Happy Sunday Funday ya’ll! Yes, I can’t believe I’m actually posting two weeks in a row. 
Anyways, being the Floridian I am, I decided to do some pre-hurricane fishing and well, it was more fishing than catching. We did get some jacks, snapper, a whiting and a trout so we didn’t strike out, but didn’t find the big ones we were after. To hunker down and survive this “brutal” hurricane, the wife and I grabbed a few of Sierra Nevada’s most recent release, their Bigfoot Barleywine which clocks in at a strong 9.6%. For those of you wondering what on earth a Barelywine is, it is a high ABV beer brewed that should be enjoyed more like a wine, than a Bud Light. Anyways, let’s see how this pans out!
Appearance: This Bigfoot pours an amber, almost grape-like red with just a touch of carbonation.
Aroma: There is a TON of booziness on the nose, along with wheat, grains, and a touch of sweetness.
Taste: You first notice a malty sweetness that’s then balanced out by a sharp, but not overdone, hop bitterness. As the bitterness fades, this beer drifts back to a sweetness that lingers for an extensive amount of time after the sip. This was only bottled 7 months ago, so I wonder what it could taste like after a year or two of aging!
Mouthfeel: Bigfoot is super heavy on the palate with a viscous goodness that reminds me of a well done Christmas Ale. Honestly, this would be great when it gets colder as it’s a slow sipper that packs a punch.
Value: I think it was $2/each at Publix, so it’ll buff.
Overall: I would give this, as it sits, an 8/10. This is the best “fresh” Barleywine I’ve every had. It is fantastically balanced between boozy sweetness and a strong hop bitterness that makes it enjoyable from the first sip to the last. I need to find a few more so I can age them and see how they stack up!
On another note, I taste tested my latest home brew and it’s almost ready! Keep an eye out for a review soon.
Until next time, tight lines and cheers!
Tight Lines & Beers 