Just tasted my 12/12/12 Barleywine!

[Majafoo]

One year ago at 20 years old (canadian here) on 12/12/12 I brewed a 12% abv barleywine with so much grain that it permanently warped my cooler mash tun from the weight. Today, 12 months later at 12:12 I cracked the first bottle and I am supremely pleased! This one is going to competitions in the new year and I will be sealing a bomber in a wooden box for 12 years!

Here is the recipe:

18# 2-row
2# rye malt
2# Munich
2# dark homemade candi syrup
0.5# victory malt
0.25# special B

Galena 1.25oz 80mins
Cascade 1.5oz 20 mins
Willamette 1 oz 5 mins

1.121 OG
1.030 FG
18 SRM
50 IBU's

 

[jglazer]

Give me 12 tasting notes.

 

[finsfan]

did you mean the OG was 1.110? cuz 1.210 down to 1.030 would be 23.5%! Congrats on being able to keep a beer around that long!

 

[Majafoo]

Despite it's strength it had a one finger lasting head that did not dissipate which is interesting.

For flavor, as it warmed up it had obvious alcohol notes that were warm and fruity but not harsh, an evident bitterness that balanced the sweetness very well and an obvious toasty component that was a bit forward at first but mellowed as it warmed. As it started to warm the caramel flavors came out and the dark toffee flavors became more evident and mixed nicely with the fruitiness.

Honestly it was a bit too bland when it was cold but that's to be expected. I hope that they drink barleywine at cellar temp at judgings.

 

[Nightshade]

This thread will end at 12 posts





Congrats, sounds like a mean brew...might want to send me one just for safe keeping.

 

[Majafoo]

Ah you're right, it was 1.121 OG

 

[m3n00b]

Wow man. Glad to hear it's good! I made a 1.127og/1.022fg back in may and it still tastes really sweet. Maybe a few more months.

 

[Majafoo]

Wow man. Glad to hear it's good! I made a 1.127og/1.022fg back in may and it still tastes really sweet. Maybe a few more months.

It still tastes really sweet at 1.022 FG? If anything the aging will lower the bitterness more and give you more perceived sweetness. Have you considered adding a bittering hop tea to balance the sweetness?

 

[m3n00b]

It still tastes really sweet at 1.022 FG? If anything the aging will lower the bitterness more and give you more perceived sweetness. Have you considered adding a bittering hop tea to balance the sweetness?

It's bitter as well....over 115 ibus.

 

[Majafoo]

It's bitter as well....over 115 ibus.

Wow, comment retracted.

 

[Brewmex41]

Comment #11. Just one more. Mods? Haha

This sounds really tasty. Did you use a recipe from HBT for the homemade Candi? I have a hard enough time waiting the recommended 3 weeks for carbonation.

 

[Majafoo]

Comment #11. Just one more. Mods? Haha

This sounds really tasty. Did you use a recipe from HBT for the homemade Candi? I have a hard enough time waiting the recommended 3 weeks for carbonation.

No, I can't say I did. I just measured table sugar into a pot with a pinch of yeast nutrient and a bit of water and caramelized it until it was very dark but short of burnt.