Good Barleywine Introduction

In terms of widely available, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot is great, so grab some of that when it comes out. Great Divide Old Ruffian is another solid one. Most barleywines are on the stronger side so definitely worth sipping on for a while. If you can, try a good barleywine (like SN Bigfoot) with a year or two on it as it becomes much more drinkable.

 

Stone's Old Guardian is a good introduction to American Barleywines, as well as Alesmith Old Numbskull. For English, I would say J.W. Lees Harvest or FW §ucaba (Abacus).

 

I second Bigfoot... it was the gateway into one of my favorite styles...

 

Fuller's Golden Pride is a good one of the British type. It's not harsh at all.

 

You start with bigfoot then just see where that takes you if you can handle that you can pretty much go nuts.

 

Schlafly's was the one that really got me into the style

 

Anchor Steam Old Foghorn

 

Have to say I disagree with the Bigfoot recommendations. Fresh Bigfoot is hot and extremely hoppy-I think it may be too abrasive for a beginner barleywine.

American barleywines are more hop-forward, whereas English barleywines are more malt-forward. English barleywine is one of the sweetest styles around.

 

Anchor Old Foghorn
SN Bigfoot
Stone Old Gaurdian
North Coast Old Stock
GD Old Ruffian
Southern Tier Back Burner
Rogue Old Crustacean
Bell's Third Coast
Lagunitas Brown Shugga

These kinda run the spectrum from American to English; however, they're all fairly cheap and should be easy to find up in PA.

 

You wanted the best! You got the best! The hottest barleywine in the world...Avery Hog Heaven!!!

 

American is so hoppy they often are indistinguishable from a DIPA. English is generally milder, and most people age them (and if they don't they should). Also, there is no difference between English barleywine and English old ale. Not today anyway.


Sierra Nevada Bigfoot is the quintessential American barleywine. If you're not very patient, Anchor Old Foghorn is a pretty good English barleywine when fresh, though sometimes it is a bit hoppier than usual (batch variation with this beer can be significant). Otherwise, North Coast Old Stock Ale is a great representation with 2+ years and J.W. Lees Harvest Ale is pretty much the best there is once it hits 8 to 10 years.


Also, barrel-aged barleywines are often considered their own thing, regardless of country of origin.

 

If you can get your hands on Lakefront's Barleywine, that was good

 

DFH also makes a very delicious barleywine

 

BA Olde Numbskull will bring a smile to even a non-barleywine drinker.

 

Good to know, if you appreciate the some of the malt forward IIPA's there would not be an outrageous move to an American style Barleywine. But you are concerned with the "too harsh" to "scare you off". Would the too harsh be a result of Big Hop or Big Alcohol presence?

My 1st thought here is to recommend an everyday accessible Blithering Idiot.

 

American barleywines use a lot more hops usually, and American hops are used which are a lot more aggressive than the English varieties so there will be a higher level of bitterness in American styles. Bigfoot for example is around 90 IBUs, which is probably double than most English barleywines.