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Paul Edwards
Senior Member
Username: Pedwards
Post Number: 2047
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 76.240.217.228
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 08:33 pm: | 
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Anybody get their hands on any 2011 SN Bigfoot yet? If so, what do you think?
I just picked some up the other day at my local grocery. My wife and I split a bottle last night.
My taste buds are a little on the fritz as I'm fighting a head cold. I will say it was very tasty. I haven't had a chance to do a comparison with previous years yet, either. Maybe in a few days.
I did look thru the beer cellar and see that I've got 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Not so much of some, pretty good amount of some others. Not sure if we never had any 2004, or if we just drank it all.  .
I know back in the late 1990's distribution to Indiana was a bit spotty. I got the 1998 from a friend who lives in the Chicago area. |
Josh Johnson
Member
Username: Msujdog
Post Number: 162
Registered: 07-2003
Posted From: 167.73.112.249
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 08:47 pm: |
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Impressive. I have the last six years running. Need to bust out a vertical test one of these days. |
tim roth
Advanced Member
Username: Hopdude
Post Number: 821
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 98.125.114.182
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 09:32 pm: |
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I haven't tried this year's Bigfoot yet. YET!
I always like it best when it's fresh. It looses the rough hoppy edge as it ages and just isn't as good, in my opinion.
cheers,tim |
Chris I
Advanced Member
Username: Pacman
Post Number: 885
Registered: 04-2003
Posted From: 98.227.18.218
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 01:24 am: |
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Paul, is Bigfoot just now hitting Indiana or are you just now getting around to buying some. i've been checking the stores around Muncie with no luck.
I'm with you Tim. Young Bigfoot is the best. Once it loses that edge it isn't as special to me. |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 4108
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.99.147.250
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 01:47 am: |
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Been here a couple of weeks now. It's a little different this year as it usually is. Haven't chilled any past years to try it against yet. But I don't like to let them sit around more than 3-4 years max as that hop edge just goes away. |
davidwaite
Senior Member
Username: Davidw
Post Number: 2131
Registered: 03-2001
Posted From: 71.7.111.121
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 03:10 am: |
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I'm with Tim and Pac, I prefer it fresh. There are cases of it stacked shoulder high at Dirty Johns Grocery in IC. |
Paul Edwards
Senior Member
Username: Pedwards
Post Number: 2048
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 76.240.217.228
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 12:48 pm: |
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Chris,
Bigfoot just showed up at my local grocery late last week. The liquor store across the street already had some, but they wanted $11.49 a sixer, so I passed and waited for the grocery store to get their delivery. I've turned the store manager and one of the butchers at the store into beer geeks, BTW. Now they're drinking craft beer instead of BMC. The butcher is particularly fond of DFH 60 Minute IPA and SNCA.
I, too like Bigfoot fresh, but I also like to see how it ages. The 1998 still tastes fabulous, even if the aggressive hop characteristic has faded some. I only have one or two bottles each of the ones from the early 1990's, and am keeping them more for sentimental value.
davidw, I love Dirty John's Grocery. I wear my Dirty John's PBR T-shirt all the time. Say hello to Doug Alberhasky next time you're in there. (I doubt if he'll remember me). One time we stopped in to buy beer to take back to Indiana, Doug spent over an hour with us, showing us the nooks and crannies, and telling us great stories about the history of the store. Turns out he like to come to Indianapolis for Indycar and NASCAR races out at the Speedway. |
Bierview
Advanced Member
Username: Bierview
Post Number: 913
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 69.125.118.54
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 01:04 pm: |
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Paul,
1993? |
Paul Edwards
Senior Member
Username: Pedwards
Post Number: 2050
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 76.252.30.91
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 01:13 pm: |
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Yup...
Only one or two bottles of it left. Found them tucked away in a corner of my beer stash closet |
Bierview
Advanced Member
Username: Bierview
Post Number: 917
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 69.125.118.54
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 01:18 pm: |
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What is the average temp in your beer cellar? |
Paul Edwards
Senior Member
Username: Pedwards
Post Number: 2051
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 76.252.30.91
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 02:28 pm: |
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The closet is up against an outside wall in the corner of the basement.
I'd guess it stays about 60-62 deg F there. Maybe a little cooler this time of year. |
michael atkins
Advanced Member
Username: Mga
Post Number: 815
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 207.224.97.102
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 11:44 pm: |
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Just bought a sixer at HY Vee $11.99 a sixer.
This was IMHO the very best Sierra Nevada Barley wine I have had yet. Very well balanced, and not as "in your face Hopppy" as other years that I have tasted. I am not a beer judge - so I go strictly by my own taste test, but this was outstanding. For the record "normally I do not like as big beer as a barley wine."
Question for the group. They had "Old Foghorn" by Anchor at $13.99 a sixer. I didn't buy it but for those more knowledgeable about Barley wines "How does it compare?" |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 4112
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.99.147.250
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 01:06 am: |
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Foghorn is an English style barleywine so the hops are subdued in comparison to an American BW. More malt forward but still a lot of hops to balance the malt. |
Paul Hayslett
Senior Member
Username: Paulhayslett
Post Number: 2744
Registered: 02-2002
Posted From: 71.234.45.166
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 03:24 am: |
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I'm not a big fan of Foghorn. I'm not sure why. Just no "wow" factor, I guess.
Now, if they have any Rogue Old Crustacean at your liquor store, snag it regardless of cost.
I picked up some Bigfoot yesterday. Don't remember the price. (It was mixed in with a couple of Southampton 750s and a bottle of Ardbeg.) Plan to have one tomorrow night. |
Jeffrey Swearengin
Senior Member
Username: Beertracker
Post Number: 1305
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 98.16.215.123
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 03:57 pm: |
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I can help you out with a 99, 00 & an 04 to help you complete that vertical. You can send me a bottle of 3F Behemoth Blonde Barleywine (2011-white wax) in return.  |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 4117
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.99.147.250
| | Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2011 - 12:13 am: |
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Old Crusty is my favorite too. But not availble in GA usually. |
Dave Witt
Senior Member
Username: Davew
Post Number: 1550
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.7.226.155
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2011 - 04:05 am: |
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Two friends and myself did a tasting of '08 '09 '10 & '11 tonight. The older, the better was the consensus, especially with the two of them, who like less hoppy beers. I thought this yrs' was less hop flavorful and less hop aroma than other years. |
Randy Ricchi
Member
Username: Bigr
Post Number: 134
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 71.13.216.53
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 02:09 am: |
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Paul,
I think you would be doing the HBD community a big favor by doing a vertical tasting of each of your SN Bigfoot's, and reporting your impressions here. Since people's moods can alter their perceptions (even taste perceptions) and moods can change from day to day, I recommend that you do the vertical tasting of your entire collection all in the same day. Now, I know that sometimes beer judges taste just a little of each beer for their evaluations, but I think in this case that would be wrong. A barley wine is (to use Michael Jackson's expression) a "thoughtful" beer. The only way to thoughtfully evaluate these beers would be to enjoy a full 12 oz. of each, before reaching for the next. I know there may be time constraints when sampling a selection as large as yours, but you need to sample these beers the way one would with no time constraints, in order to properly evaluate them. I recommend 5 minutes per bottle.
This is not a small amount of beer to be drinking at one time, to be sure, so a good base of food should be layed down (or is that laid down? My teacher always found me asleep during english class). On the other hand, these are rather heavy beers, so you can't eat too much beforehand lest you risk discomfort. Perhaps a saltine cracker before you begin. Have a glass of water when you're through, to prevent dehydration, and then arise early the next morning and write up your evaluations for posting to this forum. We will be anxiously awaiting to hear your report  |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 12643
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.150.49.181
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 02:44 am: |
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Paul has 14 years of Bigfoot. To think that even three or four people could consume all of them in one sitting and retain any sense of judgment is beyond comprehension. I had friends who hosted an annual "strong beer dinner" toward the end of the year. They would serve a six-course meal accompanied by about a dozen beers, all 8 percent ABV or more. A number of us would buy or donate the beers from our own cellars. Anywhere from 10 to 15 people would attend. Arrangements were made for taxi rides home, and guests from out of town were put up for the night. I have to tell you that the end of the affair was usually in a fog. |
Nephalist
Intermediate Member
Username: Nephi
Post Number: 462
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 71.133.240.98
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 06:23 am: |
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A fog the next day, but what a night! |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 12646
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.150.49.181
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 02:06 pm: |
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The glasses were filled with about 2-3 ounces of each beer, but the accumulated alcohol intake, say, 30 oz. at an average of 9 percent ABV, certainly had its way with the brain, even when accompanied by a lot of food. |
Paul Edwards
Senior Member
Username: Pedwards
Post Number: 2059
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 76.252.21.142
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 08:30 pm: |
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Our club has a competition for members for big beers every winter. This was the 17th year. It's called the "Heavy Hydrometer" because the traveling trophy is a plaque with a hydrometer on it that goes to 1.200 (the hydrometer came out of a lab where a member worked). I've been fortunate to win the trophy a few times in the past.
This past Saturday, we had 15 entries. On the light end we had 3 Baltic Porters, on the heavy end, we had 5 Russian Imperial Stouts. In between we a had a couple of old ales, an English Barleywine and a few American Barleywines.
Since I didn't have an entry this year, I was one of the judges. We did it as a Best of Show, rather than scoring each beer. Let me tell you, after those 15 beers, I needed a rest!
All 15 beers were very good, but we settled on one of the American BW's as the winner I think a RIS came in second and a Baltic Porter was third
Afterward we did do a mini vertical with some Bigfoot (2000, 2001, 2006, 2009, and 2010) that people had brought to the meeting. We thought the 2006 had aged the best.
I shudder at the thought of 14 Bigfoots at one sitting Randy |
Michael
Senior Member
Username: Hoppop
Post Number: 1140
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 24.74.83.67
| | Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2011 - 01:09 am: |
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Randy, yes, your post was taken for its intent. Not literal, but with a "Python-esque" sense of humor. (Bill, read between the lines on these things).  |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 4118
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.99.147.250
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2011 - 01:21 am: |
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Doing a vert tonight with 07,09,10, and 11. Liked the 07 better than the 09 so far flavor wise. The 09 has much better head and lace though. |
tim roth
Advanced Member
Username: Hopdude
Post Number: 822
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 98.125.114.182
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2011 - 12:17 am: |
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I finally tried the 2011.
Not the aroma of some years past but so very drinkable. An excellent beer! No surprise.
It seems very mellow to me already, without any aging.
cheers,tim |
Marc Rehfuss
Intermediate Member
Username: Marc_rehfuss
Post Number: 281
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 76.200.130.254
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2011 - 02:29 am: |
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I agree with Tim in that this years seems more subdued in hop charcater (in a good way) and rounded. The stinging bitterness of years past is absent. Great malt profile, but still with more than ample hopping. Delicious! |
Brews and Views Archive 2011 
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