Behemoth Blonde Barleywine - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

kevanb

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

650 ml bottle, 2013 vintage with orange wax, poured into a Three Floyds' Teku glass.

The beer pours a deep amber color with hues of red and burgundy. A 2 finger high, bone colored, soapy head rises from the beer with decent retention and nice lacing. The aroma is a bit muddled, piney, sticky hops hits the nose straight away but quickly lead to sweet brown sugar, rich dark malted grain, toffee and pitted fruit with a huge boozy kick. The balance is a bit awkward and the alcohol is quite harsh. The flavors are a bit smoother and more integrated. Bitter, pine forward hops rush out but are cut by sweet brown sugar, toffee, pitted fruit and super harsh alcohol at the finish with just a touch of smokey alcohol. The body is nice, coats the mouth well, a bit bubbly and lively for my tastes when it comes to a barleywine, but the finish is dry and bitter, plays nicely with the hops.

Verdict: A good but not great barleywine from Three Floyds. Best when super fresh and with some years on it, but the hops do feel a bit out of place in this brew. An interesting experiment in the American style, but doesn't match the smooth, rich complexity of an English style barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 03:23:19 | More by kevanb

jdhasse

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-25-2013 02:12:40 | More by jdhasse

kirkfrailey

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-24-2013 13:50:32 | More by kirkfrailey

WKole81

Illinois

5/5  rDev +17.4%

05-24-2013 02:51:43 | More by WKole81

msinger1002

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%

05-23-2013 23:27:41 | More by msinger1002

emottram

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-23-2013 21:52:30 | More by emottram

cnewton

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-23-2013 18:57:31 | More by cnewton

hannydawg

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-23-2013 14:02:29 | More by hannydawg

Callmecoon

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-23-2013 02:27:10 | More by Callmecoon

Busker

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-21-2013 18:10:45 | More by Busker

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