Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across the World 2017: Dry-Hopped Barleywine Style Ale

This is from the 2017 Beer Camp Across the World pack from Sierra Nevada brewing. This year they joined with brewers not just all over the United States, as in past years, but from around the world as well. This 9.4% ABV barleywine was brewed in collaboration with the Avery Brewing Company of Colorado. They blended their respective barleywines, Bigfoot and Hog Heaven.

The beer pours a gleaming dark copper and amber. There is a half-inch of off-white head. The aroma is blueberries, toffee, caramel, raspberry and vanilla. The taste follows the aromas, much rich malt, berries, with an astringent, oaky, blast of bitterness on the finish. The beer drinks smooth, warm, with moderate carbonation. The bitterness has an astringent, chemical quality that is just too much. Maybe some aging would do this good.