Three Floyds Behemoth Barleywine

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Munster, Indiana USA

22oz bottle from 2009. Pours rusty brown with a small tan head. Nice tan lacing lasts for most of the beer’s life. Moderate carbonation. Aroma is of hops, caramel, malt, alcohol, grass, and sugar. Typical Three Floyds hop character present in the aroma. Taste starts off with some very earthy hops and raisins. Strong base of caramel malt balances out the earthy hops nicely. The alcohol is very well hidden, but provides a nice warming effect. Thick, malty mouthfeel. Has a lingering boozy earth taste to it. Drinks way too easy for what it is. As it warms, a lot of caramel starts to become noticeable. Not sure why it took me this long to rate it. It’s solid.

This is a 2010 Green Wax Bottle. Pours amber with a thin white head. Aroma is pine, sweet carmel and alcohol. The taste sensation is pretty cool. It seems to fluctuate between bitter pine hops and very sweet carmel before finally settling on a bitter hops aftertaste. Nice warming sensation with very little alcohol taste. Another big win from 3 Floyds!

(Bottle, 2009 vintage, at Maltainen Riekko) Poured deep amber and almost clear with small and white head. Aroma contained fruitiness, malts, molasses and alcohol. Palate was medium bodied with low carbonation. Flavours were malts, hops, mild roastedness, saltiness, alcohol, pine and mild bitterness. Aftertaste was malty and bitter.

Bottle from free table at Woodshop 5.0. Pours a clear orange-gold with a thin off-white froth. Aromas of caramel and alcohol, raisins, fruity hops. Flavor is fruity with a lot of caramel and the a bitter homage to the hops that used to be in this beer (I’m guessing it was a vintage bottle). Very full body, sweet and thick and bitter. Good beer.

2009 bottle. Pours a slightly lacing beige head with an amber body. Aromas of brown sugar, citrus and pine notes, and biscuits. Flavor can be described much like the aroma, a cocoa note. Finish is bitter and dry, sticky.

2009 bottle. Pours deep crimson brown. Smells fantastic. Just like a braley wine is supposed to smell like. Caramel, sweet malt, cinnamon, lush. Tastes of sweet alcohol, maple syrup, velvety smooth. Hops presence is very muted. This is a malt driven barley wine. Sweet, smooth, and delicious. The hops presence is there just enough, especially on the finish. Great beer.

2010 edition. Green Wax. Yet another delicious example of Three Floyds mastering a style of beer and creating their own unique twist to it. Pours a copper brown. Great head that remains until the end. Excellent lacing. Aroma is a blast of caramel malts with a variety of fruits (grapefruit, apricot, peach). Taste is absolutely amazing. Not as thick as your typical barley wine, but packed with Three Floyds trademark crystal hops, caramel, and a fantastic citrus note from the fruits. Amarillo hops and the fruits create an outstanding citrus element that balances out the malts and barley. The flavors and potency of this beer increases dramatically as it warms. Even though this dances on the edge of a double IPA, this is probably the most enjoyable barley wine I’ve ever had. $14 for a 22oz is a bit steep, but Three Floyds has yet to disappoint me with their brilliant creations. and is easily my favorite brewery. See you all at Dark Lord day.

In the Book of Job 40:15-24, the Behemoth is described as the largest and most powerful animal ever to exist. That’s one hell of a name to live up to! Will this beer follow with such dominance of it’s own? It’s a big call but at the end of the day it’s only a name on a label right? And what’s the deal with that label anyways? I’m sure it was designed on purpose to play tricks on the minds of unassuming beer geeks. I mean how many guys have been caught out gazing at the label in lust after imbibing more than a bottle or two. Unowhadimean. How did Miss Behemoth suddenly transform into Miss Estonia gracing the label. A reliable gauge for knowing when to call it a night me thinks. Three Floyds have seriously unleashed a beast of it’s own with the Behemoth Barley Wine. Pours dark amber with a head that slowly retreated to a thin lace. Welcoming aroma of raisiny malt, licorice, caramel and delicate floral hop notes. The hops shine through even more in the flavour and as it warms up it takes on a real change in character. Heaps of grapefruit, tangerine, apricot, plums and caramel malt sweetness. All really good stuff. Smooth mouthfeel and great balance. The abv is well masked and at no point overwhelming - just the slightest hint of warming in the finish. This one’s a real treat. Good on ya Jase for sharing another gem. Bottle (2009 Blue Wax).