Blithering Idiot
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Blithering IdiotBlithering Idiot
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From:
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
Ranked #184
ABV:
11.1%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,781
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 14.95%
Reviews:
965
Ratings:
2,327
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 02, 2024
Added:
Sep 20, 2001
Wants:
  71
Gots:
  458
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SIRIUS2:
Photo of SIRIUS2
Reviewed by SIRIUS2 from North Carolina

3.99/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a goblet style glass.

A: Deep clear ruby brown in color. Minimal white head quickly dissipates into a thin white layer of bubbles and healthy white perimeter ring. Very little (if any) lacing.

S: Very light smells of candied fruit and minimal whiffs of alcohol

T: Sweetness quickly takes over the palate with a very refined grain malt taste combined with something on the order of rock candy; sort of a fruity flavor similar to that of a sweet wine.

M: Very heavy and sweet. Light but persistent carbonation keeps the sweetness from cloying on the tongue. There is definite warming but no real intense alcohol presense. Goes down easy but catches up to you quickly.

Barley wine style. Definitely. Blithering Idiot is deceptive in that it is quite sweet in both nose and mouth and manages to hide that serious kick with the exception of some enjoyable warming at the end. Awesome. And that color! Almost like a ruby colored port. So long as you aren't put off by the sweet profile, you will probably like this. Recommended.
Feb 15, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured at fridge temp, but allowed to warm a few degrees before tasting. Pours a nice orange/light brown with minimal head. The nose is full of toffee, bread, malts, apricots, apple, and biscuits.

The taste is super smooth. English malts come through right away. Caramel. Slight bitterness here - comes across as leather. A floral note also emerges - tastes almost like a dandelion smells. Candy sweetness offsets the very slight bitterness. Lovely fruit notes - plums, raisins, and pear. Lovely beer!
Mar 02, 2024
Photo of Peach63
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Copper with a 1/4" tan head which fades to a wisp. Light lacing.

Aroma of caramel, molasses, coffee, toffee.

Taste follows nose: caramel, molasses, coffee, toffee. A bit acidic.

Medium to full body, lively carbonation. Semisweet finish.

A very good Barleywine.
Feb 04, 2024
 
Rated: 2.73 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
Photo of Hayesbro
Reviewed by Hayesbro from Pennsylvania

4.07/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a murky brown with a very slight bit of fizz that goes away quickly. Sweet, fruity aromas. Very strong raisin flavors, high sweetness, low bitterness but with a bit of tannin on the backend. Medium mouthfeel, not syrupy at all, which is a surprise given the AbV. Very nice for a heavy beer that's not a stout.
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Braunmeister_1943
Reviewed by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania

3.62/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Purchased as a 4 pack of 12oz bottles from Wegmans in Collegeville, PA.

L- Beautiful amber with a thin creamy head.

S- Not much aroma.

T- Boozy heat and somewhat astringent but a raisny hoppy back end flavor.

F- Somewhat tannic mouthfeel but transitions a sweet WCIPA finish.

O- My individual scores are mediocre but overall I kinda like this when all is said and done!
Dec 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by Shiredave from New York

Nov 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.48 by sentrytec from Pennsylvania

Nov 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Oktoberfest from Ohio

Nov 04, 2023
Photo of REDAMI
Reviewed by REDAMI from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12oz bottle into Chimay goblet.

L - Deep amber pour with a rosy hue, thin head.

S - All malt syrup.

T - Again, malt syrup. Hop bitterness in the aftertastes. Maybe a bit of peat smokiness.

F - Not syrupy, thin carbonation, very little alcohol heat. Smooth and drinkable.

Comes across closer to a wee heavy than a barley wine, which is right up our alley. It's not overly hot or overly syrupy, making it feel well balanced on the tongue. Hides the 11.1% dangerously well.
Jul 01, 2023
Photo of TurboMon_911
Reviewed by TurboMon_911 from New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured a cloudy chestnut brown color (with floating particulate matter), into a standard pint glass with a 1/2 finger high tan head that receded quickly and left no lacing, but, steady carbonation is present. Aroma is of toasted malt with a caramel and toffee earthy sweetness up front and no hop presence. Flavor follows nose which begins with a complex warm alcohol burn which sits high in the palate and finishes with a sweet nutty flavor. Mouth is chewy, medium to full in body and coats everything it touches. This is a sipper @ 11.1 % ABV and is more in the style of an English Barleywine than an American because of the lack of hop presence, in my opinion. A nice alternative when you're not in the mood for an IPA. Think it deserves a higher average rating than it currently has.
Feb 05, 2023
Photo of IvoryBilledWoodpecker
Reviewed by IvoryBilledWoodpecker from Florida

3.79/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark reddish brown, mostly transparent, lots of fine sediments, average light brown head with decent retention and some minor lacing. Smell is pretty average, no particular scents come through to me very strongly. Nice caramel and dark malt notes, unfortunately it is just a bit too alcoholic. Average feel. Like it but not for me.
Dec 12, 2022
Photo of donspublic
Reviewed by donspublic from Texas

4.03/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into tulip, good 2+ finger light tan head, good retention and lacing. Dark ruby in the glass, some light passes thru. Big caramel malt on the nose, dark fruit and some noble hops peak thru. First sip is sweet malt, caramel, toffee & plum leaning towards prune. Sweetness stays thru the middle and there is almost a candy like sweetness, that comes to an abrupt end on the bitter finish. Nice sipper, here at the tale end of summer, but it is 2 am and the AC is on so all is well. Hides the abv for 11%, good balance of sweet to bitter, without that firm bitterness on the finish this would lean on the sweet side.
Sep 03, 2022
Photo of JokersAce
Reviewed by JokersAce

4.18/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Burnt caramelized amber with a thinly dissipating light beige head.
Tastes like Vegemite in brewed form. Good, simultaneously savory and sweet like a salted caramel. Stone fruit with plums prominent There are maraschino cherry notes throughout as well, but it is hard to ignore the umami. Salty.
Jun 18, 2022
 
Rated: 3.47 by StoutSnob40 from California

Jan 19, 2022
 
Rated: 3.51 by rangerred from Tennessee

Jan 05, 2022
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: It pours deep copper with an off white head. It has low head retention.

Smell: It has strong dark fruit flavors up front featuring dark cherries, and plums. There are some caramel notes with a touch of toffee.

Taste: It has strong caramel and dark cherry flavors with plums. It is a bit sweet with low levels of toffee.

Feel: It has a medium full body with strong alcohol warming.

Overall, good flavors with a bit of booziness to it.
Dec 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.08 by Dgman8053 from New York

Dec 22, 2021
Photo of cjeep
Reviewed by cjeep from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Like this much more than the average. Worthy offering from a decent local outfit.
L: from the bottle and it has some swagger this philly guy can appreciate
S: stone fruits, malt sweetness. Rich molasses
T: delivers on the nose and I like it. Raisins molasses sweetness. Bit of heat from the abv. I like it what can I say. Oils use more hippiness but that’s just a quibble.
F: modestly rich and smooth. A bit more richness would be welcome.
O: hey there are better barlwywines out there but this is quite enjoyable. Try for yourself!
Dec 03, 2021
Blithering Idiot from Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 2327 ratings