FollowMid-Winter, mid-January, it’s time for big beer.
Ironically it’s also the time that Sam Adams puts out it’s Spring Beers.
So went down to Friendly Discount, not my favorite beer store in Westbrook (odd parking lot). But, they were the only ones in town to have Brooklyn Monster Barleywine. And even better it was 2011. This is a good, good thing when it comes to barleywine. It was even pretty cheap for a huge beer, 10.1% ABV, $6.99/4 pack. Yummy and rich. (92/A-). Ironically, you can also get it in bottle at Buffalo Wild Wings. Also got some Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. One of my old favorite beers. Delicious, but still prefer the North Coast Old Rasputin as a big stout. And the Chocolate Stout is also a huge ABV of 10%. If you don’t know ABV = alcohol by volume.
And considering it was 15 degrees F outside when I was driving home, it’s time for a big warming beer.
So here is to the big beers and especially barleywines. I already wrote a piece on Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale my favorite beer of 2012, and also really loved the Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. Do you have a favorite winter beer?