Critical Hit Barley Wine

[Mean Eyed Cat]

I don't think this has been posted yet, but I found this today at my local food co-op:

The brewer is Ninkasi Brewing Company out of Eugene, OR.

 

[Thotas]

I haven't seen this, believe me if I had, I'd have picked it up for the bottle alone. I have had their brews before. (I live in Oregon, their more mainstream products are easily available.) They're a good brewery, I'll bet what's inside the bottle is good stuff, too.

 

[scourger]

How do I get that in Florida?

 

[Wycen]

One of my Christmas presents was a 4 pack of Midas Touch beer from Dogfish Head brewery. While trying to find that I found Ninkasi brewery, which takes it name from the old Sumerian beer goddess. I found Midas Touch and other Ninkasi beers at Bevmo. Doesn't look like Bevmo stocks Critical Hit, which is apparently because it is a small batch brought out for special occasions. Maybe somebody will ship you an empty bottle scourger?

Oh yeah, because it is barley, I'm guessing it also doesn't keep as long, so another reason it'll be hard to get, though it supposedly has lots of hops which should help preserve it. But I could be wrong.

Ninkasi Critical Hit Barley Wine coming to bombers in January | Beernews.org

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Today, 01:07 AM #11 (permalink)
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Reported.

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

Oh yeah, because it is barley, I'm guessing it also doesn't keep as long, so another reason it'll be hard to get, though it supposedly has lots of hops which should help preserve it. But I could be wrong.[/url]

Really? Do you think that it might not keep? Well crap... I was hoping not to open the bottle as I put it in our gaming room to add to the decor

 

[Wycen]

Really? Do you think that it might not keep? Well crap... I was hoping not to open the bottle as I put it in our gaming room to add to the decor

Well, my thought was based on a conversation with a friend about Anchor Steam which tried using the Hymn to Ninkasi as a recipe for beer. I think I recall him saying that it didn't keep long due to the barley content.

Then I read this part of the link I posted above: Ninkasi’s 2010 Critical Hit. It was a classic take, located on the Old Foghorn/Bigfoot branch of the barleywine family tree, with decent but not overpowering alcohol heat and massive hops. I preferred the fresh article to the 2009 version, which was still good, but quite a bit cloudier and with less distinct flavors (maybe a little oxidation already creeping in also).

Oxidations not good for beer. But, on the other hand we have a lot of hops and high alcohol content. Barley wine is called wine because it has a higher alcohol content than ale.

My googlefu tells me however that barley wine can last pretty long: Barleywine Shelf Life - Cellaring / Aging Beer - BeerAdvocate

So, in a few years ask yourself again if you want to try it and then open it or let it sit a little while longer.

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

Cool, thanks for the info Wycen Oh, and my local co-op has already sold out of Critical Hit, so I'm glad I bought it when I had the chance