Last February, we hit the ground running after Dry January and highlighted a special collab from the Barrique Brewing and Blending team in Nashville, Tennessee. Now, a year later, we’re back with a double dose of barleywine from the Barrique crew.

Barrique

Barrique, a small Southern brewery based in Nashville, Tennessee, has come a long way in six short years. Continuing to show just why it is one of the most specialized breweries in the South, Barrique’s team is always looking to push the boundaries. A passion project formed from a love of beer and travel, the brewery’s unassuming narrative quickly helped distinguish itself as a 100% barrel-aged brewery that rides a seamless line between tradition and regional expression.

While Barrique’s team prides itself on its top-tier sour program, it also has a passion for brewing all things malty and high-gravity—always in small batches and rightfully sought after. PorchDrinking.com has again partnered with head brewer Spencer Longhurst and the brewing team to share their newest wax-top offerings.

Double Drop

In late November of last year and in the spirit of the holidays, Barrique teased a double barleywine release for December 21, 2024. While the first was a “part two” from a previous collaboration, the second was a brand new malty offering for the community.

To come off of Dry January strong, we’re here to share a breakdown of these two limited-release beers, and owe a huge thank you to the Barrique team for allowing PorchDrinking.com the opportunity to again put the spotlight on the Oldham Street brewery.

Echo in the Void

The first beer announced in Barrique’s double release was Echo in the Void. This barleywine is actually a continuation of Static Between Worlds, a collaboration with Jason Pellett of The Hollows (and formerly Orpheus Brewing), released last February. Starting from the bold foundation of its predecessor, Echo in the Void elevates it to new heights.

The release embodies the pinnacle of barrel aging—where time and oak work in harmony to create a rich, layered tapestry of flavors that captivate the senses. It began with huge amounts of Vienna malt, step-mashed and single decocted, boiled for seven hours and fermented with Barrique’s favorite English ale yeast. After a year resting in bourbon barrels, it spent an additional year in rum and maple syrup barrels, allowing for the flavors to meld and mature into something truly special.

The Review

The pour on Echo in the Void is a deep umber. Agitated carbonation is almost nonexistent, as the beer settles flat in the glass after just a few moments.

The nose is sweet and inviting, a perfect harmony of both barrel character and base barleywine. We get notes of vanilla, dates and caramelized sugar. Following closely are some fantastic fruity esters giving almost bananas Foster vibes. The softest touch of scorched wood brings some balance to the predominantly rich profile.

The palate provides the other side of the coin of this complex treatment. Mostly gone is the rich introduction from the nose. Instead we’re greeted with burnt caramel, roasty malt and a touch of char. An underlying molasses sweetness helps mellow any residual bitterness.

The mouthfeel is very unpresumptuous. There’s a nice, almost syrupy viscosity, however it’s nearly flat. Almost discernible levels of carb are noticeable on the back end, but it’s safe to say this one’s nearly still. While the profile lends itself to slightly more texture, it doesn’t detract much from the sheer complexity of this beer.

Time Waits for Nothing

This unique barleywine expression stands as a beautiful contrast to its release counterpart. Time Waits for Nothing represents the beauty of patience—and a little bit of magic. This Belgian barleywine is brewed like a traditional barleywine, but with the grain bill and yeast of a Belgian Quad. The complex result sets it apart from others of a similar style.

The malt bill blends Belgian Pils, Biscuit, Munich and Special B, with the addition of dark candy sugar. A single decoction mash and an intense eight-hour boil establish a firm foundation for the complexity to come. Fermented with a house-favorite Belgian monastery yeast, the brewery’s social media accounts suggest that the beer “carries the unmistakable character of Belgian heritage with a modern twist.”

Finally, Time Waits for Nothing slumbers one final time in orange curaçao casks. Barrique’s team notes that this release takes you on a journey through time, craftsmanship and experimentation. Time waits for nothing, so prepare to savor the moments.

The Review

Similar to its counterpart, Time Waits for Nothing pours a deep, dark abyss of ruby-flecked umber. While small amounts of carbonation are agitated upon the pour, this barleywine almost immediately settles flat in the glass.

The nose is a lot of fun; bright, inviting notes of candied citrus, orange burst Raisels, and an almost Madeira-like citrus on the back end. Balancing notes of dark chocolate and umami seamlessly bring the fragrant nose together.

The palate begs for time to open up; poured cold doesn’t allow for many of the layers to really shine. It opens up with Terry’s dark chocolate oranges, intermingling with roasty malt, Caramellos, and a touch of Belgian esters on the finish. It’s almost inexplicable as to how these core flavors of chocolate, caramel and orange work so well together, but the way they layer into the profile and hit the palate in consecutive blows makes for an exceptionally unique and enjoyable journey.

The mouthfeel is very similar to Echo in the Void. Just a touch of higher carbonation, but still very low overall. While slightly syrupy, it works well with the profile, and hides the ABV very well.

Always Barleywine Responsibly

One of the most difficult hurdles in the craft beer industry is for a brewery to set itself apart from all the others. The challenge is to differentiate its product in a memorable way while retaining a level of quality that’s noticed and appreciated by the ever-changing palates of an admittedly finicky community of beer lovers.

Barrique prides itself in doing just that. Its team recognizes that their specialty and passion for barrel-aged sour beers won’t appeal to everyone, but their unique approach to traditional styles and careful execution in bold profiles has converted the palates of many. For a project so small, they’ve made a ton of noise, and the PorchDrinking.com team is always eagerly awaiting what comes next from this passionate Nashville brewery.

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