Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

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

12 oz bottle from Southbay drugs. Pours an amber-brown color with a big khaki head that lasts a long time. The aroma has ripe dark fruits and sweet roasted malts. The flavor showcases a big biter hops taste, filling the sides are raisins, walnuts and malts. The mouthfeel is full and smooth. The Finish is long and biter. Overall: A very fine hops monster barleywine. Recommended.

Aroma: Woodsy, earthy hop aroma with appropriate sherryish aged character(2007 vintage). Some alcohol with berryish fruity notes. Appearance: Decent head retention despite high alcohol, good clarity with amber/reddish color. Flavor: Caramel malty notes, sherry aged character. Not terribly complex. Ehh. Lots of bitterness, even at well over a year old. Palate: Big mouthfeel, with some alcohol warmth. Overall Impression: I think this is better fresh, although the hop bitterness would probably rip your face off if fresh. I liked this more years ago. Kind of a run of the mill barleywine.

12oz bottle. Cherry sweet citrus and orange in the nose.. fresh and uplifting smelling barley wine. Good sweet unique taste with citrus, lemon, and some berries.

a great fresh barley wine...great hop aroma and taste when fresh...and it has aged into a good even great barleywine when it is older...but I think it is best fresh!

Brownish reddish pour with nice frothy two finger head and aromas of ripe fruit and hops with a hint of caramel malt. Flavor was mild mannered, with a hint of an alcohol note with a nice earthy hop presence and malty backbone. Nicely blalanced and well hopped- chewy mouthfeel with dry finish.

2008 bottle: Freaking outsanding! Maybe a tad too hoppy, but still very good balance with the thick carmel malt sweetness. I think it would be almost perfect if the hops were down just a touch. Not a whole lot, but just a touch. Maybe get the IBUs down from 90 to the mid 70s and you’d have a real winner. First Barleywine I’ve tried so I don’t have much to compare to, but definitely an overall favorite. Another great offering from Sierra Nevada.

Initially sampled in 2005. 2008 version -- pours a deep brown-amber color with a moderate head that does settle down to patches. Real nice hop aroma with a fruity, candy presence. Strong hoppy flavor, tangy sour fruits with caramel malts. Very rich and full and the flavors balance well. Bitter and slightly dry finish and bitter hops tingle on the tongue long after the sip. Good stuff. Strong hops but the 2005 version I had before was a touch stronger hop flavor. Nonetheless this is an amazing beer.

12 oz bottle - 2008 vintage. Poured a deep red/mahogany color with a 1-2 finger tan head. Really nice looking. A little cloudly, but vibrant. Head stuck around throughout with tons of lacing. Aroma was great and complex. Hops were definately the first and strongest thing that hit my nose, a little suprising for the barelywine style but then again I guess its SN. Anyway really nice citrusy bitter hop aroma. Tons of nice dried fruit, candi and roasted malt flavors up there in the nose too. Taste was great and complex too. Started out with strong dried fruit/roasted/toasted malt taste. Really deep and really nice. Quickly transitioned to a very bitter and tangy (acidc) finish. This was wayyy more bitter than I expected but really nice. Hops really do balance the malt character here. I really didnt get the overly sweet taste Ive seen some people complain about. Carbonation was pretty lively and mouthfeel was medium/heavy but it was light/crispt enough that I could maybe have a few. Definately one to sip but more drinkable than I was expecting. A great beer. Ill have to age some, you can tell this one will only get better in a couple years.