7.5% turns into 13.8% faster than you think when we line up Scotch ale and barleywine on the same table. We’re back in the studio with Jim and special backup drinker Toby, because this tasting is stacked with higher ABV bottles and cans, plus a few surprises we did not see coming.

We start in Scotch ale territory with 3 Floyds Robert the Bruce, then take a sharp left with Samuel Smith Yorkshire Stingo, a pour that reads tart and oaky enough to spark a full debate about “Christmas pudding” notes and what the label promises versus what your palate actually gets. Central Waters brings us back to earth with a bourbon barrel Scotch ale that’s rich, smooth, and balanced, showing how barrel-aged beer can elevate malt-forward styles beyond stout.

Then we jump into barleywine, including the notorious Sierra Nevada Bigfoot at 90 IBUs, where we dig into why bitterness can linger so differently and why IBUs aren’t as consistent as people assume. The night turns around with Northern Rivals, a Fair State Co-op and Central Waters collaboration that hits figs, caramel, and bourbon in a way that finally makes barleywine feel approachable. And yes, we crown a winner: 3 Floyds Pillar of Beasts, a bourbon barrel-aged salted caramel barleywine that drinks dangerously smooth and lands as an instant “beer of the year” contender for us.

Subscribe for more craft beer reviews, share this with your drinking buddy who thinks barleywine is impossible to like, and leave a rating or review so more beer nerds can find the show. What’s your favorite Scotch ale or barleywine to hunt down next?

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