Three Floyds Behemoth Barleywine

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

Red amber in color with a good sized cream colored head. Aroma is of brown sugar, spices and hops. Taste is of brown sugar, fig, caramel, spices and hops.

In short: An unusually “refreshing” fruity and hoppy Barley Wine. Could almost pass as a big Double IPA. Excellent
How: Bottle 22oz. 2008 batch (purple wax), purchased at the brewery and consumed when 8 months of age
The look: Cloudy dark orange body topped by a persistent medium white head
In long: The pleasantly hoppy nose is unusual for a barley wine with notes of clementines, resin and caramel. Taste is really smooth and refreshing despite the gravity. Body is full and pillowy with a soft carbonation. A lot of juicy fruity caramel. Dried fruits, apricots, tangerines, citrus fruits, tropical fruits, even pineapples. Juicy resinous leafy hops almost balance the whole thing out leaving a little residual sugar in the finish. Blind tasting I would have called it an IIPA. Turn that little residual sugar in rich caramel and this would be perfect. Amazingly drinkable, this has got to be the most refreshing barley wine I’ve ever had. And when talking about a Barley Wine “refreshing” is a word I use as rarely as “please” and “thank-you” in my day-to-day life.

The aroma is right for the style as it pertains to american Barley Wines. There is plenty of hops, more than many of the style but not more than seems appropriate. It is both citrusy and Piny. There is also sweet malt and carrot juice. The appearance is perfect for the style with a larger head than many imported Barley Wines. The flavor is like the style with a bitter finish and very well hidden alcohol. The palate is appropriate for the style. Overall it’s a good example of the style. Actually it’s got some qualities that I wish other would have but I could do without the carrot taste.

nice barley wine. has got some strong malts with a bit of caramel flavor, alcohol is hidden extremely well, better than most other beers. slightly sweet at the end great all around.

On tap at FFF. Dark amber color with a khaki-colored head. Really hoppy aroma with citrus and pine notes, as well as lots of sweet syrupy caramel malt. This is one hell of a hoppy barleywine, reminiscent of their Dreadnaught IPA. Flavor is incredibly well-balanced with sweet malt and bitter, flavorful hops. Dark fruit notes also. Alcohol is well hidden, so if you can drink large quantities of hoppy beer like me then this will have you under the table in no time.

2005 Bottle - Thanks BuckeyeBoy - Pours a rich amber with a tiny tan head...aroma is citrus hop, pine, maple syrup...in the mouth, this still has some fire, dark malt profile and some cinnamon spice on the end...very enjoyable and definitely can stand the cellar...I can only imagine that popping a 2008 is like getting kicked in the mouth...

Yellow wax. Pours a dark transparent caramel colored body with a tight off-white head. Smells of caramel, vanilla and candied almonds fill the nose. The pallate is smooth and just a bit dry but with very little alcohol soak. Flavors of caramel malts, vanilla, dates, and dried dark fruit dominate and I know it sounds weird but I got some sense of a chewing on the wooden stick after eating a drumstick, the ice cream treat... whatever. I was blown away by the balance of this beer. It was rich and dessert like, amazing.

Bottle sample at a tasting. Hazy amber color with a beige head. Aroma of pine needles, resin, some cookies, malt, some fruitiness and a bit of alcohol. Sweet malty flavor at first with some dark bread, caramel and some plums notes turns into bitter piney hops. Full-bodied. Good stuff.