Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine
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(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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If Bigfoot roams the Sierra Nevada Mountains, he may be doing so in search of an earthy, powerful beer — a flavorful beer that can satisfy his craving for resinous hops but stiff enough to muffle the snowy mountain chill. Now, I’m not saying he exists . . . I’m just saying that if you ever come across an angry Sasquatch in the wilds of California, offer the beast a bottle opener and you may have a friend for life.
While many craft beers boast a single Great American Beer Festival Gold or Silver medal, Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale has won Gold five times — going back as far as 1987. In fact, 2009 marks the 25th release of Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot.
So I was expecting a good beer. But I wasn’t expecting a tremendously hoppy one, and that’s a nice surprise.
Bigfoot poured an electric amber, with toasted caramel color filling the lower half of a brandy glass. I had allowed the bottle warm on the counter for 20 minutes prior to opening, and the lightly chilled beer came up with a narrow tan head that lingered contentedly before gradually fading to sticky lace. It clung to the sides while I sipped, and with a quick swirl it fizzed up for another round.
My, what an aroma! The piercing smell of alcohol struck me first, but that powerful burst was somehow rendered tolerable by a tapestry of sweet malt, spicy hops, sticky raisins and brown sugar. As I drank, the green, earthy hops came to dominate the aroma, filling my nostrils and rounding out the flavor of the beer.
On the tongue, Bigfoot starts off bittersweet but quickly cross-fades to green, bitter hops. It’s a quick change transition aided by copious amounts of taste bud warming alcohol. A sip of Bigfoot finishes wet with a clinging bitterness that threatens to let new hops take root. The mouthfeel is medium but still viscous, lending a final decadent touch to the experience.
You can age this beer, and I imagine comparing an aged 2005 to a fresh 2009 would be a very interesting experience. If anyone has demonstrated the patience required to age such a tasty beer, please let me know your results.
This is a sipper, clocking in at 9.5% ABV and a whopping 90 IBU! I spent the better part of two hours enjoying a 12 oz bottle — then again, when you can only drink one beer a day, you do learn to take your time. But while you sip, why not fortify your belly with some good eats? The Sierra Nevada website recommends the following pairings:
“Intense, malty, and bittersweet, Bigfoot® is wonderful served with dessert. Aromatic notes from the dry-hopping process pair well with chocolate mousse and raspberries or a good-quality cheesecake. If you prefer a more savory taste, try an assortment of sharp aged cheeses, served with fresh fruits like apples, pears, and grapes, which will offer a contrast that will bring all of the flavors together.”
Hats of to the talented team at Sierra Nevada — and I do hope they keep a trough filled with barleywine behind the brewery, just in case Bigfoot comes along in search of royalties.
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1 Comments
May 4th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Always a favorite. And along with Anchor’s Old Foghorn, the inspiration for so many American barleywine’s to come, most with fanciful names.