ITT: Barleywines

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libbey

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If ****ing pumpkin beers are getting their own thread then we better start this one too.

Colder months are creep, creep, creeping up and I have been indulging in more BW's of late.

Currently have a MOAS on deck in the fridge. Feel free to discuss all things barleywine. None shall be shunned be it English, American, Barrel Aged or traditional.

Embrace the malt!

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No pics but I am a complete whore. I need Kuhnhenn BBBW in my life again. So good, so so so good.

It's been like 18 months since that glorious nectar has entered my belly. I miss it.

Oh also, b1 BANE is titties right about now. Banged one the other night and have one on deck.
 
I need Kuhnhenn BBBW in my life again. So good, so so so good.

It's been like 18 months since that glorious nectar has entered my belly. I miss it.
I hope they release a whole lot of it this year. I am tempering my expectations though. I also bought concert tickets in Chicago for the night of Winter Solstice. We'll see if that happens...
 
What are peoples' view on whether BA barleywines are "to style" (especially ones from US breweries that claim to be "English barleywines) or often more along the lines of a barleywine/stout hybrid? To a large degree I don't really care because what many of them are is "****ing delicious", but I've heard this brought up before, and one of my friends (who isn't an online beer guy) got me thinking about it when he described Arctic Devil this way and said he thought it had more in common with Parabola (which we drank right after) than most barleywines he'd had.

Oh, and just to contribute some porn:



This was good, although I think some of the hype around it might be a bit overblown. I'd certainly drink it again, but I'd take Sucaba over it no question, as well as this:



Oh, and this too (Stickee Monkee):

 
What are peoples' view on whether BA barleywines are "to style" (especially ones from US breweries that claim to be "English barleywines) or often more along the lines of a barleywine/stout hybrid? To a large degree I don't really care because what many of them are is "****ing delicious", but I've heard this brought up before, and one of my friends (who isn't an online beer guy) got me thinking about it when he described Arctic Devil this way and said he thought it had more in common with Parabola (which we drank right after) than most barleywines he'd had.
My response to that would be: "Is delicious a style? Then yes, it's perfectly to style."
 
For non-BA barleywines that are highly accessible I find it hard to go wrong with a bottle of Stone Old Guardian, whether fresh or with some age on it. Takes me a solid hour (or more) to MarkIntihar a bomber and the flavor changes as it warms so it's like getting 3 different beers for 1.
 
For non-BA barleywines that are highly accessible I find it hard to go wrong with a bottle of Stone Old Guardian, whether fresh or with some age on it. Takes me a solid hour (or more) to MarkIntihar a bomber and the flavor changes as it warms so it's like getting 3 different beers for 1.
100% Agreed. It ages wonderfully IMO. Opened a 2006 a couple weeks back and it was fantastic.
 
Damn you julian i gave up some delicious stuff to get a blend.

Ive said this before...Arctic devil is one of my favorites. You can pretty much order it online all year round.

Don't get me wrong on Blendiculous, it's a very, very nice beer and I'm quite happy to have tried it. But like a lot of other hard to trade for beers, it didn't wow me enough over some more available things to absolutely want to seek it out again. I'm sure you won't be disappointed in it at all, you may even love it, but like I said I preferred Arctic Devil which can be ordered online.

Again, this is hardly exclusive to Blendiculous: I'd rather drink a 2012 Parabola than BCBVS, regardless of trade values, based on how they currently tasted to me. For one example.
 
If we are including Old Ales and similar styles, especially BA versions, then two of my favorites are:





One of my favorite aspects of BA barleywines and old ales is that they are perfect beers (IMO) to pair with a good cigar.
 
Two year old Arctic Panzer Wolf is a pretty mean Barleywine.

But serious it should be mentioned Bells Third Coast Old Ale is spectacular with a few years on it, I've been digging hard on it lately.
 
Can't believe this one hasn't been mentioned yet:

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Dammit, I wish CCB or other Tampa breweries would get back on english barleywines. That little six-month interlude we had with Church-BA Church-Leon was an exciting time for me. I absolutely love the style.
 
This was my first love as far as barleywines go



became obsessed after that. I wish I had more than just the 2 bottles of this left.

Here are some others that I'm a big fan of



always amazing



readily available and really good, especially with a year on it.

Too lazy to dig through my pictures for the others, but Sucaba, MOAS, Old Foghorn and Uinta Cock Eyed Cooper all make me wonder if trading for barleywines is even necessary when those are all easy to come by in my neck of the woods.
 
If we are bringing Old Ales into the mix I opened up a 2005 Brandy Old Stock with some folks 9 months ago or so and it was extrememly tasty. I've been looking to acquire a 2005 Bourbon just to see how it compares to the Brandy.
 
Don't get me wrong on Blendiculous, it's a very, very nice beer and I'm quite happy to have tried it. But like a lot of other hard to trade for beers, it didn't wow me enough over some more available things to absolutely want to seek it out again. I'm sure you won't be disappointed in it at all, you may even love it, but like I said I preferred Arctic Devil which can be ordered online.

Again, this is hardly exclusive to Blendiculous: I'd rather drink a 2012 Parabola than BCBVS, regardless of trade values, based on how they currently tasted to me. For one example.

I feel the same way as you mostly, except sub 2012 BCBS for parabola.
 
Lot of English Style BW love in this thread, but where's the love for Bigfoot?! A regular release I look forward to every single year.

Enjoyed one of last year's just the other night. Avery Hog Heaven is another American-style barleywine I enjoy quite a bit.
 
I feel like I've been remiss in tracking down a number of barleywines that have escaped me or I just havent gotten around to opening. Some are Gratitude, Arctic Devil, BA Hi Fi, Sebago Barleywine, Bligh's, BA Bigfoot, etc. Also I need to try Kuhnhenn BBBW again since last time I dont exactly, uh, recall tasting it. :oops:

Here's some pron of a recent one I really enjoyed:

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