Brickstone Anniversary X 22OZ

Brickstone Anniversary X 22OZ is a retired American Barleywine-style ale bottled at 10.5% ABV in a 22-oz format from BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Brewed as a one-time limited anniversary release, this barleywine earned a 3.89 average on BeerAdvocate and a 3.7 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 1,100 ratings — solid marks for a brewery that has built a loyal Midwest following since opening in 2006.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA  |  Style: American Barleywine  |  Brewery: BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery  |  Status: Retired / Limited (Brewed Once)

Production & Heritage

BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery opened in 2006 in Bourbonnais, Illinois, a small community south of Chicago in Kankakee County. The Anniversary X was produced as a celebratory one-off release, marking a milestone for the brewery. As an American Barleywine, it relies on a generous malt bill to achieve its 10.5% ABV and rich body, though the brewery has not publicly disclosed the exact grain recipe. The beer was brewed in limited quantity and is now retired, meaning no further batches are planned — any remaining bottles represent the entirety of what was produced.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a wave of bready malt and dark stone fruit — cherries, plums, and raisins dominate. Behind the fruit sit quieter notes of dates, light figs, brown sugar, and a subtle red-wine-like vinosity that adds complexity.

Taste: The palate mirrors the aroma closely. Malt sweetness arrives first, carrying flavors of cherry and caramel through the mid-palate before plum, raisin, and fig notes develop. A faint red-wine character weaves through the body, lending depth. Sweetness is present but measured — reviewers consistently note it avoids becoming cloying, with just enough residual sugar to support the fruit without overwhelming it.

Finish: The finish is smooth with moderate carbonation and a lighter body than some barleywines in this ABV range. Dried fruit and malt linger, tapering off with a gentle warmth rather than a heavy alcoholic burn.

How to Drink Anniversary X

Serve Anniversary X at cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate the complex dark-fruit aromatics. A beer of this weight and sweetness profile is best enjoyed on its own as a slow sipper. If you want to experiment with beer cocktails, consider these approaches: a Barleywine Float paired with vanilla bean ice cream, where the malt sweetness and fruit notes play against cold cream; a Beer Flip shaken with a whole egg and a dash of nutmeg, which amplifies the caramel and fig character; or a simple Boilermaker alongside a pour of bourbon, where the shared caramel and dried-fruit DNA from each liquid creates a natural pairing.

Best For

• Collectors seeking retired, one-time-release American craft beers
• Barleywine enthusiasts building a vertical or horizontal tasting lineup
• Gifting a craft beer devotee who values rarity over hype
• A slow weekend evening session paired with rich desserts or aged cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Anniversary X taste like? Anniversary X delivers a malt-forward flavor profile dominated by dark stone fruit — cherry, plum, and raisin — layered with caramel and a subtle red-wine character, finishing smooth with moderate sweetness.

How does Anniversary X compare to Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine? Bigfoot is widely distributed and known for a pronounced hop bitterness that balances its malt backbone, while Anniversary X leans more squarely into malt sweetness and dark fruit with virtually no detectable hop bitterness. Bigfoot is also a recurring annual release, whereas Anniversary X was brewed only once and is now retired.

Is Anniversary X good for sipping neat? Yes — its 10.5% ABV, smooth carbonation, and layered dark-fruit profile make it an ideal slow-sipping barleywine, especially when served slightly below room temperature in a tulip or snifter glass.

Where is Anniversary X made? Anniversary X was brewed at BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery in Bourbonnais, Illinois, a town located about 60 miles south of Chicago in Kankakee County.

What foods pair well with Anniversary X? Aged cheddar or Gruyère, where the sharp saltiness contrasts the malt sweetness; dark chocolate truffles, which echo the beer's fig and brown-sugar notes; slow-braised short ribs with a fruit-forward glaze; blue cheese with honeycomb; and bread pudding with caramel sauce, a dessert that mirrors the beer's core flavor profile.

What sizes does Anniversary X come in? Anniversary X was released exclusively in the 22-oz bomber format, which was the standard craft bottle size at the time of its production.

Is Anniversary X worth the price? As a retired, one-time limited release from a respected Illinois brewpub, Anniversary X occupies a collector-tier position. Its value is driven primarily by scarcity rather than production cost, making it more of a specialty find than an everyday purchase.

Why Anniversary X?

What separates Anniversary X from the broader American Barleywine field is its finality — this beer was brewed once and will not return. That scarcity gives any remaining bottle a time-capsule quality, preserving a snapshot of BrickStone's brewing at a specific milestone. The flavor profile delivers exactly what barleywine drinkers look for: deep malt complexity, layered dark fruit, and a restrained sweetness that avoids heavy-handedness. For anyone interested in the Illinois craft beer scene or the American Barleywine style more broadly, a bottle of Anniversary X represents a piece of brewing history from a brewery that has quietly earned respect since 2006.