Your favorite Barleywine?

Damn. Where at?

 

Gotta go with: Deal with the Devil, King Henry, Sucaba, BCBBW, CW BBBW and Omega Point

Local: Steel Toe Lunker, Steel Toe Before the Dawn and Town Hall Twisted Trace

 

One of my favorite styles (along with Old/Strong Ale). Drum roll please...

American

• Founders Bolt Cutter
• Fifty-Fifty Old Conundrum on Wood
• Fifty-Fifty Cherry Annularity
• SN Bigfoot

English

• FW Sucaba
• FW DDBA
• Revolution Straight Jacket
• Deschutes Mirror Mirror

On Deck (in my refrigerator)

• Old Ruffian
• Mother of All Storms

 

BCBBW, Sucuba

JA Bride Maker is my "shocker" barleywine - not many know about it and it's Fantastic

 

This is always such a difficult debate with so many varying styles and barrel treatments to call for a clear cut best in show. Add into that the availability factor and you have a lopsided debate.

King Henry was great, Great may have been greater... but then you throw Omega Point into the mix and you have a new big boy on the block IMHO. Also the Lakefront BA Beerline was crazy good, and am disappointed I only traded for 1 bottle.

As for the easier to obtain Sucaba is a really strong contender for "best"

 

I've never had King Fresh "fresh" so.....

BCBBW and MOAS are above and beyond anything else I've had. BA Bigfoot and Sucaba are a distant 3rd.

Still have BA Behemoth, ADWTD, and Omega Point sitting in the cellar.

 

One of my favorites Black Hog in Oxford, Ct makes an excellent Barley wine. They just released a BA version.

Never had a chance to try Sucaba
BCBBW and Last Year's Billionaire were excellent (Prefer last's year's over this year's)
Also enjoy Insanity

 

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot and De Molen Bommen & Granaten.

 

BCBW
Sucaba
Mother of All Storms

For a non BA version Vermilion.

 

Dont sit on that Omega Point too much (I say that as I sit on 3) as it has been blended with some BWs that are as old as 7 years old. It is prime time right now and so tasty for it

 

Agreed, but is it really more than Sucaba? Seems that FW gets away with this, while Brooklyn doesn't.

 

BCBBW
BA Bigfoot
Behemoth

In the cellar I still have a bunch to try...18th Street Devil's Spear, Mirror Mirror, Olde School, Bolt Cutter, BA Behemoth, A Deal With the Devil, Sucaba, and 3 different Pipeworks barley wines.

I used to hate Barley wines when I first started drinking years ago but about three years ago I was able to find Behemoth on draft in Chicago and LOVED it. I only ordered it because I thought I might not have another chance to get it and it made me obssessed with trying as many barley wines as I can. Probably my favoirte style now.

 

Old Foghorn, critics be damned.....but lord knows what happened to recent batches...as it no longer resembles the beer I loved so.

Old Ruffian is a good one that I like to buy.

 

It's crap.

 

Another one that, if anyone is lucky enough to see it on tap, Barleywine fans should order is Brew Dog/Mikkeller Devine Rebel. Had this on tap a couple months ago at a place here in Dallas. Was outstanding....despite what the ranking may say on this site.

 

Clown Shoes Billionaire.

 

Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Bigfoot
Brooklyn Hand and Seal

Honorable Mention

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (5-6 years old)
Clown Shoes Billionaire
Blithering Idiot

 

My 2nd favorite type after BA stouts.
American Barleywine:
1) DFH Olde School (after at least a year cellaring...great!)
2) North Coast Old Stock (Old Ale--at least 6 months cellaring)

English Barleywine:
1) Insanity
2) FW Sucaba
3) Clown Shoes Pierre Ferrand Billionaire
4) FW Double DBA
5) BCBBW

 

Wow. Most of the good ones have been taken, but I'll throw in on Sucaba, and add that Bell's Saturn was excellent.