Etymology
Fort George Brewery in Astoria, Oregon, United States 🇺🇸
Barley Wine - Barley Regular|
Score
8.03
|
|
Since the beginning of time, people have slightly misinterpreted and reinterpreted each others words… and beers. The study of words’ original intentions has always been a thing – see Yaska, Sanskrit Grammarian circa 7th Century BCE. Same with beer. Which leads us to the question – what exactly is a barleywine? Each year, Etymology is a blend of two very different but equally delicious variations of barleywine.
Etymology 2025:
Etym: English Barleywine aged in Westward Whiskey Barrels for 30 months
Ology: A blend of Barleywines aged in Heaven Hill barrels for 20 months, George Dickel Barrels for 20 months, and Westward Rye Barrels for 25 months
Plus aged in Basil Barleywines aged in Basil Hayden, Russell’s Reserve and Russell’s Rye Barrels for 20 months, and Willett Barrels for 40 months
Etymology 2024:
Etym: English Barleywine aged in Westward Whiskey Barrels for 20 months
Ology: American Barleywine aged in Westward Whiskey Barrels for 12 months
Plus ‘Red’ Barleywine aged in Russell Rye Barrels for 12 months
Etymology 2023:
Etym: an English Barleywine aged in Willet Whiskey Barrels
Ology: an American Barleywine aged in Booker’s Bourbon Barrels
Etymology 2022:
Etym: a 8-month Black Barleywine aged in Willett Whiskey Barrels
Ology: a 12-month Barrel-Aged Barleywine with EKG & Nelson hops for some added modern complexity
Etymology 2025:
Etym: English Barleywine aged in Westward Whiskey Barrels for 30 months
Ology: A blend of Barleywines aged in Heaven Hill barrels for 20 months, George Dickel Barrels for 20 months, and Westward Rye Barrels for 25 months
Plus aged in Basil Barleywines aged in Basil Hayden, Russell’s Reserve and Russell’s Rye Barrels for 20 months, and Willett Barrels for 40 months
Etymology 2024:
Etym: English Barleywine aged in Westward Whiskey Barrels for 20 months
Ology: American Barleywine aged in Westward Whiskey Barrels for 12 months
Plus ‘Red’ Barleywine aged in Russell Rye Barrels for 12 months
Etymology 2023:
Etym: an English Barleywine aged in Willet Whiskey Barrels
Ology: an American Barleywine aged in Booker’s Bourbon Barrels
Etymology 2022:
Etym: a 8-month Black Barleywine aged in Willett Whiskey Barrels
Ology: a 12-month Barrel-Aged Barleywine with EKG & Nelson hops for some added modern complexity
Sign up to add a tick or review
8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle.
A- Dark brown copper color, dark liquid, minimal head.
A- Brown sugar, oak, dark fruits, mild booze, rich treacle.
F- Oak, booze, mild caramel, figs, dark cherries.
T- Full body, average texture, average carbonation, complex finish.
O-2025 vintage. Wow, that's a lot of barrels and a lot of time spend in said barrels. You'd expect this to be insanely hot but it was deep and complex. Lots of dark fruits coming through, especially fig, date, and cherry. A nice oak influence and some very faint vanilla and caramel from the barrels, as well as maybe a touch of spice. Quite nice.
A- Dark brown copper color, dark liquid, minimal head.
A- Brown sugar, oak, dark fruits, mild booze, rich treacle.
F- Oak, booze, mild caramel, figs, dark cherries.
T- Full body, average texture, average carbonation, complex finish.
O-2025 vintage. Wow, that's a lot of barrels and a lot of time spend in said barrels. You'd expect this to be insanely hot but it was deep and complex. Lots of dark fruits coming through, especially fig, date, and cherry. A nice oak influence and some very faint vanilla and caramel from the barrels, as well as maybe a touch of spice. Quite nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Jun 2026
at 19:22
8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
2025. Figgy, dates. Med brown. Rich bourbon I’m, vanilla. Holy shit this is complex, rich. Deep fruits, vanilla, lots of wood, light rye, there malt is complex but almost lighter than it was on the nose.
Tried
on 13 Apr 2026
at 03:37
8.4/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 9
Overall 8
Shared with Josh during our trip to Festival of Dark Arts 2026.
Aroma: a lot of oak, toffee, slightly meaty.
Taste: along the same lines, loads of caramel and toffee, creamy oak.
Overall: very good.
Aroma: a lot of oak, toffee, slightly meaty.
Taste: along the same lines, loads of caramel and toffee, creamy oak.
Overall: very good.
Tried
from Draft
at
Fort George Brewery (Lovell Taproom)
on 14 Feb 2026
at 04:55
9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9.5
Texture 9
Overall 9
On tap at Chuck's - Seward Park. Pours very murky muddy brown with a beige head. Fantastic whiskey barrel character, rich caramelized sugars, and dried fruits on the nose. Flavour has a bready malt base, dried fruits, tons of caramelized dark sugars, and a ton of rich whiskey barrels that are well-integrates with the base beer. This is phenomenal.
Tried
from Draft
from
Chuck's Hop Shop - Seward Park
on 05 Oct 2025
at 02:53
9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 9.5
Texture 9
Overall 9.5
Bottle, 500 ml, shared with Hrvoje. Deep dark brown with off white to beige head. Nice caramel and toffee, smooth bourbon, some dates, very smooth, more dates. Classic barleywine well executed.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Jun 2025
at 22:00
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8.5
Texture 9
Overall 9
A deep dark brown barleywine with a thin mocha head. In aroma, sweet fruity caramel malt with dark fruits, alcohol warmth, light vinous character, very nice. In mouth, a nice sweet fruity caramel malt with dark fruits, vanilla, vinous character, alcohol warmth, very nice. Bottle from brewery.
Tried
from Bottle
at
Fort George Brewery (Lovell Taproom)
on 08 Feb 2025
at 21:28
7/10
5oz.
A: hazy dark copper with a beige head.
A: caramel, dark fruits, oak.
T: along the same lines, a bit boozy with noticeable hoppy bitterness.
M: 4/5
O: Pretty good American barleywine.
8-4-8-4-15=39
A: hazy dark copper with a beige head.
A: caramel, dark fruits, oak.
T: along the same lines, a bit boozy with noticeable hoppy bitterness.
M: 4/5
O: Pretty good American barleywine.
8-4-8-4-15=39
Tried
from Draft
on 03 Jan 2025
at 17:36
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
2023 (Willett/Bookers). Murky pale brown puddle water. No head. Dates, vanilla, sticky sugars. Boozy, quite fruity, especially plums and oranges. Good complexity. 4 7 7 8 7.5 = 6.9
2024. Looks not great, murky, light brown, no head. Nice figs, dates, vanilla, 4 8 8 4 17 = 8.1
2024. Looks not great, murky, light brown, no head. Nice figs, dates, vanilla, 4 8 8 4 17 = 8.1
Tried
on 27 Jan 2024
at 03:19
8.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8
Taster at Fort George, 2023 vintage. Near black pour with a thin, tight beige head. Aroma is malty, molassess, bourbon and pit fruit. Taste comes in strong, sweet, brown sugar, prunes and a hefty hit of bourbon. Deep and rich. Decadent.
Tried
on 09 May 2023
at 04:33
9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
On tap at Fort George - Lovell Taproom, pours black with a small tan head. Aroma is decadent and complex, with intense bourbon barrels, brown sugar, dark dried fruits, and dark sugars — damn. Flavour is sublime, with intense bourbon, brown sugar, molasses, and dark dried fruits. Intensely rich, decadent and wonderfully blended. Outstanding extreme beer.
Tried
from Draft
on 29 Dec 2022
at 05:56