Three Floyds Barrel Aged Behemoth 4Pk

Three Floyds Barrel Aged Behemoth 4Pk is an American barleywine aged in Willett bourbon barrels, packaged as a four-pack at 13.5% ABV. Rated 4.18–4.35 on BeerAdvocate across vintages, this limited release from one of the Midwest's most celebrated breweries stands apart through its distinctive use of Willett distillery barrels — a pairing that layers natural bourbon character into an already formidable barleywine base.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Munster, Indiana, USA  |  Style: Barrel-Aged American Barleywine  |  Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Three Floyds Brewing Company was founded in 1996 by Nick Floyd and his father Mike in Munster, Indiana, and has since built a cult following for aggressive, uncompromising beers. Barrel Aged Behemoth begins as a full-bodied American barleywine that is then matured in Willett bourbon barrels for 12 to 16 months, extracting vanilla, coconut, and deep bourbon character from the wood. The choice of Willett barrels — sourced from the Kentucky heritage distillery — gives this expression a distinctly refined barrel signature compared to barleywines aged in more commonly available bourbon cooperage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet vanilla and caramel malt lead the nose, followed by warm bourbon, toasted coconut, and subtle brown sugar. A hint of dark dried fruit sits underneath, adding complexity as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich and moderately sweet, with toffee and nougat arriving first before giving way to raisin, licorice, and layered dark fruit at mid-palate. Caramel sweetness is well controlled by a dry crispness and light phenolic bitterness that prevents the beer from becoming cloying, while bourbon barrel influence weaves through each sip.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering toffee, vanilla, and a gentle alcoholic heat that reflects the 13.5% ABV. A dry, slightly tannic quality from the barrel aging provides a clean close despite the beer's considerable weight.

How to Drink Barrel Aged Behemoth

Serve at 50–55°F in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate the barrel aromatics. This beer is best enjoyed on its own in small pours, sipped slowly as it opens up with warmth. While not a typical cocktail ingredient, barrel-aged barleywines can serve as a base in a Beer Flip — the egg and sugar complement its toffee richness — or as a float atop a Boilermaker pairing with a pour of bourbon to echo the Willett barrel character. A Barleywine Shandy using sparkling lemonade can lighten the intensity for those who want a longer, more sessionable serve.

Best For

• Cellaring alongside other vintage barleywines for annual vertical tastings
• Sharing among craft beer enthusiasts during cold-weather gatherings
• Gifting to a collector who appreciates brewery-distillery barrel collaborations
• Pairing with a dessert course at an intimate dinner

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Barrel Aged Behemoth taste like? It delivers rich toffee, vanilla, and caramel sweetness balanced by dark fruit, licorice, and a dry crispness, with prominent bourbon barrel character throughout. The 13.5% ABV provides a warming undercurrent without overwhelming the palate.

How does Barrel Aged Behemoth compare to Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Bigfoot? Both are American barrel-aged barleywines, but Behemoth uses Willett bourbon barrels aged 12–16 months, giving it more pronounced vanilla and coconut notes, while Barrel Aged Bigfoot tends to lean hoppier and more resinous owing to Bigfoot's aggressively hopped base beer. Behemoth generally runs higher in ABV and emphasizes malt sweetness over hop bitterness.

Is Barrel Aged Behemoth good for sipping neat? Yes — this is a sipping beer by design, best poured into a snifter and enjoyed slowly at cellar temperature to appreciate the full range of barrel-derived flavors.

Where is Barrel Aged Behemoth made? It is brewed at Three Floyds Brewing Company in Munster, Indiana, in the northwest corner of the state near the Chicago border. The barrels used for aging come from the Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.

What foods pair well with Barrel Aged Behemoth? Aged cheddar or Gruyère complement its caramel and toffee sweetness. Dark chocolate truffles mirror the beer's roasted malt depth. Pecan pie aligns with its brown sugar and vanilla barrel notes. Braised short ribs match its richness and warming alcohol. Blue cheese and honey bring a savory-sweet contrast that highlights the barleywine's complexity.

What sizes does Barrel Aged Behemoth come in? The standard retail format is a four-pack of 12 oz cans.

Is Barrel Aged Behemoth worth the price? Barrel Aged Behemoth positions as a premium limited-release barleywine, and its 12–16 month aging in sought-after Willett bourbon barrels places it in the upper tier of the style; for collectors and barrel-aged beer enthusiasts, it represents strong value relative to single-bottle releases from comparable breweries.

Why Barrel Aged Behemoth?

The defining differentiator here is the Willett bourbon barrel maturation — a detail that matters because Willett's barrels carry a distinctive vanilla-forward, coconut-laced profile prized by both whiskey and beer enthusiasts. Three Floyds' decision to extend the aging window to 12–16 months allows the barleywine base to fully integrate with the wood, producing a cohesive rather than barrel-dominant final product. Consistent BeerAdvocate scores above 4.0 across multiple vintages confirm that the execution matches the ambition. For anyone serious about barrel-aged American barleywines, Behemoth earns its name.