Weyerbacher - Insanity 2012

Oh oh.  So etching went wrong somewhere here. I'll blame it on the terrible storage conditions. Pretty oxidized, and a weird bitterness to it. Really bad compared to the fresh one last night. Ugh. 

Rising Tide - Hesperus

Another beer picked up at Rising Tide. The folks working at the brewery have been really nice both times we've stopped by. I'd definitely recommend stopping by for a tasting. 

I had this on draft while we were at the brewery and liked it enough to pick up two bottles. I think I left one up in Maine. We'll see how it does with some age on it. 

Decent carbonation. Isn't too thin or thick for the style. Lots of brown sugar and vanilla from the barrel aging, some raisin. A little harsh finish.

Driftwood - Old Cellar Dweller

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The last beer from my Let's Pour order.

Its a barleywine. Not in the super hoppy range, but definitely super boozy. The bitterness is at just the right level to offset the alcohol and overall sweetness (typical dark malts, toffee, blah blah blah). Definitely enjoyable, but once again, not magnitudes better than other beers. 

Stone - Oak Smoked Old Guardian Barleywine

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I do not like the regular Old Guardian. I've tried it fresh and aged and whatever weird variation they put out two years ago.

Somehow this one works for me. The hops are still abrasive, but the subtle smoked malt balances it out in the aftertaste. 

Sierra Nevada - Bigfoot 2011/2012/2013

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

2011 - Pours with a beautiful head. The aroma is mostly muted at this point. Taste is still bitter, caramely sweet. Its actually fairly balanced.

2012 - Aroma is about the same, maybe a little brighter. The taste has a slight tea like bitterness to it still. Bitterness lingers on the tongue.
While Mandy drank the 2011 happily, she returned her portion of the 2012 as undrinkable. It is slightly harsher than the 2011, but without the bright hoppy aroma of a fresh bottle.

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Howe Sound - Woolly Bugger Barleywine

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Not aggressively hopped. I guess its an english style.

Slight tea & woody flavor in addition to the standard sticky sweet maltiness of a barleywine. Decent. Don't go out of your way to get it. 

Weyerbacher - Insanity (2011)

Even more old reviews. 

Oh man this is great. Lots of caramel malt and hints of tobacco. There's a slight vanilla hint to it, but its not hot anymore. Super drinkable. I have two 2012 and two 2013 left and I may hold onto those for a while (even though I'm attempting to drink through my entire "cellar" before moving). 

Editor's note: I still have the 2012's and 2013's. 

Alesmith - Old Numbskull

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Pretty enjoyable. Very malty & brown sugar flavors . Citrusy hops are there. Very drinkable considering the 11% abv. Very good, but again, you have to beat Bigfoot for the $ value which this doesn't. 

HUB - Noggin Floggin

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was a little disappointing. Hops were muted. Malt & yeast weren't that great. It's certainly drinkable and balanced, but nothing really stood out here. 

Uinta - Anniversary Barleywine

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Ooo. This is pretty good. Very hoppy. Reminiscent of Bigfoot. 

Firestone Walker - Sucaba/Abacus

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Got better as it warmed up, but I don't think bourbon barrel aged barleywines are always my thing. Don't think I'd buy this again. The barrel aging just dominates any of the base beer.

Great Divide - Barrel Aged Old Ruffian

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Oh man. This is delicious. Great fig and raisin flavor, with some vanilla there from the barrel aging. Its really good. Hops come through a little. Very good, very enjoyable (and better be for the price). 

Southern Tier - Oak Aged Backburner

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Oooh. This is good. Definite vanilla & oak flavor to it. Its a lot more pronounced than i thought it would be. I'd definitely get this again.

Avery - Hog Heaven

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I had this on tap a year or two ago and I remember loving it. Its almost more of an IPA/DIPA than a barleywine. I think I like it better than Bigfoot. Its not overly sweet (for a barleywine), its got a nice smell to it, and while there's a lot of bitterness, it works well.

Founders - Nemesis 2010

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Bottled 7/10/2010

This is still only mildly interesting for me. Some burnt/roasted malt flavor, a good amount of bitterness still.

Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel - Solstice d'hiver

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Well, this is less enjoyable than the Bigfoot I had ealier today. There's is a sort of burnt bitter flavor that just lingers. The alcohol is pretty prevalent too. The bottle says the brewery ages this 3 to 4 months before releasing it. It could probably benefit from another 12 months or so.

DuClaw - Devils's Milk

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Continuing my tour of DuClaw's beers...

Pretty malty. Pretty bitter. Its not bad, but nothing outstanding.I have two six packs of Bigfoot waiting to be conquered.

Weyerbacher - Insanity (2011)

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The 2012 - Its nice. Pretty hot. The bourbon is pretty strong, lots of vanilla.

The 2011 - The bourbon & vanilla isn't as prevalent. The barleywine comes through more. More caramel flavor than the 2012. I think I like it better with a year on it.

Great Divide - Old Ruffian

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Mandy enjoyed this (when it was cold).

This was okay. Not ridiculously bitter, not ridiculously sweet. Lots of caramel. I dunno, sort of middle of the road for an american barleywine. The hops didn't really wow me. Its just okay.

I think I'm just in the mood for Bigfoot to be released.

Goose Island - King Henry

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Magically stumbled across a bottle of this for $15 or $16. There were still 5 or 6 other bottles when I bought this. Had I been thinking, and also willing to go through the effort of trading, those probably could have netted me whatever my heart desires.

Well, it's a bourbon barrel aged barleywine. No hop presence. Really sweet, with the standard vanilla and oak notes. Its pretty enjoyable, but there's no way I would've been satisfied paying an outrageous price for this.

Mandy also found it unoffensive, which is a glowing review for a barleywine (especially one barrel aged).