Barleywines

NEW RELEASE: Mikkeller Red Wine Big Worse

Mikkeller’s Red Wine barrel aged Big Worse Barleywine has arrived stateside.  With this edition, Mikkeller has 4 “Big Worse” barleywine editions.  The biggest in the series is “Big WorsT” a massive 19.2% abv barleywine.  Slightly smaller, yet still big is Continue Reading →

Firestone Walker Abacus To Debut

Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles, CA) is debuting a new beer in their Proprietor Reserve series – Abacus.  Abacus is a barrel aged barleywine appearing in 22oz bombers, and very limited draft.  Previous beer in the Reserve series is Parabola, Continue Reading →

Weyerbacher Heresy & Insanity Return

2 popular releases from Weyerbacher Brewing (Easton, PA) have returned – Heresy & Insanity.  Weyerbacher does barrel aging very well, as evidenced by these amazing beers.

Insanity
Is made by aging our perfectly balanced Blithering Idiot Barleywine in oak bourbon casks.  This incredible Continue Reading →

Mikkeller Bourbon Aged Big Worse Barleywine

The bourbon barrel aged edition of Mikkeller’s “Big Worse Barleywine” has arrived stateside.  It features Mikkeller’s Big Worse Barleywine aged in second use bourbon barrels for eight months.

Commercial Description:
It all started with the Big Bad Barley Wine. Then came Denmark’s strongest Continue Reading →

February Is Strong Beer Month

21st Amendment Brewing & Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery have once again collaborated on “Strong Beer Month”.  As described on the webpage dedicated to the occasion:

Magnolia and 21st Amendment are proud to collaborate together once again on strong beer month.  It’s Continue Reading →

Stone’s “Odd Beers” Bottled

Stone Brewing announced a few weeks ago that they were going to be “Belgianizing” a two of their popular beers – “Russian Imperial Stout” & “Old Guardian” barleywine.

The Belgian editions would be brewed on odd years – 2011, 2013, 2015, Continue Reading →

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2011

Sierra Nevada Brewing (Chico, CA) has 2 big releases headed your way in January.  Hoptimum –  a brand new imperial IPA for 2011, and their seasonal release “Bigfoot”.  Bigfoot is a barleywine released each year in January.  Each bottle is Continue Reading →

Posted in Mikkeller, New Releases

NEW RELEASE: Mikkeller Red Wine Big Worse

Mikkeller’s Red Wine barrel aged Big Worse Barleywine has arrived stateside.  With this edition, Mikkeller has 4 “Big Worse” barleywine editions.  The biggest in the series is “Big WorsT” a massive 19.2% abv barleywine.  Slightly smaller, yet still big is “Big Worse” weighing in at 12.8% .  Then come the barrel aged editions.  Bourbon Big Worse, and now Red Wine Big Worse Barleywine.

Big Worse Description:
Big Worse is the long awaited big brother of the small test brew Big Bad Barley Wine. The idea behind Big Worse is still to make a simple yet heavy barley wine – just like it’s smaller brother. But this time both the alcohol and bitterness has been pumped up! Big Worse is both thick and sweet and is the perfect beer for desserts. Enjoy it now or keep it for many years. Best stored dark and at cellar temperature.

Style: Barleywine, aged in Red Wine barrels
Hops: Nugget, Cascade, Centennial
Malts: Pils, caramunich
Yeast: Ale yeast
Adjuncts: Candi sugar

Taste Expectations: Sweet fruit, oak notes, vanilla, & tannins from the wine.  Boozy, candi sugar, w/ red wine finish.

Availability: 375 ML bottles, capped. Less than 200 cases shipped to U.S.

12% ABV

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Firestone Walker Brewing

Firestone Walker Abacus To Debut

Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles, CA) is debuting a new beer in their Proprietor Reserve series – Abacus.  Abacus is a barrel aged barleywine appearing in 22oz bombers, and very limited draft.  Previous beer in the Reserve series is Parabola, a barrel aged imperial stout.

Commercial Description:
Abacus is a barrel aged Barley Wine. Big boozy bourbon and American oak aromas combined with soft chocolate malty undertones. Complex malt flavors framed in oak, with hints of dark chocolate, vanilla, tobacco, coconut and just a touch of dark cherry. This is definitely a sipping beer, best served in a brandy snifter. Abacus pairs well with dark chocolate and sturdy cheeses.

Style: Barleywine (Barrel aged)
Hops: Bittering–Bravo; Late Kettle–East Kent Golding
Malts: Munton’s Pale, Crisp Maris Otter Pale, Munich, Dark & Light Crystal, Chocolate

Availability: 22oz bombers. (boxed). Limited draft.

States: AZ,CA,NV,OR,WA,PA,NJ,IL,VA,MA, NY

12% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Weyerbacher

Weyerbacher Heresy & Insanity Return

2 popular releases from Weyerbacher Brewing (Easton, PA) have returned – Heresy & Insanity.  Weyerbacher does barrel aging very well, as evidenced by these amazing beers.

Insanity
Is made by aging our perfectly balanced Blithering Idiot Barleywine in oak bourbon casks.  This incredible combination creates a melange of flavors from rich malts, raisons, and dates to oak, vanilla, and bourbon.

Style: Barleywine (Barrel aged)
11% ABV

Heresy
This is an incredibly intriguing ale is made by aging our Old Heathen Imperial Stout in oak barrels that were used for making fine Kentucky bourbon! The result is an extraordinary, dark, and mysterious stout whose very essence has been enhanced. The aroma is filled with vanilla, cocoa, and roasted coffee beans.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout, barrel aged.
8% ABV

Availability: Both Heresy & Insanity are seasonally released in February

Pic Thx – @AleYeahBeer

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Mikkeller, New Releases

Mikkeller Bourbon Aged Big Worse Barleywine

The bourbon barrel aged edition of Mikkeller’s “Big Worse Barleywine” has arrived stateside.  It features Mikkeller’s Big Worse Barleywine aged in second use bourbon barrels for eight months.

Commercial Description:
It all started with the Big Bad Barley Wine. Then came Denmark’s strongest beer Big Worse Barley Wine which is now released in a barrel aged edition. Big Worse Barrel Aged is at the top of evolution. It does not nor should it get any crazier than this. With an ABV of 19,1 this beer is about as strong as it gets without freeze distillation. Lots of sugar, hops, barrel and alcohol. In other words, a beer for pirates.

Style: American Barleywine (Barrel Aged)

Taste Expectations: Molasses, vanilla, booze.  Oak. Caramel. Malts.

Availability: 375mL bottles. 200 cases shipped to the United States

12% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in 21st Amendment Brewing, Cool Stuff, Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery

February Is Strong Beer Month

21st Amendment Brewing & Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery have once again collaborated on “Strong Beer Month”.  As described on the webpage dedicated to the occasion:

Magnolia and 21st Amendment are proud to collaborate together once again on strong beer month.  It’s an opportunity to explore the ritual & traditions of brewers commemorating seasons and occasions with special brews, usually strong in nature and intended for sipping and contemplation.

Both Magnolia & 21A have special strong brews at each of their respective locations in San Francisco, CA.  By the looks of it – barleywines, imperial stouts, tripels and more.  I’m sure if you aren’t in the area, there are plenty of strong beers to drink along with  If you Twitter – use #StrongBeerMonth.

Website —> www.strongbeermonth.com

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Stone Brewing Co.

Stone’s “Odd Beers” Bottled

Stone Brewing announced a few weeks ago that they were going to be “Belgianizing” a two of their popular beers – “Russian Imperial Stout” & “Old Guardian” barleywine.

The Belgian editions would be brewed on odd years – 2011, 2013, 2015, etc in place of the regular editions.  The beer drinkers at larger didn’t greet the idea with open arms.  So much so that Stone decided to release the regular editions on odd years too.

Per their Twitter Feed – the Belgian beers are now being bottled. (Image on the left).   Headed your way soon…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2011

Sierra Nevada Brewing (Chico, CA) has 2 big releases headed your way in January.  Hoptimum –  a brand new imperial IPA for 2011, and their seasonal release “Bigfoot”.  Bigfoot is a barleywine released each year in January.  Each bottle is vintage dated, and cellars for years.  (I’ve recently had one as far back as 2003.

Bigfoot begins shipping in the next week or so – arriving at retailers 3-4 week of January 2011.

Note:  These are always estimates.  Could be sooner, could be later.  Just put it on your radar.

by Reid Ramsay