Barley and Hopps Big Head Barleywine

Formerly brewed at Barley and Hopps
Style: Barley Wine
San Mateo, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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Woah Nelly! This is a great ale, gentlemen. Impressively juicy and fruity, malty as all get out, with a flush of hops at the end. Like the name suggests, there aren’t a lot of bells and whistles here, just pure-brewed ale: the way I like ’em.

2/19/05. On tap at Toronado Barley Wine Festival ’05 in San Francisco, CA 2/19/05. 1997 Vintage. So this might not be the "95" mentioned in the listing here, but it IS the Big Head Barley and Hops Barley Wine, and RateBeer doesn’t really distinguish between vintages like that anyway. I’d imagine this listing is just so old and long-forgotten that IT will be changed, not my rating. But here goes. . . One of the best beers of the Festival this year. Dark murky brown in color-- like dissolved brown sugar-- with no black. Hauntingly rich aroma, wonderfully complex with strong bitterness and many layers of malt interest-- caramel, toffee, some dark fruit. Big roasty flavor in the finish, surprising accompaniment to the hoppy bitterness. Amazingly all over the place in its flavor and aroma, but not sloppy or muddled. One of the special standouts among the large line-up of big beers. It had more going on in its flavor than perhaps any other beer there.

This was the first place barley wine at the 2003 Toronado Barleywine Festival. A beautiful creamy pour that reminds me of a nitrogen head. Malt and fruit flavors are nicely balanced. Tastey - but not my favorite.

On tap at the 2003 Toronado Barleywine Festival: Creamy. Somewhat syrupy. Great malt/hop balance. Some bitterness coming through. Ages very, very well. (Note: This beer took 1st place in the festival.)