Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

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

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.

2008 vintage. Reddish in color with a good head. Hoppy yet sweet in the aroma with some caramel. Slight alcohol in the taste with caramel. Chewey with a thicker body.

2003 - Malty and sweet smell. Malty and sweet and bitter. Balanced more towards malt sweetness. 2002 - Less malty and bitter. Better balance with some pepper.

Look is a medium amber color. With a thick off white head. Good lacing. Smell is alcohol and very malty and sweet. Very nice! Taste is oh my god, wow. You can taste the alcohol and the sweet maltiness of it. Very good, full bodied beer. Also very hoppy bite to it.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale 25th edition ABV: 9.6% Calories: estimated at 200 C Volume: 12 fl oz Glass: wine goblet Purchased at: Circle Liquors, Pennington Price per fl oz: $2.75 / 12 fl oz = $0.22 per fl oz Consumed at: home sensory first impression: Amazing - rich overwhelming powerful ale - great hoppy depth and wonderful color. yellow head on a ruby deep body. Amazingly deep and full orange, reds, and browns. Aroma/Olfactory: 9 out of 10 Malt flavor is: caramel, syrupy, dark bread, rich hay, oatmeal, nuts, roasted Hop flavor is: resinous, floral, grassy, citrusy, grapefruit, orange Yeast flavor is: doughy, moldy, spongey Other flavors include: deep alcohol, medicine, licorice, raisin, sulfur, oak Visuals/Appearance: 5 out of 5 Color is: bright, ruby, amazing Liquid is: clear, jumping Head and lace are: fantastic - head is nice, with beautiful color, with a very sticky lace. Taste/Flavor: 10 out of 10 Maltiness or Sweetness level is: heavy Hoppiness or Bitterness level is: heavy Sour level is: heavy Palate/Tactile: 5 out of 5 Body or Mouthfeel is: full Texture is: creamy, sticky, thick, oceanic, cardboard Carbonation is: lively Finish is: heavily astringent, bitter, abrupt, long, and strong Overall experience: 18 out of 20. I liked the bitterness, the sweetness, the depth, the color, the lace, and just about everything else. I loved this brew.

Poured a dark reddish color with minimal head. A little malt, and a lot of hops in the nose. The flavor was dominated by the hops, and fairly one-dimensional. Not one I’d have again.

2008 bottle. Pours dark red with a thin off-white head. Aroma is fruit, hops, and alcohol. The flavor is hoppy and bitter with alcohol and a hint of caramel. Not really what I like in a barley wine. This bottle may be too young.