Our picks, the list, and you've been warned. Brouwer's Cafe's 18th annual Hard Liver Barleywine Festival runs February 29th & March 1st.
With the prospect of more rain in the forecast, the staff at Brouwer’s Cafe have a solution for those looking to pair the weather with their mood, a barleywine. Now in it’s 18th year, Hard Liver Barleywine Festival is your opportunity to spend a little (or a lot) of your time while losing yourself in the amber and burgundy pools, which host some of the highest gravity beers you’ll find around the region.
With doors opening at 11 am, this Saturday (February 29th), guests are encouraged to sit down, review the list of beers on draft, order by number and size (e.g. #1 and 12 ounces), before voting for your favorite barleywine.
Our Picks
2015 Anacortes Old Sebastes. A previous winner at this contest. We will definitely be looking out for signs of oxidation and how much of the rich, dark fruit, character has faded.
2016 Ecliptic Barrel-aged Orange Giant. Founded by John Harris, Orange Giant is no doubt an inspired beer from his days at Full Sail, McMenamins, and Deschutes. Another beer that will have presence of oxidation but more curious is how much of the barrel-aging has faded.
2015 J.W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale. A classic in many respects, any vintage of J.W. Lees is worth your time.
2019 Reuben’s Brews Three Ryes Men. Recognized in contests and by local and beer traders-alike, this
2019 Seven Seas Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine. A previous winner at Hard Liver, we can’t pass up another opportunity to try beers from a talented brewery, like 7 Seas.
2020 Cloudburst West Barrel-aged Old Tubthumper. Recently nominated by the James Beard Foundation, we can’t think of a better beer to toast to the hard work and creativity at Cloudburst Brewing Company.
2020 Matchless/North Fork Where Is My Barleywine BA Barleywine. Made by two qualified, most creative and most polar opposites in their recognition, we are selecting this beer in recognition of North Forks overlooked creativity and Matchless kinetic-disloyalty to flagships.
The List (in order by oldest to newest and alphabetically)
2002 - 2015
2014 Oakshire Barleywine
2014 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
2015 - 2017
2015 Anacortes Old Sebastes
2015 J.W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale
2015 Lost Abbey Bourbon Bbl-Aged Angels Share
2016 Alesmith Bourbon Bbl-Aged Old Numbskull
2016 Ecliptic Barrel-Aged Orange Giant
2016 Firestone Walker Helldorado
2016 Pike Old Bawdy Barleywine
2017 - 2019
2017 Big Time Old Wooly
2017 Sierra Nevada Aged Bigfoot
2018 Firestone-Walker §ucaba
2018 Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws
2018 Old Schoolhouse Brewer’s Reserve
2018 Three Magnets Old Skook
2019 Elysian Barrel-Aged Cyclops
2019 Ex Novo Barrel-aged Nevermore w/ Figs & Cocoa Beans
2019 Machine House Barleywine in Cask
2019 Matchless Ol’ Lifewine
2019 Midnight Oak-aged Sun Arctic Devil
2019 Old Schoolhouse Brewer’s Reserve
2019 Old Stove Bourbon Barrel-aged Castaway
2019 Seven Seas Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine
2019 Skookum Whiskey Barrel-aged Barren Wood
2019 Reuben’s Brews Three Ryes Men
2020
2020 Block 15 Cognac Barrel-aged Hypnosis
2020 Boneyard Femur
2020 Breakside Brandy Barrel-aged French Quarter Ryewine
2020 Cloudburst Westland Barrel-aged Old Tubthumper
2020 De Dochter van de Korenaar Barrel-aged L’ensemble
2020 Fremont Brew 3000 Barrel-aged English-style Barleywine
2020 J.W. Lees Willoughby’s Port Barrel-aged Harvest Ale
2020 Matchless/North Fork Barrel-aged Where Is My Barleywine
2020 Matchless/North Fork Peat Barrel-aged Where Is My Barleywine
2020 Midnight Sun Barrel-aged Termination Dust Belgian-Style Barleywine
2020 Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine
2020 North Fork Spotted Owl
2020 Oakshire Twelve 12th Anniversary Barrel-aged Barleywine
2020 Page 24 Cognac Barrel-aged Barleywine
2020 pFriem Sherry Barrel-aged Blonde Barleywine
2020 Skookum Barrel-aged Heavy Is the Head That Wears the Crown
2020 Skookum Barrel-aged In Ruins English-style Barleywine
2020 Standard Bourbon Barrel-aged Flight of the Centaur
2020 The Bruery White Oak Bourbon Barrel-aged Wheatwine
Brouwer’s Cafe is located at 400 N 35th Street in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. For more information on Brouwer’s Cafe, their hours, upcoming events, or their current food and drink menus, visit https://www.brouwerscafe.com/.
Full disclosure: We are members of Reuben’s Brews’ “Reuben’s Crew” mug club membership. The brand, its staff, and ownership have not compensated me for this article.
