Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Chico, California USA

I can’t believe it has taken me this long to not only rate SN Bigfoot, but to even taste it! And what a way to do it, we did a 15 year vertical that included 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997-2008. It was definitely interesting to see how this one aged and it really did age well. I think the peak was about 5-6 years old. As expected, the tastes and aromas went from earthy, woody, caramel, and sweet to citric, bitter, floral, and fruity (the fruitiness really started at about 2001 and newer). The 1990 definitely had a port quality to it with molasses, very and woody. The 1994 stood out from the earlier vintages. Lots more tobacco, somewhat smoky, and leathery. The 1995 had some citrus and a trace of hops left in the backend. The body was creamy from 2004-2008 which corresponded to the way they poured (the larger and sustained heads poured during this same time frame). The newer ones where a bit ’hot’. The pours went from darker and small headst to lighter and larger heads.

I have to say that I was not too keen on my first bottle of this. Too bitter, no sweetness. Barley wine? Are you insane? But now...What a delicious beer. Smells sweet and rich, wonderful texture. It’s rare to find a bottle of beer in this country that has flavour. One of the nicest beers I’ve tried. How foolish it is to judge a beer on one bottle. Delightful, I tell you!

Just great. Nice hoppy character. Lots of rosted malt. Head stays through a nice thick ring around the glass. Nose is of baked bread, roast, and dark fruits not sure which. Amazing brew to sit back with after work.

Fresh bottle. Cloudy, maroon/red color with a small white head. Big nose of malt and booze. This one tastes more like a spicy IIPA than a barleywine with that peppery spice flavor. Bitter, very boozy finish that lingers for awhile. Great stuff, and if I remember correctly, it’s better with age, so I’ll have to rate an older one.

Bottle Thanks to BuckeyBoy. Poured nice red brown with thick head. Aroma was very malty, hops, syrup, and dark fruits. Taste very malty maybe a litttle too malty, but nice hop flavor after, with syrup, and dark fruits. finished thick and smooth with a bit of alcohol finish.

Bottled. Pours nicely dense brown with decent head. Strong malt aroma but also slightly sweet and hoppy. Flavor is intense; malt, dark fruit, maple syrup, bitter hop and alcohol finish that lingers for awhile. Palate is rich and thick, really nice. Definitely something to drink slowly and really good with something salty.

pours a dark mahogany with a small head. aroma of cherries, hops, raisin, and some sweet malt- very nice on the nose. Flavor is excellent- surprising amount of bitterness, but still with the sweetness character of barleywine. Palate is very nice- sticks to the tongue, but not so aggressive that it’s not drinkable. Really well crafted brew, one of sierra nevada’s better offerings.

Gonna crush with Jakebra and cellar a few. Lots goin on here. Now that is an aroma. Oooh yeah. Got some fruitiness and some awesomeness and maybe some smokiness. Flavor kicks some serious ass with a badass bitterness in the finish. Now that is a barley wine. Nice.