Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale (2011)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Beautiful reddish-brown hue. Thin, white head that laces the glass. Clear, pretty. Steady stream of bubbles.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Sweet and citrusy. Grapefruit, brown sugar. Hoppy nose. Malty, very clean.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Lots of malt, helps offset the bitterness. Grapefruit. Hop bitterness at finish–nicely balanced.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Lots of hop bitterness that lingers. Initial sweetness fades quickly. Maybe a touch too bitter–a bit green yet.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Malty, smooth. Full mouth-feel. Some alcohol, but geez, it's almost 10%.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: Big, full and nicely-balanced. Warming alcohol. A bit young, it will likely improve; it would be interesting to revisit this a year from now.

TOTAL: 16.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: A tasty brew–big and chock-full of flavor (and huge, calorically speaking–more than 300 calories per 12 oz. serving!). Sweet and malty, nicely done–it is a Sierra Nevada, after all.

Ben: A good vintage, if a bit green; it will probably be phenomenal in a year or two.