Before I so much as nose this beer, it should be noted that I haven't had a fresh Barleywine ale in nearly a decade; I tend to believe that they should be aged yet... here goes. It pours almost the same color as the dark brown bottle from which it was poured with a robust head. The nose is very malt forward with noticeable molasses-esque sweetness. Some dried fruit notes come through on subsequent inhales: raisin, maybe currant, notes. The first sip is mostly bitter with a slight hint of the sweetness I found on the nose, yet the hops used really keep things under control. I normally have to wait several years to have this kind of balance in this style of beer; some sweetness, but mellowed by age. It has a solid amount of effervescence that helps lift many of the bold flavors off of the palate. The finish is fairly bold, and hangs on the back of the palate in a dark and bitter way. This beer is, generally speaking, ready to drink right out of the gate; exhibiting the elements that I often have to wait for. As the label suggests, it will age well, and I am intrigued to experience that. Fortunately, this beer is sold as a pack, so it should be an easy journey to drink a few and save a few for a while and compare with a fresh batch. While many brewers like to release a single bomber of their barleywine, Sierra Nevada is kind enough to give us a pack of them. Grab a pack while you can, it makes for a great vertical in the years to come and a robust sipper for the here and now. Review by James Fisher

9.6% abv 90 ibus

WAS : $13.49 EMAIL : $11.99 SIZE : 6pk 12oz bottles