Three Floyds Behemoth Barleywine

In July I bought this (with a few other Three Floyds) while visiting friends in Indiana. Since then, I’ve been waiting for someone to share it with. Some friends wanted to drink their homebrew (which was great). Some brought me another barley wine (so we drank that). Finally, with the season upon us, I opened the Three Floyds. The alcohol is strong. The malts rich. The sweetness is subtle. But it’s strong. Much stronger then, let’s say, Lagunitas Brown Sugga. But not as kick ass as Bell’s Third Coast. Worth the wait, but I wish I was sharing. The wife can’t stand barley wines.

Shared at Lava Lounge, thanks to hero27. Beer pours a very deep ruby red as described on the bottle, excellant lacing. This is very hoppy as you might expect from an American barley wine, but there is a strong pineapple aroma as well as plum and dark fruits. Taste is much like the aroma with a strong hop and pineapple presence paired with a nice bit of alcohol warmth. Did I say this is hoppy? Mouthfeel is very smooth. Drinkable, yes, but limit how much you have. I would definately like to see this beer after a year or two of aging, can’t wait to see what else is in store for this, enjoy. Dec. 29, 2007 Review. Dark pink wax, purchased from Brewpub in Jan. 2007. Perfectly clear ruby red color. Off-white head that retains well and leaves bits of lacing. Sweet candi sugar in the smell, caramel, and some cherry. The pineapple aromas seem to have fallen off almost completely. Taste is sweet, but has some of the pineapple I remember jumping in there as well. Slight oxidation and dark fruit flavors also come into the equation. Sweet, pineapple like finish with an alcohol warmth to it. Less than medium carbonation with a thicker body that somehow refuses to be cloying. Darn good beer, but for the price I think you’ll be much happier with Bigfoot. 9-5-8-4-17=4.3

10" of snow on the way and my 100th rating, might as well crack something nice. Thanks to Puddintane for this yellow waxed behemoth. Pours deep amber with a thick white head. Heavy caramel malts in the nose, with the hops hiding underneath. Flavor is sweet caramel malts, hops, chocolate, dark fruits, and a hint of smoke. Finished thick and creamy with a nice alcohol bite. I’d like to try this fresh as well as aged for another year or two, but this was pretty darn good. Paired great with mixed nuts on my second glass. Thanks Puddintane!

Bottle massive thanks to secret santa. Aroma is balanced mix of toffee malts, and peppery citrus hop, biscuity richness. Taste is similar again well balanced and not as hoppy as perhaps expected but a very good barley wine.

2007 yellow wax bottle received in trade with pantanap about 9 months ago. Thanks Kan! I was pretty faded when my friend Taylor convinced me to open this. I kinda was saving it for a special occasion, but then I realized I could probably easily obtain another bottle if I liked it a lot, so why not give it a try. This was a pretty tasty bw. Typical FFF hop character was still very noticeable, and it was balanced well with caramel malts. A big beer, alcohol noted but hidden rather well. Don’t know if I’d seek this out again because of the price, but it is pretty tasty.

Poured from a 2007 vintage, yellow wax 22oz bomber and served in a snifter. This barley wine poured a muddy brown with a decent sized head of yellowish beige foam that faded away into a thin layer of bubbles. Beautiful, thick, heavy lacing coated the entire inside of the glass. The aroma of the beer was made up of heavy notes of sugary sweet caramel, maple syrup, light pineapple, and a faint note of alcohol. Just a wonderfully huge malty aroma! The flavor of the beer consisted of resiny pine, thick caramel, apricot, and brown sugar. The mouthfeel was full-bodied and syrupy with just a bit more carbonation than you would expect in a beer of this viscosity, providing a lush, creamy palate. A thoroughly enjoyable brew. Just as the description states, sit back next to the fire, grab a cigar, and enjoy the weather!

Sampled both the 05 and 06 vintages. Rating the 05 because I liked that one a bit more.

2005 Pink Wax Vintage, courtesy of Ibrew2or3
Pours a dark brown body with a surprisingly hefty head. Light tan in color, fades to a layer of foam and loose bubbles. Nose of sweet tropical fruits, caramel, toffee, pine nuts, fir trees, light hops and figs. Flavor is spot on with the aroma, sweet and lightly spicy, perfectly balanced. Medium to full bodied, heavy and coating on the palate. Long finish, sweet malts and caramel, with a faint hop bitterness. No sense of the ABV really in the aroma or the flavor, very well hidden. Warming but incredibly easy to drink for a 12% beer.

2006 Yellow Wax Vintage, courtesy of Gillard
Slightly lighter in color than the older vintage. Nose is much more heavily hopped, tons more pine and fir, but still with a malt and caramel backbone that is noticeable. All other components are similar. I can see this being just as good as the 05 with similar aging to it.

2007 vintage courtesy of Gillard. Pours hazy copper with lasting tan head. The aroma is nice and hoppy with pine hops and fur tree followed by sweet mildly roasty malts and hints of caramel. The taste starts hoppy and earthy and a tad thin. The hops come off as pine, grassy, resiny and earthy bitterness. Wow, lots of hops. By midway the sweet malts peak in intensity but quickly get overtaken by pine and grassy hop bitterness that run right into the after taste. Darn smooth really but would benefit from several more years of aging.

2005 vintage. It pours a hue darker than the ’06 with an even bolder tan head. The aroma is much more barleywine like with a suitable level of dark fruity esters to break up the once hop dominated nose. I also get a just noticeable caramel note. The taste is richer with a bit more malt caramel notes and dark fruity esters. The hops are still over powering. I think this will be excellent in a couple more years. I now wish I had another bottle.