"Bill Benzel" > wrote in message
...

> My personal opinion is that Bigfoot and other fresh-shipped barleywines
> need a few years in the cellar before they're really ready to drink.

Most barleywines, yeah. For whatever reason, Bigfoot seems better fresh out
of the gate than a year or two in. I've never bothered cellaring them long
enough, but I've heard from more than one person that somewhere around five
years out, it picks back up again.

But most barleywines and similar-strength beers do benefit from lounging
around a while.

-Steve