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mikeyc · 02-28-2008, 09:42 PM

So I tried the Big Foot the other night. I have to say, Im having a hard time calling this a barley wine. Most of the barley wines that I've enjoyed, Old Crustacean, Below Decks, there is a big caramel, malty sweetness balanced by the bitterness of the hops. With the Big Foot, there was loads of hop flavor, with some sweetness in the background. And the hops never went away. Has anyone tried Big Foot? What are some other opinions? I really liked the beer, but just thought it was way too hoppy for a barley wine.

McKBrew · 02-28-2008, 09:43 PM

I love this stuff. One recommendation is that it gets better with age, so if you have a six pack or two hang onto a few bottles for the next few years and see how it changes. Keep in mind that the style criteria for a barleywine are pretty broad and the the hop character is within stlye.

Brewsmith · 02-28-2008, 10:06 PM

Fresh it is huge in the hops. Let it age for at least a year and the hops will drop out and it will be maltier in the profile. I have at least 3 bottles from 2006. Maybe I should crack one open...

Poindexter · 02-28-2008, 11:16 PM

I really like the 2008 right now, and it is on sale nearme. Of the barleywines I have tried lately the Horn Dog by Flying Dog was the least fruity.

**bigjohnmilford** · 02-29-2008, 12:15 AM

I may just have to pick up some of this tomorrow. Thanks for the reviews.

McKBrew · 02-29-2008, 01:32 AM

I just picked up another 6-pack tonight. I will probably drink two or three more from my original 6 pack in the next few months, then it's one a year until gone or I move again.

98EXL · 02-29-2008, 02:10 AM

98EXL = retard....I could have sworn I read this was an IPA on the bottle when I picked it up. Now that I'm halfway through one, I realize I'm dumb.

In other news, I do like it a lot

dannypo · 02-29-2008, 02:29 AM

It is very similar to a IIPA when young. Let it age a while and it becomes more malty. I buy a six pack every year. Then every year i drink one bottle from each. In general I prefer them around 3-4 years old.

**Yuri_Rage** · 03-21-2008, 12:41 AM

I just found a six pack at a local store. It seems this stuff is getting short in supply, so I'm glad to have snagged some! I have one chilling right now, and I'll post a full review later.

**Yuri_Rage** · 03-21-2008, 01:50 AM

The review:

Appearance:
Poured from a 12 oz stubby bottle into a wide snifter-like tulip glass. Beautiful, clear, deep coppery/amber with a nice collar of dense tan foam. Nice lacing.

Aroma:
Complex and inviting! Strong, spicy, citrus hop notes with a big, sweet, malty, caramel finish. Alcohol evident but not overpowering. Black cherry and deep/dark fruit overtones.

Flavor:
Tasty! Very sweet up front with a nice citrusy hop bite as the flavor develops across the palate. The fruity complexity in the nose carries directly to the flavor. Very well balanced for a big beer.

Mouthfeel:
Full bodied and well carbonated. Alcohol warmth is really only evident as an afterthought (especially if you exhale through your nose).

Drinkability:
I love this beer! For the style, it could be a quite a bit bigger, but it's well executed for its "size." I think I'd call it an IIPA that wound up a tad too dark rather than a barleywine. However, it's the best SN beer I've ever tasted. SNPA is good, but a little "vanilla," the porter and stout are overdone in terms of roasted flavor, and SNCA just isn't quite my thing. This is far from "vanilla," underdone if anything, and is definitely "my thing!" For a barleywine, it gets a solid B, but for a drinkable, balanced, rather big beer, it's an A+!