. Favourite Beer of the Week

On Sunday I made a shopping list and went to the grocery store and when I got there I found that the shopping list was still in the kitchen, so I had to go up and down every aisle to try and remember what was on the list, and so eventually I found myself in the beer aisle looking at a bottle of Lagunitas GnarlyWine.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

GnarlyWine is a barleywine. A couple of weeks ago, my good friend Fuzzy Nuggz had some complimentary things to say about a barleywine he drank at Magnolia on Haight Street. I didn't even know barleywine was beer. I thought he had ordered a wine, which was strange. So I guess I've learned something this year. And it's only March!

Apparently barleywine is called barleywine because it is as strong as wine, but it's made from barley.


This one is 10.85% abv. It's a very pretty copper colour, and it tastes very tasty, and a bit thick in the mouth (for a liquid), and quite alcoholy, but not too much.

I would take this beer to a party if it was the kind of party where you can be sure no one else is going to steal your beer, and you can have it all for yourself, or share it with the people at the party that you genuinely like, or would genuinely like to impress with beer. Alternatively I would drink it at home on a Sunday afternoon, because let's be honest, I only go to about three parties a year, and Sunday afternoon is the time I do all my cooking for the week, and sometimes I need a little incentive.