Sierra Nevada 2008 Bigfoot - Tasting and Aging Notes
By jason on Feb 24, 2008 in Aging Well, Barleywines & Strong Ales, Reviews
Name: Bigfoot
Brewer: Sierra Nevada
Style: Barleywine
Vintage: 2008
Bottled On: January 18th, 2008
Cellared On: February 12th, 2008
Original Tasting: February 22nd, 2008
It took a month and a half, but I finally have my 2008 vintage beer to review! Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot is one of the most popular beers to cellar among enthusiasts here in the US, I’m very happy to finally have a chance to taste it here!
Bigfoot pours a semi-dark reddish brown with a slightly off-white head. The head seems much more clingy then other barleywines I’ve recently reviewed, and the lacing lasted for quite a long time . Big hoppy smells were coming off of this beer with a citrusy grapefruit quality to them.
If I were doing just a blind taste, I would have never said this was a barleywine. Hops are dominating this brew right now, with the same grapefruit character I was detecting in the smell. There really was no let up to the hops, they were there from first taste straight through to the finish. I did detect a background malt sweetness to this brew, but it’s just not competing with the bitterness right now. The citrus quality even made for an interesting slightly sour twang on the finish.
Seems more like a Double IPA then a barleywine to me right now, but still delicious.
Six Month Tasting: August 27th, 2008
Almost no change at all. It still reminds me of some kind of pale ale. I really can’t note a single thing different about this brew from six months ago.
Cellar Outlook: So many people cellaring this beer can’t be wrong, although I am curious to see if this vintage is any different in the cellar then previous ones. It’ll be cool to see how the malt base starts to come through as the hops fade out.
Six Month Cellar Outlook: With no change over six months, I’m not doubting this beer’s staying power now. I’m still looking forward to watching this brew develop!
Next Tasting: February 2008
Jason
Just got myself a couple of six packs to stow away in the basement as well. If I had had more cash on me the two cases that the local Total Wine had would have both been mine.
I haven’t opened one yet, but after reading this review, I’ll probably do so tonight.
Ray | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
Hi Ray, thanks for commenting. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the brew!
It was the third barleywine I’ve had recently (the Alaskan barleywine and Brooklyn Monster Ale where the others), and I find it pretty amazing on how different they tasted from each other
jason | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
First of all Jason, just want to let you know how great your site is. I bought two 6-packs of the Sierra Nevada Bigfoot this year and have drank one. The plan is to drink a couple more in the next few months and then move into a once a year sampling. I really wish I would have hung onto some of the 2007, but moved last year and didn’t want the beer to get damaged in transit.
I had the opportunity to taste a Stone Old Guardian (2005) at a recent event and it was phenomenal.
Thanks for the great site.
Jess | Mar 4, 2008 | Reply
I opened a bottle a few nights back. Big change for me, but I’m currently not able to store at constant temps. The hops have dissipated some, and malt is starting to dominate. Almost too sweet. I imagine the temperature fluctuations didn’t help. Still a good beer.
Jess | Sep 13, 2008 | Reply
Hmmm, that’s interesting. About how high did the temp get where you stored it? It sounds like there was a pretty big difference in how it aged for us over the past few months.
jason | Sep 14, 2008 | Reply
It really was all over the place, probably mid 70’s for at least a month or more this summer. Yeah, I know it’s not the least bit optimum, I need to invest in in something better. Honestly I was suprised by the results myself, as I tried one a few months ago and it still seemed hop balanced. I’m half tempted to try another one just to see if it’s a fluke, but don’t want to deplete my supply too much. (Need to buy more 6-packs next year).
Jess McKellar | Sep 16, 2008 | Reply