Barleywines

Marshall Brewing Barleywine debuts in Oklahoma

Marshall Brewing Barleywine, aged in bourbon barrels, has been released.

Earlier this year, the Tulsa, Oklahoma based brewery racked their American barleywine into bourbon barrels, that had previously held their Black Dolphin Stout. The idea behind this was to bring just Continue Reading →

Upper Hand Old Fighter debuts in May

Upper Hand Old Fighter, an American barleywine, hits shelves in May.

The strong ale uses eight different hops, and seven different grains, including locally grown rye.

“Everyone in the U.P. has their own story of this mythical Northern Pike. While hooked countless Continue Reading →

Posted in Hair Of The Dog Brewing, Don't Miss This, Omnipolo

Hair of the Dog Maja, an Omnipollo collaboration debuts

Hair of the Dog Maja, a collaboration with Stockholm, Sweden’s Omnipollo, debuts today.

The base beer is a 10% alcohol by volume barleywine, with nuances of vanilla, maple and bourbon. The beer went into the barrel with vanilla beans in February of 2016. 100% bottle conditioned.

This beer is pale in color and has the aromas of peaches and pleasant memories of the past. In the mouth, pineapple mixes with marshmallow, ample and whimsy. Produced with the help and guidance of our good friends at Omnipollo to provide a truly unique drinking experience.

Hair of the Dog Maja is a 12 ounce bottle release, available the brewery in Portland, Oregon starting today.

Style: Barleywine (w/ Vanilla, Maple. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Debut: 2/11/17

10% ABV

Image: Hair of the Dog

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Bruery, New Releases

The Bruery Mash & French Toast, no utensils required

Expanding the “mash” series month is The Bruery Mash & French Toast. Breakfast beers are here to stay.

The Bruery’s “Mash” series is based around a barleywine ale Mash, that is nuanced with a variety of favors. Other examples include Mash & Coconut, Mash & Grind, and Mash & Vanilla.

As for The Bruery Mash & French Toast, this is your breakfast beer of choice. The barleywine has been bourbon barrel-aged, with cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and maple syrup.

If the allure of rich, caramelized notes or maple character don’t rouse you out of bed, the wafts from our brewer’s kitchen will, summoning you with nutmeg and cinnamon spices and warm vanilla character. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and Mash & French Toast. No utensils required.

Now for the bad news. The Bruery Mash & French Toast is only available to Reserve Society members.

Style: Barleywine (w/ Vanilla Beans, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Maple Syrup. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles. Reserve Society Release.
Debut: January, 2017

13.4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Marshall Brewing Company, New Releases

Marshall Brewing Barleywine debuts in Oklahoma

Marshall Brewing Barleywine, aged in bourbon barrels, has been released.

Earlier this year, the Tulsa, Oklahoma based brewery racked their American barleywine into bourbon barrels, that had previously held their Black Dolphin Stout. The idea behind this was to bring just a touch of the bourbon left over in the oak, and far less of the tannic character the barrels can impart.

After letting the American hops mellow for a while, and the barrels imparting a little flavor, the barleywine is ready.

Aroma offers light bourbon, sweet oak, brown sugar and plum. Taste follows aroma with rich malt sweetness.

Marshall Brewing Barleywine is available in 22 ounce, wax dipped bottles.

Style: Barleywine (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Wax capped.

Debut: 11/10/16

9.2% ABV

Image: Marshall Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Wild Heaven Craft Beers, Seasonal Return

Tequila aged Wild Heaven Height of Civilization returns

Wild Heaven Height of Civilization, the brewery’s barrel aged Civilization Barleywine returns to the wild this week.

In 2014, the brewery purchased Dulce Vida Organic Tequila barrels ahead of this release. Wild Heaven Height of Civilization spent four months aging in the barrels prior to bottling.

The base beer, Wild Heaven Civilization Barleywine, brewed with dried Prussian lemons, Iranian hibiscus, tart cherries, cranberries, and cocoa nibs that have been re-hydrated in Four Roses bourbon.

The beer has been so well received, Wild Heaven got a hold of more Dulce Vida tequila barrels to bring this complex beer back once again.

Wild Heaven Height of Civilization is available in 750ml bottles for a limited time.

Style: Barleywine (w/ Lemons, Hibiscus, Cherries, Cranberries, Cocoa Nibs. Barrel Aged. Tequila.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles. Limited Release.
Latest Return: November, 2016

12+% ABV

Below, the beer enters the barrel. Pic: Wild Heaven  

Wild Heaven Height of Civilization

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Sierra Nevada, New Releases

Sierra Nevada Ginger Bigfoot, reminiscent of a cocktail

Sierra Nevada Ginger Bigfoot, part of the brewery’s Trip in the Woods Series, is hitting shelves nationwide.

As the year winds down Sierra Nevada’s famous barleywine, Bigfoot, hits shelves. Until recently, variants of that beer were rare one-off kegs, or bottles found only at the brewery’s taprooms in California and North Carolina. Now you have a chance to buy your own Sierra Nevada Ginger Bigfoot.

This edition features a bourbon barrel-aged barleywine, with added fresh ginger. The ginger gives this strong ale a bright, zesty character.

This is a special version of our barrel-aged Bigfoot Barleywine Ale with fresh ginger added into the barrels. The resulting kick of ginger mellows Bigfoot’s ferocious hop bite and adds a new level of brightness and complexity. The beer features notes of burnt sugar, orange zest, vanilla, and candied ginger.

Taste: A whiskey ginger cocktail comes to mind. Fans of ginger root will be quite happy with this beer. Sierra Nevada understands the symbiotic nature of base beer to flavors picked up in the barrels. Both flavors are very much intact, accentuated with the bright ginger flavors.

Sierra Nevada Ginger Bigfoot is a 750 milliliter bottle release.

Style: Barleywine (w/ Ginger. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Corked & Caged.
Debut: November, 2016

12.6% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Firestone Walker Brewing, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Firestone Walker Helldorado 2016 Vintage releases this weekend

Firestone Walker Helldorado 2016 will debut this weekend.

Dark beers and barleywines are quite popular to use in retired spirits barrels. (For good reason, they make damn good barrel-aged beers.) If you are reading this, you already know Firestone Walker is incredibly gifted when it comes to barrel-aging finesse.

A couple of years ago, the brewery thought a blonde barleywine, one brewed with a lighter base malt, would go well in oak barrels.

The bready, honeyed flavors of pale malts pull out rich wildflower honey, vanilla and coconut notes from the oak, creating an overall flavor evocative of bourbon-glazed graham crackers that stands as singularly unique in our Vintage lineup. Helldorado may be lighter in color but it is a full-bodied and densely concentrated sipper at 11.8% ABV.

Firestone Walker Helldorado 2016 debuts once again on August 6th, in 22 ounce bottles and draft. Both very limited.

Style: Barleywine (Oak Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Latest Return: 8/6/16

11.8% ABV

Image: Firestone Walker

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Upper Hand Brewery, Coming Soon

Upper Hand Old Fighter debuts in May

Upper Hand Old Fighter, an American barleywine, hits shelves in May.

The strong ale uses eight different hops, and seven different grains, including locally grown rye.

“Everyone in the U.P. has their own story of this mythical Northern Pike. While hooked countless times, this massive fish has never been landed. Our Barley Wine is the perfect beer to reminisce your own Old Fighter stories over,” commented Larry Bell, President and Founder of Upper Hand Brewery and Bell’s Brewery, Inc.

Upper Hand Old Fighter will be available in Michigan’s Upper Penninsula and North Wisconsin in Mid-May, for a limited time.

Style: Barleywine
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. R
Debut: Mid-May, 2016

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay