So instead of phoning it in (as it were), I’m putting Theme Week on hold to catch up on other blog necessities and develop some of those other ideas. And yes, some of those other “blog necessities” include posting beer reviews (of which I have a backlog); Stan raised an interesting issue around that topic and while it doesn’t look like my top posts are beer reviews, it’s part of why I have this blog, after all.

Simply put: Old Guardian is one of the best American Barleywines out there. I guarantee that opening a bottle of this will be a great drinking experience.

Appearance: Hazy and brown like a thick apple cider, with a creamy, dense head that could almost be a nitro pour.

Smell: Sweet and fruity with some very smooth brandy notes. Malty with toffee and hot caramel and broken down leather and dates and maybe raisins.

Taste: Sweet and strong with just the right amount of bitterness—both from alcohol and from hops. That fruity note washes over the back of the mouth and there’s a touch of burn from the brandy-like strength. Figgy, and cloyingly sweet, with earthy, pepper-spicy hops. Hits all the right notes.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and sticky sweet and rich; lovely palate-coating finish.

Overall: World class.

On BeerAdvocate, it scores an overall grade of A-. On RateBeer, it scores 3.83 out of 5 and is in their 99th percentile.

• Deschutes Mirror Mirror (2005), which I reviewed when I hosted The Session back in February ’08.
• Mirror Mirror 2009
• Redhook’s Treblehook Barley Wine
• Shipyard Barley Wine
• Anchor Old Foghorn (which I reviewed during “Big Beer Week”, sort of a pre-Barleywine Week)
• Mad River’s John Barleycorn Barleywine
• Barley Brown’s Sled Wreck
• Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Horn Dog (say that five times fast!)
• Boundary Bay Old Bounder
• Stone Old Guardian 2007
• Lagunitas Brown Shugga (which I’m claiming is a Barleywine despite what everyone else thinks!)
• Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2007)
• Young’s Old Nick (a classic)
• Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (2008)

Our American-style Barleywine undergoes a three hour boil to intensify the caramel malts and the enormous Pacific Northwest hop charge. The result is a rich, estery brew with toffee notes and citrus hop flavors layered throughout. Enjoy this brew fresh today or lay it down for aging to see how the flavors of each vintage evolve.

Appearance: Pours the color of liquid caramel with a tan-orange head, nice and thick.

Smell: Signature San Diego hop nose, big and resiny, fronting a big boozy malt kick.

Taste: Big and bitter hops all over the place here, along with hot alcohol notes and a puckery-bitter punch. Sticky and sweet and as it warms, it loses some of the hot alcohol bite. Very big on the tongue, all around—typically San Diegan.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and sticky, with a cloying yet dry finish.

Overall: Nice big beer, definitely a sipper, and would benefit greatly from aging.

On BeerAdvocate, it scores an overall grade of B+. On RateBeer, it scores 3.68 out of 5 and is in their 97th percentile.

Full Sail’s description:

A deliciously rich barleywine that has spectacular depth and delicacy of flavor that is deep and robust. Its strong, sweet body is balanced with Centennial and Crystal hops for a pleasant hoppiness and finish. Makes a great cellar beer. Available in 22oz. bottles and draught year round. ABV 9% IBU 91

Appearance: Very attractive orange-amber color with a cream-colored head.

Smell: Prototypical in the way that I think of Barleywines: sweet and candy-ish, punctuated by a warming alcohol note, with a hint of earth-spicy hops.

Taste: A little hot—boozy, young—overlaid with a nice fruity character that’s sweet without being sour or astringent, a ripe stonefruit or similar. Not cloying sweet, and it has a nice light peppery bite.

Mouthfeel: Just shy of full-bodied; there’s a surprising lightness that finishes refreshing—no easy task for a 9% beer.

Overall: Really nice beer that, while it might be a little young, is still a top-notch Barleywine.

On BeerAdvocate, it scores an overall grade of B+. On RateBeer, it scores 3.81 and is in their 99th percentile.

The beer itself is 9.2% alcohol by volume. I don’t know if there is going to be another brewing of Rudyard’s Rare, or if the 2007 vintage is going to be it; so you’d best grab some up if you come across it.

Appearance: Faint hiss on opening, pours almost still, brown color, murky with floaties.

Smell: Malty and boozy, with toffee and a touch of burnt sugar. Pretty nice nose and what I’d look for in a Barleywine.

Taste: Boozy up front too, with a surprising amount of woody hop character (still) going on; also oxidation and leathery malt notes. Some real nice flavors blending here; even the sherry-like oxidation gives a pleasant sipping quality.

Mouthfeel: Nice medium-full body with a sticky feel and a dry finish.

Overall: Pleasant, big, sippable.

On BeerAdvocate, it scores an overall grade of B+. On RateBeer, it scores 3.55 out of 5 and in in their 95th percentile.

All this week I’ll be reviewing various Barleywine-style ales, re-visiting some past reviews, and perhaps writing a bit more about the style as well.

The middle of winter is the perfect time for Barleywines, and I’ve been picking up bottles that I haven’t tried yet that I’ll be opening next week. Along with some old favorites too, maybe.

I might post something later with pictures of various beers being consumed today; we’ll see how awake I am later. In the meantime, enjoy the holiday!

It turns out there is exactly one: Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale from Mayflower Brewing Company in Plymouth, Massachusetts, appropriately enough. The relatively young brewery (founded in 2007) describes the beer thusly:

Our first seasonal brew! Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale is an inspired blend of two brewing styles: American Strong Ale and English Old Ale. Aged on American white oak, this full-bodied brew warms the soul with hints of caramel, vanilla and spicy nuts.

It’s 8% alcohol by volume and has garnered decent reviews on the rating sites. Now that I know about it I’d love to try it; but I doubt it will make its way west anytime soon.

(BeerAdvocate actually also lists another beer, but it’s retired: Spiced Thanksgiving Ale from Cape Cod Beer, also in Massachusetts. But since it’s not brewed any more Mayflower gets the sole nod.)