[Constitution Day]

I have never had it. What's it like?

[wideawake]

If you've ever had a German doppelbock lager like Paulaner Salvator, or Spaten Optimator, Ayingen Celebrator, Hacker-Schorr Animator, etc. you can begin to get the idea.

It is a rich heavy brew with low carbonation, dark color and full flavor.

Barleywine is an ale, not a lager like doppelbock, but think of a doppelbock consistency fermented longer (from a 6% alcohol content to a 9-12%), add more hops to the flavor and that's what barleywine tastes like.

It can get very flat very quickly, it can be overhopped and the alcohol content can get ahead of the flavor to the point where there is an unpleasant aftertaste.

Anchor Steam makes a decent, accessible one called Old Foghorn which can be pretty good unless it has been gathering dust for months in a forgotten corner of your local beer distributor.