Behemoth Blonde Barleywine - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

bamadog

Kentucky

4.7/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer was the shiz-bom-diggity out of the growler, so I figured it's time to crack a bottle and see if it compares. Review is from notes taken on 7/21/2012 (Happy Birthday to me!), poured from the bottle (2010 green wax) to a snifter.

Appearance: Pour is a dark, coppery/caramel color; starts with a short 1/2 finger, light tan creamy head that fades quickly to nothing but a thin and swirly skim on the surface with a thicker, uneven ring; body is pretty murky, can't see too far into it, but there is plenty of tiny streams of quick carbonation near the sides;

Smell: Despite sitting in the bottle for a couple of years, the hops are still very present - grapefruit and orange peel up front, and perhaps a little bit of sticky pine behind it; as a big barleywine, the malts have big and sweet presence as well -- bit of a butterscotch/caramel aspect, that when blended with the citric hoppiness, I'm reminded of a piece of creamy orange candy. Big and robust, makes me excited to get this beer in my mouth.

Taste: God damn that is one excellent beer. Just like the nose -- huge flavors bombard the palate; plenty of those big bitter hops of the citric and slightly piny nature, and when they blend with those huge malts it is indeed like chewing on a piece of caramel with a piece of orange blended into it; alcohol is present and provides a big of a fusel taste in the back, but the other flavors mellow it out. Freaking fantastic.

Mouthfeel: Thick, chewy and sticky; a big sticky coating is left on the roof of the mouth; gums, teeth and belly are left quite warm and tingly from the booziness.

Overall: Just as good as I remember it, not much difference from the age, still excellent. I would be happy if I could get this beer on a regular basis. Three Floyd's has lost a little bit of fandom from me since I went to DL Day, and their distribution lacks even where they distribute to (sometimes I wonder if they make more than Robert The Bruce), but this is enough to bring me back to their side of the fence. Definitely a sipper, but hell, I'll sip it all night.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 01:22:27 | More by bamadog

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-21-2013 01:40:45 | More by mikeincharleston

ackeeper

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-21-2013 01:03:56 | More by ackeeper

Kreko7

California

3.75/5  rDev -12%

05-19-2013 15:51:40 | More by Kreko7

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