During the colder months more and more breweries are going to be putting out darker, more complex brews, that tend to have a higher ABV to them. The style that tends to dominate this time is the Barleywine. This type of brew is fairly thick. Tons of complexity goes along way in these ales, from notes of molasses, plums, figs and dried fruit with a nice boozy quality to follow. The great thing about this type of beer is that it can be cellared for years, because most have a high ABV (from 8-12%), giving  some a chance to open up with more flavors and complexity then they would normally possess. A few examples of this style are, Brooklyn Monster Ale, Bigfoot Ale from Sierra Nevada, Third Coast from Bell’s and Old Ruffian from Great Divide Brewing.

Brooklyn Brewery- Monster Ale ABV 10.8%

This barleywine is available from December through March and is a nice drinkable barleywine. Most of these ales are made to be sipped on and one to two will suffice the normal beer drinker. This ale pour a nice amber copper color and has a sweet smell of toffee, floral hops and sweetness. The taste of this ale is very well rounded with a nice malt profile, spiced hops and of course the boozy quality which most barleywines bring. This beer would pair well with a sharp cheese or even most desserts because of its sweetness. I recommend to pick up a few bottles for cellaring as it will definitely mellow out a bit over time.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale ABV 9.6%

As the name implies, this ale will appear with huge unbelievable flavor and complexity and then leave you in disbelief with its balance. Sierra is known for making amazing brews with some of best ingredients around and this barleywine is no exception. This ale is again is a copper amber color but has unique balance with its flavor profile. Bigfoot has a huge malt sweetness, with some nice fruit notes followed by a unique bitterness from the hops, which all come together in an amazing blend. This beer would be great paired with a pungent Gruyere cheese or an amazing robust cigar.

Bell’s Brewery Third Coast Ale  ABV 10.2%

Now some would consider this an “old ale” but the similarities between the two styles are pretty non-existent, except that an old ale tops out at 9% and a barleywine starts at 8%. This ale pours a turbid, hazy brown with aromatics of sweetness, spice and hints of fruit. This beer is pretty complex with notes of  “rum-soaked” fruits with tastes fig, plums, caramel and finishes with a nice subdued booziness. This by far is one of my favorite barleywines due to its spicy, boozy quality and will always have a place in my cellar. Third Coast Pairs well with a creamy, buttery cheese and it does go pretty well with brown sugar glazed ham.

Old Ruffian Great Divide Brewing Company ABV 10.2%

Great Divide brewing produces some of the best most consistent tasting ales around. So it’s no surprise there Old Ruffian Barleywine would be a welcome recommendation for the cooler months ahead. This dark, reddish-brown ale smells of spiced fruits, oak and of course, hops. For a barleywine, the hop profile is pretty present and comes through immensely out of the dark malt background. Not only is this barleywine different in style then most, it is surprisingly drinkable. With its big, strong flavor it is surprisingly not that heavy for the style. Old Ruffian would pair well with a slice of sweet potato pie with just a dab of whipped cream.

This style of beer may be formidable for the average weekend craft beer drinker, but it is great for  helping one grow their palate for new and exciting brews. The great thing about this style of beer,  is that the taste is  pretty uniform and one or two go a long way  because of the high ABV. For that these should be a good gateway beer for the new craft drinker. Always remember to drink with an open palate (and not in too much excess).

Drink Better, Eat Better, Live Better.

Cheers,
Thomas Barris
The Wild Cicerone