2007 Barleywine and Big Beer Tastival

The 2007 Barleywine and Big Beer Festival at Lucky Lab’s Hawthorne brewery was a huge hit. Brewers and beer lovers alike congregated for the two-day liver quivering tastival that featured some of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved brewers. Pacing oneself was a big part of being able to enjoy the plethora of heavy hitters, but indulgence was just as prevalent. After giving it my all and enjoying/braving the hardiest of libations, I managed to try several of these capacious concoctions. And while part of me wishes I could have tried them all, another voice within points me ahead to the spring bocks and summer sessions indicative of the warmer, sunnier days.

I realize that the four-ounce tasters of these pallet pugs may not proffer a comprehensive evaluation of the complexities of such ingredient-laden basilisks. Regardless, it was a lot of fun and everyone appeared in an upright mood.

Anderson Valley 2006 Beer of the Horn: A solid nose to pallet to finish transition. One of the most exhilarative barleywines at the tastival. Potent and endearing citrus tinge with a nice fruity bite.

Deschutes 2004 Mirror Mirror: 2004 was one of my favorite years to date. This Bend, Oregon barley aged nicely and despite a seemingly drastic recipe change to a less hardy ale in following years. Deep in color and flavor and all over the pallet, this cellared centaur poured a deep orangey sienna and finished with a distinct malty brininess.

Tuck’s 2005 Glutius Maximus Barleywine: With a prominent alcohol nose, this beer poured beautifully and presented a gray, concentrated two-finger head and a incisive chesnut hue. Pine and roasted malt were present in the finish as well as carmelly brown sugar gusto. This beer sat very well with me.

Roots 2005 Epic Ale: The organic big beer that started it all. This was the biggest beer at the tasting with its coffee/chocolatey smack and a thick, warm, roasty malt feel. I would like to try this again with chocolate. Did I mention it is all-organic, too?

BJ’s 2006 Surgeon General: No warning sign on this barley banger outside of the monsterous floral nose. Very nicely dosed with hops and poured nicely while maintaining an equitable head and beautiful lace. As it warmed, it developed more of a cloying characteristic. I prefer this one in the beginnning when it was colder. A very nice beer.

Walking Man 2005 Barrel Aged Old Stumblefoot: Walking Man never disappoints me. A soft brandy-bourbon nose and flavor was very pleasant. This lighter colored barley put forth notes of liquorish and creamy vanilla in the finish similar to this year’s Ho Ho Homo Erectus.

Bend 2006 Outback X Double Old Ale: I was compelled to return for the second day of the tastival because of this beer. Brewer Tonya Cornett is renowned for her killer brews and this orange-copper old ale was no exception. Small nose, medium white head, dark bodied and quite malty was this scrumptious brew.

Lucky Lab 2002 Old Yeller: This was one of the hoppier barleys at the tasting. Over 100 IBU with a complexity derrived from aging nicely. This one was quite sweet—a sweetness that hinted toward the use of candy suger, but could have been from the massive amount of ingredients, namely hops.

So, there you have it, some tastebud electrifiers full of hoppy and malty yumminess with no shortage of girth. Now, as Prometheus, I will allow my liver to grow back, only to be feasted upon next winter. May handcrafted beer be with you!