Fremont Brewing 14th Anniversary Golden Barleywine 2023
14.9% ABV | 22oz bottle | Golden barleywine | Blend of 4- and 18-month barrel-aged golden barleywine + Brew 7000 | 5–9-year-old bourbon barrels | Released August 12, 2023 — Fremont Brewing 14th Anniversary Golden Barleywine is the Seattle brewery's birthday beer: an exclusive blend of barrel-aged golden barleywine — components aged 4 and 18 months — plus Brew 7000, all resting in 5–9-year-old bourbon barrels from various distillers. "Golden" is the style call: a paler malt base of Maris Otter pale, white wheat, and a touch of Carafa 2 gives light-mahogany color and a cleaner malt-and-hop profile than the dark toffee-and-fig character of English-style dark barleywines. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The barrel blend does the talking: molasses, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, and vanilla over dried fruit and graham cracker, with whiskey and oak throughout — mildly sweet, slightly bitter, warming, and mouthwatering at 14.9%. IBU 25. The brewery's advice: "Age this beer, or try one now... go on." Among barrel-aged strong ales, a golden barleywine at this strength, blended across multiple barrel ages, is a cellar-worthy anniversary pour.
Tasting notes
Aroma: molasses, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, vanilla, dried fruit, graham cracker, whiskey and oak. Flavor: mildly sweet, slightly bitter, mild lingering sweetness, medium body, warming, mildly spicy. (Official brewery notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 14.9% ABV — Fremont's 14th anniversary beer, released August 2023
- Blend of 4- and 18-month golden barleywine plus Brew 7000
- Aged in 5–9-year-old bourbon barrels
- Golden style: paler malt base, cleaner profile than dark barleywines
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Cellar temperature in a snifter; built to age — lay one down and revisit yearly.
Frequently asked questions
What makes it a "golden" barleywine?
The paler malt base (Maris Otter pale, white wheat) gives golden-to-amber color and a cleaner profile than dark, toffee-heavy English barleywines.
What is Brew 7000?
Fremont's proprietary base-beer designation — the 7000th brew celebration beer; it's one component of this anniversary blend.
Can I age it?
Yes — the brewery encourages cellaring; it will evolve for years.
How strong is it?
14.9% ABV — a slow sipper at 25 IBU.