The Bar Towel

cratez · Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 1330 Location: Toronto, ON

This year's batch is now on the shelves in London, Guelph, Toronto, and Oshawa. Not the greatest example of the style, but still a nice warming ale for the winter months, and something you can cellar for a while. I always like to grab this as soon as it's released and then compare my notes to a bottle with at least a year on it.

markaberrant · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 1521 Location: Regina, SK

crappy and overpriced. that about sums it up.

Only topnotch barleywine in Canada is Half Pints Burleywine. FACT.

SteelbackGuy · Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Posts: 4598 Location: Hamilton, ON

GregClow · Joined: 10 Aug 2001 Posts: 3818 Location: Parkdale

markaberrant · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 1521 Location: Regina, SK

markaberrant · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 1521 Location: Regina, SK

cfrancis · Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 555 Location: Ottawa

Olde Deuteronomy and Solstice D'Hiver are favourites for me.

viggo · Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 533 Location: Toronto, ON

Mill Street barleywine does suck pretty hard. Fat Cat is real nice, as is Thor's Hammer. Old Cellar Dweller is great. I'm not a huge fan of Solstice but the barrel aged version is out of this world.
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ritzkiss · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 397 Location: East York, Toronto

I wouldn't even put Half Pints in my top 3, which surprisingly are all from BC.

1. Old Cellar Dweller
2. Thor's Hammer
3. Fat Kat Barleywine

perhaps Half Pints as #4 though. Thor's Hammer is mega scarce but Old Cellar Dweller gets a Victoria Island, Vancouver distro. Fat Kat is Nanaimo and a few in Victoria only.

The old Mill St Barleywine in the stubby bottles is actually kinda drinking nice now though. New stuff is way overpriced for a no more than mediocre beer.

notdan · Joined: 31 Jul 2009 Posts: 443 Location: Montreal

If all these other beers are that much better than Mill Street's barleywine, then I very much look forward to trying them.

Granted, I haven't tried a ton of barleywines. To date I've also had DDC Solstice d'Hiver, St-Ambroise Vintage, and a Japanese one. To be honest, I found DDC and the Japanese one too fruity, and I found the St-Ambroise one too hot. The Mill Street one actually had a pretty good balance and wasn't overly boozy.

I have a Vermonster and a bunch of Fuller's Vintage sitting in the cellar, so perhaps I should give those a try and see how they compare.

Just sayin' though, I'm one person who enjoyed the Mill Street Barleywine last year. But....yes, it is over-priced.

Kish84 · Joined: 25 Mar 2010 Posts: 319 Location: Kitchener

I've only tried the Mill St, and the St. Ambroise in terms of Canadian barley wines, and thought both were less than impressive. In fact, they made me hate barley wines. Then I came across Stone Old Guardian, I was a little hesitant at first, but I love Stone, and HOLY SHIT!!! It was great! I didn't think I'd have one better, but a couple weeks ago I had Volo's last bottle of Great Divide Old Ruffian and it was fantastic. Just had this years Mill St and it was almost undrinkable. Luckily I have another Old Ruffian coming to me.

tuqueboy · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 576 Location: Toronto

icemachine · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 2133 Location: Aurora, ON

Granite's Gin Lane is at the lighter end of Barleywines (9%) but very drinkable fresh. I've got a bomber left from last winter, looking forward to doing a side by side with a fresh version.
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bufordsbest · Joined: 28 Jul 2010 Posts: 127

surprised to hear the negative comments towards the mill st. barley wine. i was always under the impression it was one of the better barley wines around.

anyways, look forward to trying some of these beers as i've yet to get into barley wines.

markaberrant · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 1521 Location: Regina, SK