15 Strong Ales and Barleywines you should be cellaring
By jason on Oct 11, 2007 in Barleywines & Strong Ales, Featured, Recommendations
As a follow up to my posts on great Stouts and Belgian beers to cellar, I have for you today of some Old Ales and Barleywines that have been known to cellar well. As always, this is in no way a complete list, just some recommended beers that you’ll know you can tuck away if you ever see them in your local beverage center. Enjoy!
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King+Barnes Millennium Ale
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JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale - Typically brewed only once a year for release on December 1st, be sure to watch for it in a couple of months!
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Young’s Old Nick Barleywine
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O’Hanlons Thomas Hardy’s Ale - Here’s a post of mine on the interesting history of Thomas Hardy’s Ale.
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Hitachino Japanese Classic Ale - Craft beers are starting to boom in Japan!
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George Gale + Co. Prize Olde Ale
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Anchor Old Fog Horn Barleywine
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Rogue McRouge Scotch Ale
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Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine- One of the most drinkable Barleywines around, I just missed out on this year’s release.
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Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine - Usually powers in around 15% ABV!
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Old Dominion Millennium Barleywine
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North Coast Old Stock Ale - I fell in love with this brew, I can’t wait to pull the rest of them out of my cellar!
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Brooklyn Monster Ale
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Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine - I haven’t tried this yet, but I love the big crusty ceramic (I think) bottle it comes in.
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Alesmith Wee Heavy Scotch Ale- I’m having issues finding any Alesmith on the US East coast, does anyone know if they ship across the country? I really want to try their brews, this one included.
As always, thanks for reading!
Jason
jason@brewbasement.com
Anchor Foghorn Barley Wine was/is very drinkable as well, I prefer it over the Sierra Nevada Big foot. Probably decent in a cellar?
nick | Oct 12, 2007 | Reply
Hi Nick. I haven’t aged it myself, but I’ve heard more then one person remark that it ages pretty well up to three years or so. I’ll definitely be trying it out myself this coming year!
jason | Oct 12, 2007 | Reply
Oh! your blog would interest my friend. He loves beer, I don’t but I can see that your blog is very informative. Interesting blog!
footiam | Oct 13, 2007 | Reply
I would suggest drinking the King & Barnes now.
It has been iffy since 1998 (it was released at the end of 1996). Some bottles are solid, others just plain off.
We had the last of ours almost two years ago. In good shape, but still losing some of the roundness of the previous bottle.
Stan Hieronymus | Oct 14, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for the warning Stan! I’ve been discussing a trade for one of these over at BA, I might give it a second thought now…
jason | Oct 14, 2007 | Reply
Just a note. Myself and a friend (my beer mentor)…tried a 06 Crusty…..was not pleasant at all…..hop juice if i had to describe it….BUT in saying that…i got my hands on 2 1999 crusty, when they were making them in a small(very small) bottle…..OUTSTANDING….poured very syrup like….rum raisons, caramel, honey…with a hop back…i suggest trying to pick one up if possible
james
James | Nov 13, 2007 | Reply
If i may add. this is to ref: of the Sierra Barley….got my hands on a 2002 and hands down , one of the finest BW’s i have ever exprianced….
James | Nov 13, 2007 | Reply
Hi James, have to agree with you about the Old Crust BW. I posted some tasting notes on the 06 a couple of weeks ago, I found it just as agressively hoppy as you did. I think this is a beer that’s been built to sit for a few years, it’s definitely a bit unbalanced right now. I’m expecting it to be really good down the road though!
jason | Nov 13, 2007 | Reply
McRogue Scotch Ale?
It may be good to cellar, but that’s the only place you’ll find one as it was discontinued years ago.
kp | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
Hi KP, thanks for visiting. You wouldn’t happen to be the same KP with the amazing beer cellar, would you?
I know there are a few beers sprinkled through my various lists that aren’t available at retail anymore. However, I’ve seen a few like that available via trades or on ebay auctions, so I left them there anyway.
Jason | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
I have some 1993 Crusty and 1995 Bigfoot that are both still awesome. Like drinking candy.
Alan | Feb 1, 2008 | Reply
i have tried up to 11 year old Bigfoots, and i can definitely attest to their excellent ageability. the ‘overly hoppy/bitter’ taste that can sometimes be perceived when they are young tends to fade, leading to a long and complex flavor and taste with vintage sherry and port overtones, mixed with a long, smooth hop bitterness.
Gary Dempster | May 12, 2009 | Reply