 drewbeerme (1840), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jan 22, 2007 Updated: Jun 25, 2008
on tap at maproom, amber with big white head, PNW dominate aroma, grapefruit, mango, peach, reminds me of dreadnaught. taste is extremely hoppy with caramel, butterscotch, red fruits, great fruity hoppy notes. no alcohol in flavor more a IIPA than barleywine. but as is this is easily the king of American Barleywines. I think i could drink a dangerous amount of this. 8/5/8/5/17 is equal to 4.3
2005 vintage (almost 2 years aged). pours deep ruby with big off white head. nose is sweet with cotton candy, caramel, sweet plums, tobacco, and slight alcohol. flavor is pretty sweet but not cloying, delicate balance of tobacco, ripe plums, cherry pits, caramel, tar, and a hint of smoke. hops have faded out. very complex and aged well but still needs a few more years. alc is well hidden. mouth feel a tad thin. after 30 minutes the nose is really alcoholy. this is more of a fine liquor than a beer, aging well, 7/5/8/4/17 is equal to 4.1.
11/17/07, 2007 vintaged brewed 11/06 (12 months ago). 22oz bottle, yellow wax. pours a murky reddish brown with creamy white head. nose is strong with aged notes, tobacco, some vegetable, and plum. flavor is a lot less hoppier than i was expecting, the hops have almost all be fallen off with some faint citrus and grapefruit notes, mostly aged malts of tobacco, plum, and caramel. no alcohol is noticed at all body is a tad thin. this has aged really fast, not sure why, it is clear that this much aging this fast has not allowed the malts to age and integrate gracefully, instead it is sort of a mix a roughly aged malt notes. it is still tasty but it was much better fresh. with how fast this has aged i can’t see this getting better but i guess anything is possible. 7/4/7/4/15 is equal to 3.7.
11/21/07, 05 vintage (aged 2 years), this is pretty oxidized and the hops have really fallen off now. lots of tobacco, plums, and tar. no alcohol noticed at all. the nose is pretty bad and mostly vegetables. i’m enjoying this despite the fact that it hasn’t aged gracefully. this may have another year left in it. 4/4/7/4/14 is equal to 3.3.
2/26/08, 2008 vintage, bottled a few weeks ago. pretty much the same impressions as notes at the top of the 07 tap rating. lively, hoppy as hell and juicy. wonderful and fun to drink. but my beer experience has convinced me that this is a IIPA not a barleywine. oh well, its awesome and now surpasses that struggling recent vintages of dreadnaught.4.3.
6/22/08, 2008 vintage, aged 6 months. on tap at Piece. I guess FFF likes Behemoth with some age on it because they are finally letting some kegs go to Chicago. I prefer it fresh as possible, but aged a bit it seems more barleywine and super fresh it is just a really big IIPA. I was surprised how 6months keg aging has toned the hops down a notch and the malt has already started to take on some aged notes. I can’t believe how fast this beer ages. not that it tastes 10 years old or something but quite a bit different than when fresh. 7/4/7/5/16 is equal to 3.9.
xpimptastikx (24), Austin, Texas, USA
Oct 7, 2008 Yellow 2007 bottle thanks to lb4lb.
An amazing barley wine! Pours a caramel amber with almost nonexistent tan head. Tastes of molasses, with fruits like raisins and grapefruit. Easy on the palate with a warming alcohol feeling.
lassem (134), Copenhagen, Denmark
Oct 7, 2008 Purple waw - 2008 edition. Three Floyds allways appeares in nice wrapping..love it. Pours a deep amber with a tan head. Aroma is a bit like christmas - with cloves, dry fruits add to that tons of american hops. Strong vinoes taste with fruity hoppy overwhelming notes. Best barlywine ive had to this date. Finish long and bittersweet..
scottyw (46), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Oct 6, 2008 Bottle, 2007. Excellent. Best barleywine I’ve had. Palate is extremely smooth, short, sweet finish. Soft carbonation and a fruity aroma with caramel and vanilla notes round it out.
MatSciGuy (261), St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Oct 6, 2008 [Bottle] Pours a hazy, caramelly gold with a medium beige head. Aroma is strong with citric hops, caramel-toffee, a touch of raisin, and a little alcohol. Flavor is very caramelly and rich, warming alcohol doesn’t detract from the flavor. Pine and citric hops add flavor and bitterness. Overall a good beer.
thewolf (3983), Kolding, Denmark
Oct 2, 2008 Bottle @ Chris_o’s Pre-Beer Exposed Tasting, September 2008.
Pours a very pretty red with a small, creamy, off-white head. Aroma is powerfully hoppy, light strawberries, melons and lots of caramel. Fine, dry mouthfeel. Flavour is softly sweet, fine caramel and dried fruits. Good, high hoppiness. But it feels a bit ’old’ and rather dull - especially compared to that inflated average rating.
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