At the dawn of each year, I set out on a mission: to find the legendary Bigfoot. Not the imposing bipedal primate of legend, of course, but the beer: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed Bigfoot young, Bigfoot in a vertical tasting with bottles from 6 different releases. Never though, have I had it barrel aged. Until now.
You see in early 2013 Sierra Nevada released Barrel Aged Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale in honor of Bigfoot’s 30th anniversary, which we shall see is more than just classic Bigfoot socked away in whiskey barrels. To be sure, this is “Ale aged in whiskey barrels” as the painted label bottle makes clear, but it’s more than that.
I bought my bottle of early 2013 just after release, and I truly wish now that I had bought more. I socked it away in my beer cabinet and hadn’t intended to sit on it too long, since I really wanted to try it. Then came late March of that year, though, and Beer Hunter the Movie. I traveled to DC for the premiere, and attended one of Chuck Triplett’s legendary tastings the night I arrived. One of the beers Chuck had was Barrel Aged Bigfoot, and tasting it there, I decided to age my bottle after all. Here I am, almost two years later, doing just that.
From the label:
Our Bigfoot Barleywine is a craft beer legend. Each winter, this beast of a beer appears and wreaks havoc on unsuspecting palates with its intense bittersweet flavors. This year – in honor of the 30th Anniversary of this style–bending brew – we are releasing a very special version of this cult classic. Aged in oak whiskey casks for over a year, this barrel-aged Bigfoot is incredibly complex. The assault of resinous hops has mellowed, and the influence of the wood has shifted focus toward the malt – with rich burnt-sugar flavors and notes of vanilla, toasted coconut, and raisins. Grab this elusive beast while you can, because it won't be around for long.
That makes the Barrel Aged Bigfoot that I’m drinking tonight 3 years old really, and I tell you it could easily go another 5 or so. The base Bigfoot here is a bigger beer than you’re used to, coming in at a hefty 12.2 % alcohol by volume. Traditional Bigfoot is “only” 9.6% ABV. I paid $10.99 for my bottle, very reasonable indeed for a specialty beer like this in a 750 ML corked bottle.
Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Bigfoot pours to a murky caramel color with a light creamy head formation and a big boozy bourbon nose. Taking a sip, the beer has the traditional bigfoot chewy caramel malt up front but to a higher degree than normal. That’s all followed by big raisin and prune fruit notes as Sierra Nevada suggests would be found.
From there. The beer takes a sharp right turn from the norm, and I pick up vanilla, oaky woodiness, and strong bourbon notes from the barrel aging. What I don’t get is the usual hoppiness. Instead, there’s a rich sweetness in the finish. As I ponder on this one, it’s wonderfully bready, with a dark burnt candy sugar sweetness in the finish, and the whole thing is absolutely permeated with bourbon and vanilla. Alcohol warms in the finish and prepares you for the last sip.
Sierra Nevada has since done a few other barrel aged beers (Narwahl being one of them), but I have yet to see Barrel Aged Bigfoot again. More’s the pity, this one begs to be re-released, and perhaps they will. If they do, or if you happen upon a lost bottle by chance, pounce on it for all you’re worth. It’s easily amongst the best beers I’ve tasted in a long time.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.