Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Barley Wines

• lost

  

  Member
   

  May 5, 2009

  
  
  I recently tried Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, which was ridiculously delicious. A good sized snippet of my review is below.
  
  "At 11.1% ABV, I'm OK with the size of the beer. There was very little head. I think I'm head-greedy, as regardless of the beer, I find myself always expecting more. Color is a dark burnt-orange (almost red).
  
  The second I poured the beer, I could smell banana. First taste, I get the same. Not overpowering at all mind you. Banana isn't the only flavor, but it is the most prominent for me, and I can't label the rest of the flavor. Damn newbie tongue! The flavors are sweet throughout, mouthfeel smooth throughout. You pick up noticeable alcohol flavor at the finish. A warming sensation hangs in the back of the throat thereafter."
  
  -Lost

  
  
  I recently tried Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, which was ridiculously delicious. A good sized snippet of my review is below.
  
  "At 11.1% ABV, I'm OK with the size of the beer. There was very little head. I think I'm head-greedy, as regardless of the beer, I find myself always expecting more. Color is a dark burnt-orange (almost red).
  
  The second I poured the beer, I could smell banana. First taste, I get the same. Not overpowering at all mind you. Banana isn't the only flavor, but it is the most prominent for me, and I can't label the rest of the flavor. Damn newbie tongue! The flavors are sweet throughout, mouthfeel smooth throughout. You pick up noticeable alcohol flavor at the finish. A warming sensation hangs in the back of the throat thereafter."
  
  -Lost
• JayZeis

  

  Member
   

  May 5, 2009

  Troegs Flying Mouflan
  
  Delicious brew. Reddish brown, with a sweet smell. I will say caramel. The taste is much more maltier than Nugget Nectar, but it has the strong backbone of hops that one would expect from troegs. Very very drinkable, maybe dangerously drinkable. Overall, a very nice beer. Go find one if you can.

  Troegs Flying Mouflan
  
  Delicious brew. Reddish brown, with a sweet smell. I will say caramel. The taste is much more maltier than Nugget Nectar, but it has the strong backbone of hops that one would expect from troegs. Very very drinkable, maybe dangerously drinkable. Overall, a very nice beer. Go find one if you can.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  May 5, 2009

  Blithering Idiot & Flying Mouflan were both recommended to me but I can find neither here nor online. No fair!

  Blithering Idiot & Flying Mouflan were both recommended to me but I can find neither here nor online. No fair!
• lost

  

  Member
   

  May 5, 2009

  Mark:
  
  http://bierkraft.com/browseproducts/Weyerbacher-Blithering-Idiot-12oz.HTML
  
  -Lost

  Mark:
  
  http://bierkraft.com/browseproducts/Weyerbacher-Blithering-Idiot-12oz.HTML
  
  -Lost
• JayZeis

  

  Member
   

  May 7, 2009

  Flying Mouflan is getting harder to find. Maybe I can find some (it has been getting really hard) and try to get it to you some how.

  Flying Mouflan is getting harder to find. Maybe I can find some (it has been getting really hard) and try to get it to you some how.
• sharon319

  

  Member
   

  May 7, 2009

  Shipyard Barley Wine Style Ale from Shipyard Bewing Company, Portland, ME
  
  ABV 8.5%
  
  This cola-colored beer pours with a tan head. Sure looks nice. The aroma is malty and slightly sweet. Upon tasting, I realized it isn't as sweet as I was expecting. More often than not, I find barley wine style beers come very close to the too sweet limit for me. This one is hoppy and bitter, and the bitterness lingers in the aftertaste. The carbonation is nice.
  
  After a few sips, I'm wondering if the ABV is a little higher than stated on the bottle, but then again, I haven't had much to eat today...
  
  Overall this isn't my favorite type of beer, but fans of hops and bitter might like this.
  
  

  Shipyard Barley Wine Style Ale from Shipyard Bewing Company, Portland, ME
  
  ABV 8.5%
  
  This cola-colored beer pours with a tan head. Sure looks nice. The aroma is malty and slightly sweet. Upon tasting, I realized it isn't as sweet as I was expecting. More often than not, I find barley wine style beers come very close to the too sweet limit for me. This one is hoppy and bitter, and the bitterness lingers in the aftertaste. The carbonation is nice.
  
  After a few sips, I'm wondering if the ABV is a little higher than stated on the bottle, but then again, I haven't had much to eat today...
  
  Overall this isn't my favorite type of beer, but fans of hops and bitter might like this.
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  May 7, 2009

  2009 Barleywine Style Bigfoot Ale, 9.60% ABV
  Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
  
  The 2009 Barleywine Style Bigfoot Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, CA pours out a clear mahogany in color with some reddish hues and a thin tan head that dissipates pretty quickly. on the nose aromas of caramel, toffee, earth and a good dose of grapefruit and pine). In the mouth this is quite bitter from the hops (in a good way) with an underlying malty sweetness, grapefruit and a little heat. Some lacing. Good carbonation. Full side of medium bodied. Rich mouthfeel. The finish has some dryness to it and the flavors seem to linger forever. A great beer that was fun to drink.
  
  

  2009 Barleywine Style Bigfoot Ale, 9.60% ABV
  Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
  
  The 2009 Barleywine Style Bigfoot Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, CA pours out a clear mahogany in color with some reddish hues and a thin tan head that dissipates pretty quickly. on the nose aromas of caramel, toffee, earth and a good dose of grapefruit and pine). In the mouth this is quite bitter from the hops (in a good way) with an underlying malty sweetness, grapefruit and a little heat. Some lacing. Good carbonation. Full side of medium bodied. Rich mouthfeel. The finish has some dryness to it and the flavors seem to linger forever. A great beer that was fun to drink.
  
  
• ibbjamin

  

  Member
   

  May 7, 2009

  
  2009 Barleywine Style Bigfoot Ale, 9.60% ABV
  Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
  
  Sounds good, nice review. Glad to see Sierra Nevada is bringing the hops even to their barleywine.

  [quote=Mark]
  2009 Barleywine Style Bigfoot Ale, 9.60% ABV
  Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
  [/quote]
  Sounds good, nice review. Glad to see Sierra Nevada is bringing the hops even to their barleywine.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  May 7, 2009

  Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale, 8.80% ABV
  Anchor Brewing Company, San Francisco, CA
  
  The Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale from Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, CA pours out a deep, reddish copper in color with good clarity and a tan head that hangs on for a while. I bought this over a year ago and it has aged quite well. On the nose there is a ton of caramel and the hop notes have become much more subdued than they were a year ago. This literally smells like a square of caramel candy now. Very mellow flavors in the mouth with good sweetness and a slight hop bite on the back end. Unbelievably smooth and drinkable for such a potent brew. Nice lacing. Low carbonation. Just past medium bodied. Super rich mouthfeel that is slightly syrupy. The finish is full of sweetness but this is also where the hop bite is most prominent and there is a good dose of spice too. This was a great beer of the shelf over a year ago. Today, after aging, it is really, really good.
  
  

  Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale, 8.80% ABV
  Anchor Brewing Company, San Francisco, CA
  
  The Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale from Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, CA pours out a deep, reddish copper in color with good clarity and a tan head that hangs on for a while. I bought this over a year ago and it has aged quite well. On the nose there is a ton of caramel and the hop notes have become much more subdued than they were a year ago. This literally smells like a square of caramel candy now. Very mellow flavors in the mouth with good sweetness and a slight hop bite on the back end. Unbelievably smooth and drinkable for such a potent brew. Nice lacing. Low carbonation. Just past medium bodied. Super rich mouthfeel that is slightly syrupy. The finish is full of sweetness but this is also where the hop bite is most prominent and there is a good dose of spice too. This was a great beer of the shelf over a year ago. Today, after aging, it is really, really good.
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  May 7, 2009

  
  Sounds good, nice review. Glad to see Sierra Nevada is bringing the hops even to their barleywine.
  
  I was impressed by it. Michael (fretwalker) was the one who brought it to my attention. Thanks to him!

  [quote=ibbjamin]
  Sounds good, nice review. Glad to see Sierra Nevada is bringing the hops even to their barleywine.
  [/quote]
  I was impressed by it. Michael (fretwalker) was the one who brought it to my attention. Thanks to him!