Barley Wine

Recently I sent an email to my cousin, Brad, who is in the Army fighting the Taliban (I think). It was in response to the periodic updates that my aunt sends out. Through them I was introduced to a magazine called Robb Report. It features the highest of the high end luxury goods, including yachts and nautical-themed pashmina afghans. I related to Brad that there was little in the magazine that I could ever dream of possessing but that beer, coffee and sometimes food tend to be the sectors of fine-ness into which I can afford to delve.

Naturally I searched the Robb Report for beer. Their focus tends to be on wines but they recently featured a beer that has wine in its name: barley wine. Since writing the article we've sampled several in our group, though I have never had any mentioned in the RR article.

Below are links to three of the barley wines we've sampled recently at DSBC. I think the Avery scored the highest. All in all I really like them. They're big and bold (Avery is most hoppy) but have a twist that is not too bitter. I have been meaning to revisit some of them to gain more insight into the subtleties, but as yet have not. The next one I intend to try is Duck Rabbit's version, now out as their seasonal.

So, apparently barley wines are the what the elite are drinking, or at least cellaring, these days. I think we should buy a few and age them for a one or two-year anniversary. Or a 20th meeting anniversary.

Avery Hog Heaven
Lagunitas Gnarly Wine
Great Divide Old Ruffian

up next
Duck Rabbit Barley Wine