Three Floyds Behemoth Barleywine

On tap at Three Floyds

I have had this a few times from a bottle but now that it comes time to rate it, it will be from the tap. It is actually slightly better fresh (not that the bottled version loses much). If you are lucky enough to catch it on tap give it a try. The goblet is well worth the $5 cost.

Aroma / Appearance - The color of the body reminded me of a deep stain that you would use on wood. The lingering head was a very dense one finger height. Thick lacing clung to the sides as I sipped leaving behind strata in the form of foam.

Flavor / Palate - Rich bakers chocolate, caramel, molasses and a light aftertaste begin the pleasurable experience. The mouthfeel is extremely dense and complex. A lingering resiny taste coats the inside of the mouth remind me of the coating that goes on a bowling alley lane. Cherry pie, brown sugar, peanut butter and a balanced maltiness please the senses towards the end of the glass. For a barley wine it is not sweet at all but a great balance of malts and hoppiness. I think this might be something I pick up again if I ever catch it on sale.

Yellow wax coated 22 oz bottle pours a clear, copper body with an attractive beige head. Good retention and sticky lacing in circles and patches. Lots of hops in the aroma-Juicy-Fruity with pink grapefruit, orange marmelade, tangerine, with assertive pine resin notes, as well. Brown sugar and caramel underneath. Thick and sticky in the mouth, full medium body with adequate, but tame, carbonation. Taste opens with creamy caramel which quickly fades against an assertive hops bitterness that is mostly meaty grapefruit pulp. Oily hop resins abound. Red apple and cherry notes float into the middle. Slight alcohol warming reminds you this is a barleywine and not a gigantic DIPA. Waves of bitter pine and grapefruit rind sweep away the caramel apple maltiness as it warms. Amazing drinkability for a barleywine. Taste is incredibly delicious and complex. Hop character not unlike Dreadnaught.

22 oz. bottle. Poured ruby amberish witha very nice off white head. Aroma was a complex experience of dates, grapefriut molasses and pear. It starts out beautifully sweet with dried friut cherries and pear sweet cigar and citrus overtones. finishes with a whallop of warmness and silky coating on the tongue. A huge complex beer fit for the most dicriminating of palates. Awesome!

22oz bottle, bright pink wax (2006, brewed in 2005), courtesy of a trade from a while back... I should write these things down. Pours a dark, orangish-red color; yellowish tinge to the head, with large bubble formation and pleasant lacing. Maple syrup, candy sugar, red and tropical fruits in the aroma. Full, chewy mouthfeel: plenty of maple syrup and brown sugar; candy sugar sweetness, well-balanced by citrus and mango and red fruits. Long, candy sugar and tropical fruit finish. Excellent.

Thanks Boboski! Good way to start off the night. More hoppy than sweet (I’m not complaining) and more like a IIIPA than a Barleywine (in my opinion, clearly). My teeth are sticky and I don’t know why (though I could guess). Reminds me of the autumn and caramel apples. Burnt-orange and I don’t remember the head. Insane lacing sticking to the glass, not moving. Mmm....

Courtesy Solan. Pours a glowing luscious red with a light white head. Great nose on this one! I get alotof grapefruit in this one with sweet malts, and some pear. Very fruity in the taste and they mask that 12% alcohol masterfully. Extremely smooth. Get alot of that grapefruit especially in the finish, some raisins, cinnamon, malts, and other spices. The balance is fantastic. Quite enjoyable. Thanks SoLan.

Despite the recommendation to wait till fall to open this monster, I had to drink this. Mahogany pour has brief off-white head and an explosive nose of piney hops, cherry, and caramel. Lively carbonation and hoppiness give this barleywine a real vitality. Flavor is hop-forward richness that did manage, even with my over-anxious opening of a fresh batch, bring forth malty dimensions dominated by a sticky sweet caramel. One of the best American barleys, hands down.

(sampled at the Düsseldorf RB gathering) Hazy, reddish amber colour with a short, frothy off-white head. Dry, resiny hoppy aroma with subtle fruity notes (dark berries). Bitter flavour with a soft malty sweetness, full bodied, creamy mouthfeel; aromatic and dry hop-character with fruity and floral notes. Great.