Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale - Whiskey Barrel-Aged - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

elNopalero

Texas

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

This was just incredible One of those beers you are familiar with and have tried over the years—fresh and aged—and then it’s knocked out of the park with the new characteristics barrel aging gives it.

This poured an amber color with light foam. Simply incredible aroma, with a muted hoppiness but just these great toffee and coconut notes that have emerged. The flavor has an upfront bitterness which turns into part smooth and partly sweet. I pick up candied orange, shaved coconut, and this nice piney chew. Fantastic finish. I could easily drink this one all day.
This is a fantastic beer turned extra amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 21:48:04 | More by elNopalero

bcp5296d

North Carolina

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Had about 6 oz. of this last night tasting with friends.

Appearance: Light mahogany. A little darker than I imagined.

Smell: This beer smells super boozy. Smells much more boozy than it really is. I took this as a sign of great aging and balance.

Taste: Unbelievably balanced contrary to the strong whiskey smell. Smooth oak, matured barley-wine, balanced with a perfect amount of whiskey flavor. Everyone in the room was blown away after the first sip.

Mouthfeel: not syrupy at all, and I dig the carbonation with these. Everything seems to fit.

Overall: I prefer this beer to KBS, and I love Breakfast stout. This beer is not a novelty, it is balanced to perfection and the whole concept was executed perfectly. Keep in mind I've only had 5-10 whiskey barrel aged beers, but I've had my fair share of barley-wines, including aged bigfoots. This beer is on a very high level.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 23:21:15 | More by bcp5296d

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Meadhall in Cambridge for 12 Brewers of Christmas on 12/19/12.

A: Amber-brown with a decent sized off-white head that fades quickly. A bit of lace and retention. As it should look.

S: Crazy amount of bourbon & whiskey, booze, butter, butterscotch, brandy, sour, apple, wood, earth, dark fruit, brown sugar. So complex. I could probably add more but I need a sip.

T: Everything a BA American BW should have. The sweet booze and wood are there as are a great hop presence and bitterness to balance the sweetness. Great barrel presence but also plenty of roasted sweet malt. Each sip gets better. The last big swig was perfect. Tons of barrel and malt with the right touch of hops.

M: Massive flavor, smooth as hell, and dry like it should be.

O: I came to this event specifically for this beer (and to donate $ to Toys for Tots). It was totally worth it and this beer surpassed my expectations which were already high. A very special beer. Talked to the local SN rep who said this is the beer that is going into bottles in early 2013. Went into barrels in 2010. Specifically Stranahan, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill. Supposedly a mistake but they went with it for the 30th Anniversary of Bigfoot this year. Amazing stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2012 02:12:04 | More by Gatch

joefuzz

New York

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pours just like regular Bigfoot, deep ruby with a small slightly off white head. Smells of piney hops and some slight whiskey. Taste is hop forward with that great Bigfoot malt bill complimented very nicely by a slight vanilla/marshmallow aftertaste and some decent alcohol heat. The barrel doesn't overpower the base beer it is pretty much the perfect blend. Mouthfeel is perfect for a barleywine with just the right amount of carbonation. Regular Bigfoot is one of my favorite barleywines and I had thought that there was no room for improvement but this has taken me by suprise. Sierra Nevada has done wonders for the craft beer community for decades and this is just another great example of them pushing into the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 04:26:08 | More by joefuzz

MadScientist

New York

4.71/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A: A light copper with good clarity. The head is persistant and made of creamy tan bubbles that leave a light lacing on the glass. The alcohol shows some legs but mostly coating the glass in sheets.

S: There was an inviting aroma of burnt sugar that hit my nose when poped the cork, down in the glass there is a strong aroma of oak and malt. The oak mostly brings cinnamon, coconut and whiskey notes while the rich barley wine malt brings smells of sweetness, burnt sugar, red cherries and raisins. There isn't any noticeable hops but a smooth, moderate alcohol aroma.

T: Cherries, oak, a toffee-like malt sweetness and moderately-strong hops bitterness dominate the flavor with some alcohol making it's presence clear in the middle. Moderate whiskey flavors as well. There is a good amount of hops bitterness but an almost equal amount of sweetness making for a balance that is about even with a finish that manages to be sweet while having a lingering hops bitterness.

M: A Creamy, medium-full bodied beer with a moderate carbonation. Fairly strong alcohol warmth without being unpleasant or solventy.

O: I'd use this as a classic example of style for an oak aged beer as the barrel aging of strong yet the Barleywine flavors are clear and the overall flavors are balance and complementary.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 01:57:44 | More by MadScientist

mjweth2

Kentucky

4.65/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Bigfoot aged in whiskey barrels

A: Clear amber, with a decent off-white head

S: Amazing... whiskey (Jack Daniels comes to mind but in the best way possible), oak, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, citrus, mint, with an underlying barleywine aroma that brings it all together.

T: Starts off with whiskey and toffee, then transitions into a barleywine taste with lots of oak and dark fruits, finishes with more of a bitterness than I was expecting, though it is not at all unpleasent. It has a nice stickiness about it that allows the flavors to linger for a bit and it only gets better with every sip.

M: Decent, though the carbonation is a bit much for this beer in my opinion.

D: Great, I had to keep reminding myself that this was 12% ABV

Overall this beer was amazing, everything I had hoped it could be, definitely gonna try to seek out more of this to see how it is with some more age on it.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:13:18 | More by mjweth2

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.59/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The nose is similar to the original only in the background, right up front it is definitely barrel aged. Bourbon, vanilla, toasted coconut, oak, caramel, molasses, a hint of piney hops and some booziness. The bourbon barrel comes forward REALLY strong in the taste. Toasted coconut, oak, bourbon, caramel, pine hops, vanilla, some citrus and sweet roasted, caramel malts. I like the more pronounced malts of the barrel-aged version as opposed to the standard Bigfoot. The hops are much more muted and subtle. Medium to full body, low but proper carbonation, very smooth, not too boozey and a sweet, somewhat chewy mouthfeel. I could drink this all the time whereas the original is a bit rougher, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 06:08:45 | More by DonDirkA

RyanEley

California

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

The Sierra Nevada Brewery is an amazing place to sample beers. They always have ones that you have never seen in the store or have never heard of. Last night I had wood barrel aged bigfoot. It was aged in a whiskey barrel so it ended up being 12.5% and it had a nice taste of whiskey at the end.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2008 00:50:01 | More by RyanEley

Trilogy31

California

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Hoping i am in the right place for this beer as it it appears i am the first to review the newly released 750 bottled version. A slow hiss as i pull the cork, this brew pours a brilliant amber ruby hue with a beige finger of creamy foam - stunning looking. The nose is a beauty as well, bourbon barrel booze esters, caramel, nougat, vanillin. Also bright sugar plums and sticky toffee along with dates and booze soaked figs. Very complex on the nose with a lot of booze as well. The taste is not quite to the level of the nose with the alcohol hiding up some more of the noses nuanced characteristics. Brings oloroso sherry, rye whiskey as well as irish whiskey, somehwhat grainy and drying. The finish is somewhat tannic and very boozy, cannot imagine how amazing this will be in two years after having time to mellow and all the flavors to integrate.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 03:12:54 | More by Trilogy31

Justin_Neff

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: Dark copper color with a 2 finger head. Great lacing that sticks on the glass throughout the entire drink. The foamy lacing sticks around the brew for the whole drink. Nice and fluffy.

S: Whhhiskey! Hints of caramel, toffee, brown sugar, dark fruits, and butter. Good.

T: More whiskey. Lots of malt. Caramel - more than the nose suggests. Some oak. Finishes with some hop bitterness.

M: Full body and very creamy. Low carbonation.

O: Couldn't believe when my dad showed up at my doorstep in Ohio this morning and told me he came across a bottle of this in Indiana. I truly owe him, as this one was worth the hype. Thanks Pops!! Great balance of flavor, smell, and body.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 01:04:01 | More by Justin_Neff

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.54/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle served in a snifter.

L - clouded reddish/amber color with a off-white head that thinned to a ring.

S - the whiskey makes itself known but the aroma of Bigfoot is lurking in the background.

T - WOW, Bigfoot is a delicious beer to begin with and SN takes it up a notch with the whiskey barrel aging. Everything malty and hop wise that Bigfoot is with the taste of whiskey blended in perfectly.

F - medium/full bodied with a smooth feel.

O - the abv never makes itself known but someone put whiskey in my Bigfoot and I like it!

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 22:49:49 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Mertzy81

Maryland

4.54/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a reddish-brown with a dense creamy head. Lots of lacing.

S: Fruity and malty with a noticable bourbon presence.

T: Big flavor. The same old familiar hoppy Bigfoot taste but with a strong taste the evolves from potent bourbon to a soft and complex vanilla flavor as your palate adjusts.

M: Big, thick, and silky smooth with light carbonation.

D: There are many beers that don't do well with bourbon aging. This isn't one of them. If you like Bigfoot, then you should buy copius amounts of this if given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 06:37:06 | More by Mertzy81

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

a deep ruby red/burgundy almost black with a finger of creme colored head which gave off some nice lacing. the smell is a blast of vanilla and whiskey, caramel, sweet malt, a banana-like scent makes it overall sweet and leaning towards fruity. oh my.. the flavor is SO SO tasty. the whiskey is as mellow as it is in the central waters bourbon barrel barleywines.. i'd hate to compare it, but this is on par with that. vanilla, banana, whiskey/bourbon (sorry, don't mean to offend people but there's not much of a difference to my palate in the 2 different liquors), oak, tons of delicious sweet malt.
full body with a moderate amount of carbonation for the style. creamy and very subtle with the alcohol warmth but it does catch up to you.

this is a phenomenal beer in every aspect. as a barrel aged beer, it falls nothing short of its promise. as a barleywine, i like mine hoppy, strong, yet sweet.. this one is lacking on the hops, but is still damn close to perfect. as a barrel aged barleywine, it is delicious. a 12% abv that you don't realize until, well, it's too late.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 00:48:43 | More by facundoCNB

chugalug06

Colorado

4.51/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Very minimal white head grows on top of the clear emerald colored medium viscous liquid.

Lots of caramel, coconut, tobacco, leather, vanilla, whiskey, yum.

Loads of dry tobacco flavors. Whiskey is very prevalent. Bitterness is near perfect and I dig the extremely low carbonation. Sweetness is nice-and-even throughout the dynamic complexity of the brew. Very well blended and thought out.

Drink this badboy near room tempature... Opens very nicely and has a wonderful array of deep flavor. It's certainly one of the top BA B-wines IMO. I can't wait to see what direction my other BABF goes in after 5years+... Highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 20:42:34 | More by chugalug06

Greywulfken

New York

4.51/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: deep amber brown with ruby highlights, tan two-finger head of dense foam; didn't really lace my tulip glass - they subsided quickly

S: sweet malty aromas and whiskey, floral and earthy hops and yeasts.

T: fantastic tasting - rich, rugged malt flavors, sweeter up front than on the finish. I thought of bitter toffee/burnt sugar and old coffee. Some hints of dried dark fruit, vanilla, and musky earth and wood; nicely bitter and savory. Whiskey notes hover around the palate. Bittersweet and resinous...

M: great chew, medium density, moderate carbonation, more coating than tingling, slight tackiness

O: a great barleywine - complex and hearty, strong and only semi-sweet - sweeter than the normal Bigfoot, but not overly sweet; the bitter hops leaft a great aftertaste between sips. Reminded me of American and English strong ales/old ales. Definitely something to buy again if spotted.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 01:41:46 | More by Greywulfken

JEdmund

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer capped off a vertical tasting of Bigfoot from 2007 to 2013. By this point, we were pretty much palate-fatigued, but this beer really made everyone sit up and take notice. The aroma is immediately striking, with its strong whiskey notes. Two years in the barrel really imparted a strong character. Same goes for the taste. It’s Bigfoot, but wrapped up in whiskey barrel goodness. Never too much of the barrel though. Really, the balance is exceptional in how they managed to deliver the best of both worlds. The oaky vanilla also nicely plays with the flavors. Barrel Aged Bigfoot was the star of the show as we all thought it was the most enjoyable beer of the bunch. I feel lucky to have tried this special release.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 19:39:53 | More by JEdmund

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.48/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Credit for the American-style barleywine can be largely, if not solely attributed to Sierra Nevada and their Bigfoot Barleywine. Its taken thirty years of recipe formulation and execution and over a decade of barrel aged technique to achieve the seduction of taste that this bottle delivers.

Its tawny brown pour provides highlights of mahogany, ruby, and maroon just as soon as the beer releases its slightly yellowish foam. Mostly clear in color, the beer's sheer darkness prevents it from being see-through. Capped by that ultra-creamy froth, the beer retains exceptional for its high alcohol and barrel-aged character, all the while lacing randomly and intricately as the beer fades.

Maple syrup, oak, and incredible whisky are the boldest scents to entice the olfactory senses, but a secondary rise of dark pitted fruit, kettle caramelized toffee, toast, citrus peels and vanilla often times rival the more overt scents. Its a very lush and inviting set of aromas that seem to meld together beautifully.

Robust sweetness of caramelized malts provide a healthy and heaping dose of toffee, maple, and caramel. But just as the sweetness takes on port-like proportions, the fruit notes of plumb, raisin, currant, dates, grapes, and figs take hold and turn the beer slightly tart and savory. Aged oak, vanilla, and malt starches provide a mild creamy taste that teases the middle palate with notions of milkshake. But finishing with an overwhelming sense of whisky is peppery, coconut-like, moderate citrusy bitterness and strongly of barrel-infused alcohol for a taste that takes the original Bigfoot right out of orbit.

Full bodied without question, however the beer has a certain lightness due to how the whisky barrel smoothed out the textures, mellowed the hops, and tamed the alcohols somewhat. But a gradient lessening of malt sweetness allows the stronger alcohols to cut through the malt and usher in a balanced, warm, and malty-dry finish.

I'm rather surprised of how much the barrels diealed down the hops and rounded out the malts to sherry-like or port-like savoriness and complexity. But with the influx of bourbon barrel aged beers, I have become accustomed to expect more bourbon character than this simplified whisky flavor provided. Even still, its a world class barleywine that more resembles English versions than the standard Bigfoot provides.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 06:28:16 | More by BEERchitect

klewis

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Brewkettle, Strongsville, OH 3/11/07

Listed as "Sierra Nevada Bourbon Bigfoot". Listed at 11% ABV on the board, but I assume that this is the same beer.


A: Pours a reddish-brown with a dense creamy head. Lots of lacing.

S: Fruity and malty with a noticable bourbon presence.

T: Big flavor. The same old familiar hoppy Bigfoot taste but with a strong taste the evolves from potent bourbon to a soft and complex vanilla flavor as your palate adjusts.

M: Big, thick, and silky smooth with light carbonation.

D: There are many beers that don't do well with bourbon aging. This isn't one of them. If you like Bigfoot, then you should buy copius amounts of this if given the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2007 04:18:58 | More by klewis

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: On tap at the Prohibition Pig after a long day. Served in a 12 oz. tulip glass slightly chilled.

Appearance: Pours a creamy beige head with some nice retention. The lacing holds well to the glass. Medium to dark amber in color with a touch of haze.

Aroma: The whiskey from the barrels is very upfront and blends surprisingly well with the base beer. The base contributes some caramel, sherry and a touch of piney hops. The hops are definitely far more subdued than in fresh Bigfoot.

Taste: Really nice blend of the barrel and the base beer. Caramel, vanilla, whiskey, and a touch of peat all hit upfront with a bit of fused alcohol. The hops are definitely faded and don't dominate nearly as much as they do in fresh Bigfoot. They do lend a nice bitterness that offsets some of the other sweet flavors and adds some nice complexity. Drinks really smoothly.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, with nice carbonation. A big beer.

Overall, I really thought that the barrel did wonders to this beer and really added some nice new dimensions to the base beer. I got the really nice background sherry and medicinal tones of 2-3 year old Bigfoot along with really nice barrel character. It didn't feel muddled as I thought it might with the combination of the hops and the barrel. Well done. I will be looking to get a bottle or two to see how this evolves over time.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2013 02:53:52 | More by Gosox8787

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Served on-tap at Harry's Hofbrau in a sampling glass.

A: No head. Very murky golden brown. Translucent.

S: Fruity alcohol. Smells great!! Rich toffee malts, tropical hops(!?), and delicious whisky. Huge fan.

T: Wow. Boozy and hugely bourbony. This tastes more like a bourbon barrel aged RIS than a Barleywine. Hops are strongly bitter, but overshadowed by the caramelized sugar and great malt. The end taste is dry and long and lingeringly bitter. Very impressive.

M: Light, spicy hops; sweet sticky caramel. Hops win.

O: Truly phenomenal. One of the most exciting beers I've tried in recent memory. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2013 02:05:47 | More by AgentMunky

cosmicevan

New York

4.44/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

corked and caged bottle to the dome...in a sierra nevada balloon glass. picked this up locally...gotta say one of the harder beers to track down of late.

a - brew poured a semi transparent ruby with a thin off beige head of bubbles that hung out for a short time leaving a thin skin of bubbles on the surface.

s - wow. really nice. bigfoot is there, with a big glazing of whiskey. it is a perfect match. lots of wood and boozy caramel with the hoppy goodness of bigfoot's big hop and malt bill beneath. toffee, vanilla, caramel...whiskey.

t - zippity doo da...VERY nice. sort of what one would expect, exactly as advertised...it is bigfoot in a whiskey barrel. much like the nose, toffee, caramel with a strong glazing of whiskey over everything. definitely boozy, but palatable. burnt sugar and toasted coconut.

m - fairly boozy, leaves a tingle in my mouth. chewy.

o - overall, as advertised. bigfoot in a whiskey barrel. it is a winner. paint me impressed!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 02:09:31 | More by cosmicevan

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750 ml cork and caged bottle poured into a snifter.
12.2% ABV, 2013 Expedition

A - Ruby highlights accentuate this clear rusty amber beer giving it a fantastic color! The modest pour creates a tan head atop the still liquid and is nicely retained, resulting in a ring of foam and some fingers of lace after a few moments of settling.

S - Barrel-aged Bigfoot is upfront about it's booze; "ale aged in whiskey barrels" adorns the front of the bottle and, with the first whiff, it's evident. The alcohol flows freely from this beer but somehow remains in check with the base beer, harmoniously complimenting it rather than sweeping it aside. Oak and whiskey envelope gooey caramel sweetness and toasted bread adding complimentary notes of vanilla and traces of pure maple syrup. Don't give this beer a swirl though, you'll regret the off-putting aroma of burning rubber and resiny plastic immediately. Unlike the yearly release of this beer, barrel-aged Bigfoot is hardly hoppy-smelling.

T - Sharp whiskey alcohol grips the tongue with the first sip, softly giving way to bold maltiness and the complex nuances that follow; vanilla, oak tannins, dark fruits and pure maple syrup. With each passing sip, the alcohol which lingers on the palate becomes a little less intrusive, allowing for greater exploration of the malt complexity within. Notes of hops; earthiness and grapefruit rind add a fine layer of depth to the finish.

M - Whiskey flavor and alcohol give this big beer a surprisingly thin feeling from the get-go, but it's smooth and nicely rounded for a wonderful drinking experience that finishes with subtle dryness, alcohol warmth, and lingers on the palate for a long-lasting impression. Bigfoot's usual bitterness is surprisingly absent here.

O - Taking a iconic beer such as Bigfoot and giving it the barrel treatment seems like a big, yet necessary step for Sierra Nevada which resulted in a terrific contrast to the yearly release and is quite a pleasure to drink side-by side with the "normal" one. It's most noticeable variance is (obviously) the whiskey, but also the stark lack of hops, seemingly overpowered by it's time in the barrel. This potent "older brother" to Bigfoot is a welcome addition to Sierra's offering which will hopefully return (with more availability?).

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 01:47:53 | More by BeerFMAndy

hctap00

4.41/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A sexy beer. I am not good at colors, but I'll do my best to describe the appearance. Held to the light, it is ruby red, with a fair amount of translucence. When not in the light, it reminds me of a scotch ale. Are dark brownish mahogany, with red hints, fairly murky. Lovely tan lacing that never fades.

Aroma has hints of regular Bigfoot. Some of the citrus and pine hops, but far more subtle. Plenty of oak and vanilla, maybe some molasses. Some booze noticeable but not too much. Overall malty, sweet goodness. More mellow than I expected.

It is still pretty hoppy. Definitely has mellowed after a year in the barrel, but the hops are still prevalent. This is a good thing, as I love the hop profile of Bigfoot. Perfect combination of citrus, pine, and hop sweetness. The malt profile surrounding the hops is also Bigfoot-esque, but richer, and a bit harsher, but in a good way. Hard to pick out individual flavors with so much going on. Obviously the oak/vanilla is prominent. The bottle label says "rich burnt sugar...toasted coconut and raisins." Not sure about the last two, but definitely the burnt sweetness. There is some kind of lingering fruitiness in the finish that I like. I really like that the whiskey booziness is distinct but not overwhelming. Adds another layer of complexity rather than merely burning alcohol.

Rather creamy, lingers for a while...nice.

While it was not exactly what I was expecting, it was still very enjoyable. Perhaps it is the Boltcutter effect, but I thought that BA Bigfoot would be an all out flavor assault and completely lacking in subtlety. Far from it, this beer was rather mellow and never overpowering. The flavor of the whiskey barrel rather than the intensity and the heat was most noticeable. I like what SN did with this. I hope they continue with this annual release.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 06:02:20 | More by hctap00

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.39/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750mL corked and caged bottle poured into a DFH Signature glass. Bottled in 2013.

A - Pours mahogany in color with bright ruby highlights when backlit. A frothy finger of head dies pretty quickly to a lace inducing halo.

S - Smells malty and sweet. Full of plum, caramel, raisins, vermouth, pear, and vanilla. Faint pine hops, or what used to be pine hops, lurk in the background. Complex and full of fruit. Smells more similar to an English BW than an American BW, but that's to be expected after an extended stay in the barrel.

T - Starts sweet with many of the fruits from the aroma. Molasses, vanilla, and nice drying pine needles follow. Bitter oak and some invited whiskey heat on the finish. Toffee and pine linger. I am surprised how balanced this beer is because I picked up little else but sweetness on the nose. There is a lot going on and all of the flavors work well together. Impressive.

M - Medium-thick body with mellow carbonation. Very smooth on the palate with just a bit of heat on the back end.

O - I love Bigfoot and I was excited to get a few bottles of this. This is a phenomenal variation from the original. That time in the barrel imparted a remarkably balanced and complex flavor profile full of vanilla, whiskey, and appropriately sweet malts & fruits. There is a bit of heat, but I rather enjoyed that. Despite consuming the entire 12.2% ABV bottle, I never grew tired of this beer; in fact, I could have gone for another pour. I am glad I picked up multiples of this beer. I will hang on to one to see how it ages, but in my opinion this is a fantastic fresh beer. Hopefully this will be much easier to get once the NC brewery is up and running.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:50:42 | More by NoLeafClover44

TKEbeerman

Florida

4.39/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Poured into my CCB snifter this brew pours a really nice red hue with an off white head the quickly dissipates (the only flaw).

S. The aroma is complex. As it warms the whiskey stings your nose. The mault has lasted through the aging, notes of sweet caramel, the hops that are signature to SN are present, but tame.

T. The flavor is amazing. Smooth, whiskey flavors ( the good whiskey flavors). Caramel, notes of vanilla, raw burnt/spent whiskey barrels with SN hops mildly on the back of the pallet.

MF. For BA beers this brew has an excellent MF. This beer did not thin. Good carbonation, chewy mault backbone.

Overall, this is an excellent example of a classic beer becoming more iconic. To me its obvious the larger craft breweries (SN and SA) are struggling to stay pace with the more extreem, ever changing craft beer world. I recently have BA Ovilla, and it was awesome. I hope this becomes a year round brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 00:22:19 | More by TKEbeerman