Beer Review - Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine (2013)

 
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale (2013)

Beer Type: American Barleywine - 9.60% ABV

Appearance: 12oz brown bottle with a cartoony bigfoot kinda thing going on. This label needs an update, something more like the Narwhal label which is pure badassery. Beer is a clear copper color with a fizzy biege head.       

Smell: Spicy hops and sweet malt are in the front with something just a bit smokey coming through as well (and then the high ABV).   

First Drink: Malt, hops, yeast, repeat. A very nice balance between the three and you can taste the distinct "cycles" maybe? There is a lingering bitter hops flavor which helps cleanse the palate.     

Mouthfeel: Thick and sticky with nice carbonation. If you like your beer tacky then you'll wanna try this.     

Last Drink: More sweet malt now and something almost a bit "metallic" but not in a bad way? Probably the alcohol? Big flavors all around!            

Drinkability: Barleywine is not an especially drinkable beer type in my experience. That experience has changed with Bigfoot. I have downed multiple of these in one sitting and didn't regret it.             

Notes: Had this beer last year too but I guess I didn't review it? Took me a long time to get ahold of this here in Michigan this year but I am glad I did! Great stuff.           

Verdict: 4.5 out of 5. Want an introduction to Barleywine? Look no further. Get kicked in the arse by a big foot. 

Beer Review - Arcadia Cereal Killer Barleywine.

Did you miss my drunken ramblings?

Arcadia Brewing Company - Cereal Killer Barleywine

Beer Type: English Barley Wine - 10.00% ABV

Appearance: 22oz brown bottle with a kinda strange serial killer label thing going on. Neat. Beer poured a hazy reddish/brown. No head to speak of.      

Smell: Sweetness, a lot of sticky sweet aromas of dried fruits, molasses and dark sugars, and just a hint of something else? Can't quite make it out.   

First Drink: A little bit of grain but mostly just sticky sweet raisins and cherries. Not much in the hops department.    

Mouthfeel: Very sticky with what I would call a medium body.    

Last Drink: A little bitterness coming though now and something like tart apples or pineapple? Maybe that's not a good thing...           

Drinkability: Wow this is one heck of a beer. Not for slamming that's for sure. I've had other barley wine I liked better but this one is pretty damn complex.            

Notes: This beer is from 2007. Been sitting on it for a bit. Not sure how that may have changed the brew?           

Verdict: 4 out of 5. Local beer, aged a while, now given light and air. Tastes pretty good but I'd like a current bottle to compare.

Beer Review - Stone Old Guardian Belgo.

Stone Brewing Company - Old Guardian BELGO Barleywine

Beer Type: American Barleywine

Appearance: 22 oz. brown bottle with the classic printed Stone design. Poured a crimson/copper color with a thin off-white head that laced nicely.

Smell: First up you can smell the booze. This is followed by a yeasty sweet bread, caramel, and a trace of dried fruit or apple. 

First Drink: Tons of yeast flavor up front.. almost like a strong Belgian ale. More of the dried fruit and sweet caramel comes through in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Big body with a bit of sticky alcohol mouthfeel and plenty of carbonation. Not what I was expecting.

Last Drink: A lot more hop bitterness and something slightly... spicy? 

Drinkability: This is not an easy drinking beer. Punches you in the face with complex flavors if you can make it though the booze up front.

Notes: I honestly can't say if I like or dislike this brew. It's really intense. I liked the original Stone Barleywine a bit more I think. This one is a 2011 special brew - or "odd year release" as Stone calls it. Odd indeed.

Verdict: 3.75 out of 5. There is more going on here but I am having a hard time finding it. Could be a great beer for aging?

Links: Beer Advocate and Stone Brewing Company.