Behemoth Blonde Barleywine - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

Phelps

Arizona

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received from nlmartin as part of the Blind Beers BIF. This one’s a bomber labelled 13% and capped with some very distinctive green wax. I poured it into a snifter and reviewed it blind.

A big ol’ creamy two-finger head of khaki sits atop an almost completely opaque beer the color of burnt umber. The bubbles are so thick and dense they look as if I could fall asleep on them, and they only recede very slowly, leaving thick reaching arms of lace as they go.

The nose: a blast of hops is noticeable first, with pine needles and orange peel. Behind is the heavier stuff: orange blossom, honey, caramel, overripe orange, vodka.

Heavy Metal flavor — the music, I mean. A blend of abrasive piney and citrusy hops, bolstered by an impressive malt bill that delivers caramel-coated lemon rind, burnt sugar, lightly toasted bread and a healthy dose of ethanol. The balance between bright hops and the deeper malt flavors is pretty perfect. It’s not terribly complex, but it’s a solid barleywine flavor.

A heavy body to match the substantial flavor. The buttery medium body is lightly carbonated and subtly fizzy. Alcohol is all over the place with this one: the tongue, the nose, the throat. It’s heavy, hot and unavoidable.

This barleywine’s got big flavors, but it’s lacking in complexity. It’s good stuff, though a year or two in the cellar would go a long way toward smoothing the alcohol out.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 05:51:32 | More by Phelps

jakeox

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -12%

05-19-2013 00:02:36 | More by jakeox

nesarebad

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-18-2013 23:33:27 | More by nesarebad

Hefewiseman

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-18-2013 19:18:47 | More by Hefewiseman

Tiburon

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-18-2013 14:10:59 | More by Tiburon

BradSillars

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-18-2013 01:15:42 | More by BradSillars

rcdt76

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-17-2013 21:57:46 | More by rcdt76

carlosega

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-17-2013 18:53:36 | More by carlosega

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-17-2013 16:06:47 | More by twenty5

screamking

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle poured into snifter.
2013 edition with around 6months on it.

Appearance-pours a deep red/brown, very cloudy, small off white head which disappears quickly. Some lacing around the sides. 4

Aroma-aroma is a very even mix of hops and malt. Citrus hops are the first through, lots of grapefruit. Some fig and other dark fruits peaking their noses in. Very complex and hard to dig into. I'm also getting some cherry and vanilla. 4

Taste-that's a very even taste. Hops and malt work side by side perfectly in this one. Yes, there's bitter hops up front. There's also some nice dark fruit malts in there too.
Not one thing seems to overtake the other. 4

Feel-medium to full body, lots of boozieness in the mouth, a real good sipper. 4.25

Overall-I have had barleywines that I like more then this for one reason or the other, but I can't recall one that is this even. I really can't say that enough, it could be because I aged this a little, but the hops are completly even with the malts. Price is a little expensive, but its worth it for this beer, an all night sipper. 4

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 02:23:45 | More by screamking

Fcolle2

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-17-2013 01:18:06 | More by Fcolle2

Westuh

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-16-2013 18:18:46 | More by Westuh

4amepiphany

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-14-2013 05:10:34 | More by 4amepiphany

Mcvs1507

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-14-2013 03:45:21 | More by Mcvs1507

Cvescalante

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-14-2013 03:16:27 | More by Cvescalante

gtermi

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-14-2013 03:11:12 | More by gtermi

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-13-2013 13:14:06 | More by DarthGuitarHero

brez8791

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +17.4%

05-13-2013 00:05:32 | More by brez8791

MRAnderson

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-12-2013 21:22:06 | More by MRAnderson

xip

Indiana

5/5  rDev +17.4%

05-12-2013 19:07:10 | More by xip

jl28r1

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-12-2013 15:55:43 | More by jl28r1

sleuthdog

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2013 bottle (orange wax) into FFF Teku

Pour: A dark hue of an amber reddish orange with a big three finger off white head that lingers for a long time. Sticky lacing is clinging all over the glass.

Smell: Very citrus and orange peel forward at first. Then a big caramel sweetness with a touch of honey.

Taste: Big citrus hop notes hit up front first. Then I get the sweetness in what I'd call a candied apple like taste. There is also a malt backbone with biscuit and yeast. The back end is a finishing of toffee sweetness mixed with citrus and grassy hops. Delicious!

Mouthfeel: Rich and syrup like coating the palate well. Does not seem to stay long after the swallow except I do notice the alcohol burn lingering. Does seem to lack a bit here. Medium carbonation.

Overall: I am a huge english style barleywine fan but damn does FFF hit the mark on this one. It has their well known hop profile with a candied sweetness in perfect harmony. Love this beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 00:58:47 | More by sleuthdog

jminch

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-11-2013 00:02:29 | More by jminch

AnnArborJoe

Michigan

5/5  rDev +17.4%

05-10-2013 17:12:59 | More by AnnArborJoe

bhurley

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%

05-10-2013 16:07:27 | More by bhurley