    Suggestions for others to try are welcome, but I feel like KH will be difficult to top.
     
    #1 travMI13, Jul 14, 2012
    DSlim71 likes this.
  2. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    There certainly is a lot of hype behind KH, but it deserves a lot of that hype. Best English BW I've ever had.
     
    #2 litheum94, Jul 14, 2012
  3. vivasbeer

    vivasbeer Zealot (519) Feb 3, 2012 Michigan
    Trader

    How can BBBW be a distant second, but incredibly similar to KH?

    Close second?
     
    #3 vivasbeer, Jul 14, 2012
    nickapalooza86 likes this.
  4. dbc5

    dbc5 Savant (1,093) Jun 18, 2009 Arizona

    I would recommend Hoppin Frogs Barrel Aged Naked Evil. I've not had the others mentioned, but Naked Evil is one of the three best beers I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying.
     
    #4 dbc5, Jul 14, 2012
    KevSal and Duff27 like this.
  5. djsmith1174

    djsmith1174 Savant (1,003) Aug 21, 2005 Minnesota

    Central Waters BBBW definitely has a bold BA presence. Highly recommended to anyone that enjoys BA Barleywines. Insanity doesn't have the in your face characteristics that some of the other BA Barleywines do, but it's still a really good beer. Haven't had the other three, but I'm sure they are excellent from the way I've heard them described by many BAs.
     
    #5 djsmith1174, Jul 14, 2012
    InVinoVeritas likes this.
  6. tewaris

    tewaris Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Minnesota

    BA Naked Evil is very different though... excellent on its own but gets dominated by others' flavor profile.

    PS: Yeah nothing I have had has much on King Henry.
     
    #6 tewaris, Jul 14, 2012
  7. sleuthdog

    sleuthdog Savant (1,218) Oct 21, 2008 Illinois
    Trader

    I agree with the consensus on King Henry as the best English style barleywine but Sucaba is a pretty close second for me. I will take Sucaba any day as a fairly easy to get substitute to King Henry. The complexity of Sucaba is outstanding IMO.
     
    #7 sleuthdog, Jul 15, 2012
    BedetheVenerable likes this.
  8. morimech

    morimech Grand Pooh-Bah (3,791) Nov 6, 2006 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    And not a single one from England!
     
    #8 morimech, Jul 15, 2012
    InVinoVeritas, tronester, YaKnowBrady and 4 others like this.
  9. tut2528

    tut2528 Initiate (0) Sep 26, 2008 Illinois

    Very nice tasting. But no surprise on the winner. The King deserves all the hype, bc it is just that damn good.
     
    #9 tut2528, Jul 15, 2012
    sleuthdog likes this.
  10. JRod1969

    JRod1969 Maven (1,266) Nov 23, 2010 New York
    Trader

    So this might be a dumb question, but when the hell did BA reclassify King Henry as an English Barleywine? It used to be listed as an American Barleywine.
     
    #10 JRod1969, Jul 15, 2012
  11. tewaris

    tewaris Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Minnesota

    "Aged in bourbon barrels, King Henry is a burgundy hued English-style barleywine with aromas of vanilla, oak, and dark fruit. Caramel and toffee flavors blend together with bold notes of bourbon delivered in a smooth body followed by a malty finish. No matter the occasion, King Henry promises a regal drinking experience."
    http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/king_henry/258.php

    Brewer calls it so.
     
    #11 tewaris, Jul 15, 2012
  12. jzeilinger

    jzeilinger Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,645) Dec 4, 2004 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have to +10 on the Sucaba. I picked up some bottles, tried one, was absolutely blown away by it and will be cellaring the other bottles. I have some Insanity from 2010-2012 and always enjoy that one too. 'Never had the opportunity to try the King Henry (unfortunately).
     
    #12 jzeilinger, Jul 15, 2012
  13. JRod1969

    JRod1969 Maven (1,266) Nov 23, 2010 New York
    Trader

    I'm not questioning the classification. Just pointing out BA called it an American Barleywine and then changed it. No worries.
     
    #13 JRod1969, Jul 15, 2012
  14. tewaris

    tewaris Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Minnesota

    Well the initial style is up to the person who adds it. Then someone reads the Goose Island page, submits an update. If the mods see fit, it is updated.

    E.g. I had Mirror Mirror changed from American to English after I saw that it was listed at 30 IBUs by Deschutes.
     
    #14 tewaris, Jul 15, 2012
    JRod1969 and Bitterbill like this.
  15. travMI13

    travMI13 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    It was as close as you can get, I think, but it was missing the stout characteristics that KH has. If KH had been aged in regular bourbon barrels instead of the Rare barrels, I think it would likely be tough to tell it apart from Kuhnhenn BBBW.

    I have two vintages of Abacas/Sucuba to crack. I guess I should do that soon while this tasting is still fresh.

    Also, I have had the Central Waters BBBW, and I don't think it holds a candle to any of these. It's not bad, but it's just not in the same league.

    Finally, to top it off, we did Beat 5 and 2012 KtG as well, just to break up the barleywine madness. The whole thing was pretty insane. Cheers!
     
    #15 travMI13, Jul 15, 2012
  16. knightlypint

    knightlypint Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2012 New Jersey

    trav.

    Give Blithering Idiot by Weyerbacher a shot, KP.
     
    #16 knightlypint, Jul 15, 2012
  17. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,281) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Fullers Golden Pride.
    Fuller's Golden Pride.
     
    #17 Zimbo, Jul 15, 2012
    Vonstein15 likes this.
  18. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,924) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    #18 Bitterbill, Jul 15, 2012
  19. Massbmx

    Massbmx Pundit (884) Apr 5, 2011 Vermont

    Damn I need to pop open my KH. Waiting to get some others first to put together a tasting, have BA naked evil, insanity and sucuba, now just need to find MOAS and kuhnhenn bbbw. I also hope that blithering idiot comment is a joke!
     
    #19 Massbmx, Jul 15, 2012
  20. Vonstein15

    Vonstein15 Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2010 Ohio

    Thanks Zimbo,Fuller has always been a solid beer,will look for it.
     
    #20 Vonstein15, Jul 15, 2012
Page 1 of 3
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.