Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2008 vs 2009

This marks the first time BK Beertasters goes vertical. I recently reviewed Bigfoot 2009. It's super hoppy (90 IBUs) and features an aggressive bitter finish. It's confusingly similar to a double IPA and so hoppy that the malt characteristics don't shine through at this point. 

Bigfoot 2008's body is leaner and longer. 2009's body is tight, which is a good thing in certain circumstances. 2008's aroma is brothy and appealing. It smells like lightly burnt caramel, and is candy-like. There isn't a touch of hops in the aroma or flavor aside from the bitter pine finish. 2008's flavor is predominately malty, with notes of bread and cookie. Bigfoot is more elegant and refined after a year of aging, but it quickly loses its heavy dose of hop flavor and aroma.  

The other difference between Bigfoot '08 and '09 is the labeling. Mike Krzyzewski still recruits jerks, and I hate Duke as much as stupid beer labels. The worst quality of Bigfoot 2008 from an aesthetic standpoint is the unexplained label change. The classic label is great (pictured on the right), but in 2008, Sierra Nevada departed from the classic label for a landscape scene (pictured left). 2009 compromises by reincorporating the beers name sake in an updated version of the classic label for the 25th anniversary (top left). 

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2009

I am currently in love with cameras that take backward pictures. At first it confused me. I checked the bottle to make sure the label wasn't on backwards. It wasn't. Then I took some more backward pictures and fell in love with my camera. I've always been adept at writing upside down and backwards so the accompanying photo doesn't bother me.

Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot 2009 is finally here. It tastes hoppier this year but that could be because it's fresh (the beer was bottled three weeks ago). The coloring is deep red, like watered down maple syrup. The aroma is fresh, sharp and flowery with hints of citrus and pine, spice. The flavor is dripping with hops from start to finish. The malt flavoring is there but it's pushed aside by the aggressive hops.  The flavor begins with a sweet, intense fruit character that melds into a strong, bitter finish.   

I have heard the argument that Bigfoot is a double IPA masquerading as a barley wine. I have previously discussed and dismissed the claim in this forum, but after considering this year's release I feel the argument has weight. If I sampled this beer in a blind taste test, I would swear it's an IPA. The hops are too heavy (90 IBUs) while the malt body and flavor isn't where it should be for a barley wine. It's still an awesome beer, but it might also be cross dressing.   

                                                     

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2008

I miss barely wines during the summer. I know everyone wants their light, zesty drinks during the hot summer, but I'm sitting in air conditioning right now so what does light and zesty matter? I want some complexity that packs a punch. Today I found it. A beer buddy of mine gave me the heads up on a store that still has the elusive and summer averse Bigfoot. I'm not even giving out the name of the store in case there are actually people reading this and they fiend for Bigfoot.




Anyway, I'm having a Bigfoot and his big ass is stomping on my senses. Bigfoot comes out in winter, so the one I'm sipping now is aged six months and it's already changed. When it's released Bigfoot is has a hop character like an Imperial IPA. I've heard people claim it's mislabeled as a barley wine and is really an Imperial IPA. I don't buy the argument because the malt flavor is richer and more dominant in Bigfoot than in Imperial IPAs. Bigfoot is well hopped but it's not crazy hopped like Imperials. There's also that maple syrup coloring that Imperial IPAs don't usually have. However, I can see where an argument like this come from. Beers like Great Divide's Hercules Double IPA can blur the line between a big IPA and a barley wine. Bigfoot is aptly named. It's flavors are epic, and some of them are reminiscent of the forests Bigfoot is said to lurk in.


After six months the hop aroma becomes less aggressive, and a spicy malt aroma is more apparent. The aroma still has a deep pine forest character, there is just more malt accent with light aromas of spice, beef broth, cinnamon, sherry and spice.


The mouth feel and flavor of aged Bigfoot become leaner and longer, respectively. The body is more syrupy, but the thick malt still sticks to the side of your mouth. The malt flavor and hop bitterness are more harmonious, while the malt flavors develop new characteristics like caramel. There is still an aggressive bitterness in the finish, but it's fitting, pleasant and more in harmony with the other flavors. There are strong flavors of unsweetened dark chocolate and pine, with slighter notes of fig, char, forest, spice, earthy autumn leaves, and dried fruits (cherry, apricot). Bigfoot is less drinkable at refrigerator temperature and livens up as it warms.