Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

I loved this beer years ago and after hundreds of great beers, it still stands up. The 2008 vintage is smooth and drinkable right now. No need to make statements about it’s need for more time in the cellar. To me it is the benchmark for barleywine flavor. All others are described relative to it. It is a beer for all seasons, a dark, alcoholic winter warmer and a summer mega-ipa all in one. Other beers may be more complex or refined, but Bigfoot is a hearty cheap meal in a great Bistro.

Pours very nicely. Did not get too much head. The taste was strong but not overpowering. Got to love the higher alcohol content. I did not serve in a snifter, but enjoyed it out of a pint glass.

bottle- 08, enjoyed fresh in 08. Wow. This is celebration ale on steroids. Same trademark Chinook hop stickyness and spice. Beautiful redish purple color. Some enjoy it aged and power to them. This is a double ipa right now, and a damn fine one. Only complaint: the aroma came and went too quickly.

2008. Pours dark red color with a small beige head the leaves lacing down the glass. The aroma is beautifully hopped with some caramel malts also coming through. Flavor is fantastic. It’s like an IPA barley wine that has a striking balance between the bitter of the hops and the malt’s sweetness. And it maintains a creamy mouthfeel with a wonderful finish. I’ll be saving a few of these to see how it ages. Solid beer.

This poured a reddish-brown color that was attractive with little head that dissipated pretty quickly. The aroma is fruity hoppiness. The flavor is a beautiful balance of maltiness and hoppiness. This is an extremely smooth drinker that I can’t believe is 9.6% abv. Drinkability is great for a barleywine.

2008. Dark red amber color with a very small light beige head. A sweet citrus nose with a lot of alcohol. Some traces of peach and mangoes. Sweet fruity flavor of apricots and caramel malt, but has a huge floral hop character. An extremely bitter finish both from alcohol and hops. This bitter LASTS! Is this really a barley wine?

~Pours dark amber colour. Very small head with nice lacing. ~Very good hop scent. Earthy and piney. A hint of caramel. ~ Just the right amount of bitterness to the flavour. A bit of fruit. ~Palate is medium and smooth. After bite is a little astringent. ~ I really enjoy the bitter hoppiness in this. A real pleasure to drink. Sip by sip.

2008 variant bottled. Clear mahogany colour with big bubbles, a little tan head with sticky lacing. Big aroma of sweet hops and fruit. More hops in the flavour and finish. Warming alcohol and bitterness in the middle. Pretty powerful beer.