Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

AmitC

Indiana

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This one is a gem of a beer. Extremely wonderful brew. This one is dated 20.912 I am assuming that means 20th September 2012.

Pours with an off white colored head of over three finger thickness. Head has a good standing as a thin fluffy layer. Extremely powerful lacing that is very sticky. Color is Dark amber in light and almost dark copper inside the glass. Ruby hues are present. A large number of bubbles. Somewhat hazy with some minuscule suspensions of dry hops.

Aroma: Very citrus and resin hop heavy upfront aroma. Super and fills the nose like an IPA. Some malt backbone and sweetness is not at all apparent. Hidden caramel malt flavor. Some alcohol is minutely observed. Aroma subsides very heavily in some time after pouring.

Taste: Strong hop presence in the taste as well but accompanied by a very solid malt profile. An excellent mix of bittering citrus and resin hops and malts. Malts have a caramel, toasted flavor and keep fighting the bitterness but do not succeed. This one plays with the palette just like a more balanced IPA does. Aftertaste in the mouth is bitter. It takes some time for palette to come to terms with this one. A very good display of hops and malts, i must say. Wins my heart. Mild alcohol presence for its strength. Provides a warmth while drinking. Finish is bitter dry.

Mouth feel: Full bodied and with more than moderate carbonation. No astringency for me but hop phobics will find it bitter. Alcohol is mild but does provide the kick when everyhing sinks in.

Style Rate: 4.75
Personal Rate: 4.75

I am so impressed by this brew. Not very far from my favorite style and provides the kick through its strength. A beer to fall in love with, for the price. Personally, I would drink this as fresh as i can get. Aging wouldn't serve me well as it will take away all of those hops, alcohol and warmth.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:47:02 | More by AmitC

BColton1

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-18-2013 01:37:30 | More by BColton1

Hoptron_3000

Australia

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-17-2013 14:57:22 | More by Hoptron_3000

spw109

New York

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

06-17-2013 07:12:07 | More by spw109

Cleaver35

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-17-2013 01:12:00 | More by Cleaver35

ryutheblade

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -22.1%

06-16-2013 22:32:28 | More by ryutheblade

adityashekhar

India

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-16-2013 14:08:53 | More by adityashekhar

anson42

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-16-2013 02:15:22 | More by anson42

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-15-2013 21:39:43 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

Bockerdoppel91

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-14-2013 11:46:57 | More by Bockerdoppel91

Rosanne

California

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

no aroma, hoppy taste upfront, sweet linger.

Shared a taster on-tap as part of four flights at the brewery; Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Chico, USA. As part of a six-week West Coast beer tour. I rate to taste, not to style. See my blog for more details: carbeers.wordpress.com

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2013 07:37:56 | More by Rosanne

Illmaticzx

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

06-14-2013 04:28:14 | More by Illmaticzx

gleemonger

California

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep reddish brow, mostly clear, with a large tan head. Looks delicious, like a dessert. Good head retention with lots of lacing.

Big hop aromas, with citrus, pine and grapefruit. Plenty of sweet caramel malt. Nice punch, but also smells like it's going to be smooth.

Massive flavors, way bigger than the aroma even suggested. Tons of the same blend of hops I'm getting from the aroma, but with a big bitter smack too. The malts are just as big with the thick caramel sweetness that never takes over the hop show.

Pretty heavy, moderate carbonation, lingering. Bitterness takes away from the smooth drinkability, but that's pretty normal for the style it seems.

Barleywine as a style is pretty hit or miss for me, but this is definitely one of my favorites. There's no medicinal backbone that many have, yet this is definitely all barleywine. I really appreciate the crazy levels of everything here - maybe just a little less bitterness would've taken this one further for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 19:37:14 | More by gleemonger

pajonkunz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-13-2013 16:39:50 | More by pajonkunz

themilkman87

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-13-2013 02:42:25 | More by themilkman87

ChalupaBatman

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-13-2013 02:21:48 | More by ChalupaBatman

Paccamacca

California

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-13-2013 00:13:00 | More by Paccamacca

Jas45678

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-12-2013 23:35:09 | More by Jas45678

utopiajane

New York

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a mahogany red with 2 fingers of tight creamy foam that fell off when it was good and ready. Amazing clarity. Left some yeast floating on top and some sticky, sticky lace. Just beautiful. Nose is big sweet malt. Delicious and fat with caramel, toffee and grain. Hops round it out with dark fruits, cherry and floral. Touch of spice way, way in back. Malt opens up fat and bold as it warms. It’s sweetness deepens but never goes over the top. Hops character is always forthcoming, enlivening and bursting with resin and bitter. Alcohol stays well hidden until the end and contributes to the dryness in the finish. Balance is perfect between the big sweet grain and the oily bitter. This is a strapping, and downright huge beer that was a pleasure from first sip to last.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 09:17:47 | More by utopiajane

Tlab3

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-12-2013 00:36:27 | More by Tlab3

bpasquini

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

06-11-2013 23:17:53 | More by bpasquini

Matthewpakula

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-11-2013 18:56:49 | More by Matthewpakula

BKBassist

New York

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-10-2013 23:20:11 | More by BKBassist

InfragilisBrew

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-10-2013 16:12:28 | More by InfragilisBrew

neckbeered

Montana

3.25/5  rDev -22.1%

06-10-2013 03:39:06 | More by neckbeered