Barleywines: Warming Up to the Warmth

The first time I tasted Dogfish Head's Olde School Barleywine, which was also my first time tasting a barleywine, I thought it was a boozy mess; the high alcohol content overwhelmed whatever else was in the beer.  It was early in my craft beer experience and, admittedly, starting barleywines with a 15% ABV version probably wasn't the best way to develop an appreciation for the style.  Also, that Olde School was fairly fresh from the brewery (about a month old) and didn't have a chance to mellow with age. 

 

Almost two years later, I have a better appreciation for that beer and barleywines as a style.  Looking back on it now, I'd say that not only was my palate not ready for the high heat of the Olde School, it wasn't ready for barleywines in general.  It seems like a style that one has to work up to in order to appreciate, though no one should shy away from giving it a try.  As a style, it's typically fairly high in alcohol, with ABVs checking in at over 10% for many, and the alcohol taste isn't generally as muted as it can be in IPAs and stouts.  They can also be fairly sweet and syrupy (for a beer), with tastes like cherry and other dark fruits coming through strong, and they're not really reminiscent of anything the macro brewers are producing.  In fact, you might find something in the liquor section that's closer than what the macros have (and, in case you're wondering, even though "wine" is in the name, there's nothing really "wine" about the style other than perhaps the ABV). 

 

My recommendation for someone new to barleywines (or new to craft in general) is to try one now, take note of what you think about it, and try it again down the road after trying many different beers to see how your palate has changed.  Barleywines are definitely a good candidate for aging, so you can buy a four-pack (or multiple 22 oz btls) and stash the leftovers for later. 

 

One worth seeking: Firestone Walker §ucaba 

 

Others worth trying: Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine, Weyerbacher Insanity and Blithering Idiot, Stone Old Guardian Oak-Smoked Barleywine, Heavy Seas Below Decks 

 

The non-barleywine beers that are quite close: Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, Burley Oak Rude Boy

Review: Weyerbacher Insanity

Weyerbacher Insanity
11.1% ABV

Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, PA

12 oz btl
Served in Burley Oak tulip glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 7/19/13

This English barleywine pours a cloudy amber color with some particles floating around and a thin bubbly beige colored head that quickly dissipates.  Moderate lacing.

Smell consists of malt, alcohol, bourbon, brown sugar, dark fruit, candy, wood.

Taste consists of sugary malt, oak, slight hops, brown sugar, cherry, raisin, dark fruit, wood alcohol, bourbon.

Mouthfeel is fairly smooth on the palate though some definite alcohol harshness comes through.  The sugariness is a touch cloying.

Overall, this is a decent enough tasting English barleywine that's quite sweet with some definite tastes of alcohol, bourbon, and dark fruit.  The sweetness can be just a touch too much at times, but overall it seems to fit with the character of this particular beer.  There's also a decent wood flavor component also, as the bottle says it's aged in oak barrels.


My score: 89

Review: Weyerbacher Heresy

Weyerbacher Heresy
8.0% ABV

Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, PA

12 oz btl
Served in St. Bernardus chalice
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 4/28/13

This Russian imperial stout pours a thick dark brown color with a fairly dark beige head that dissipates somewhat quickly.  Good lacing.

Smell consists of malt, chocolae, some alcohol, slight soy sauce, some bourbon, touches of caramel and coffee.

Taste consists of dark chocolate, malt, some hops, some alcohol, coffee, caramel, slight breadiness, touch of whisky.

Mouthfeel is quite creamy and smooth on the palate.  Has a nice substantial thickness to it. Exceptional.

Overall, this is a solid tasting stout that has an exceptional mouthfeel due to its smoothness. The flavors here are quite good--perhaps not as bold as, recently, Heavy Seas Siren Noire and some other imperial stouts--but it's close enough.  The chocolate, malt, and coffee tastes are nice here, though the bottle description "aged in whiskey barrels" only reveals a hint of a whiskey taste.  Still, it's smooth, tasty, and relatively easy to drink.


My score: 93

Review: Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot

Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot
11.1% ABV

Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, PA

12 oz btl
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 3/18/13

This barleywine pours a somewhat cloudy reddish amber color with a thin off-white head that dissipates quickly.  Moderate lacing.

Smell consists of malt, cherry, some alcohol, some hops, honey, syrupy sugar, a touch of maple.

Taste consists of quite sweet maltiness, cherry, honey, mild hops, hint of citrus, some maple, a bit like cough syrup, some alcohol.

Mouthfeel is smooth, syrupy, a touch harsh on the palate but not overly so. Flavors are fairly well balanced.

Overall, this is a sweet, syrupy barleywine that has a decent flavor profile and comes across as fairly interesting.  A bit like DFH Olde School, a bit like Troegs Mad Elf.  The sweetness can be a touch cloying, perhaps riding the line but not going over.  Something different, for sure.


My score: 88