Barley Wine
What You Need To Know
Barley Wine is an English invention with roots that extend back to at least the 18th century if not earlier. It appears that the first bottled version was produced by Bass and introduced in the early 1900s. A Barley wine is typically the strongest beer that a brewery will make and most often released during the cold winter months. These Ales are always dark in color with flavors of dried fruit, brown spices and traditionally wood as they were typically aged in oak casks. The name Barley Wine is derived simply from the fact that the Ale’s strength is nearing or comparable to that of wine. When the Microbrewery boom hit full swing in the US, American brewers who are reluctant to skip an opportunity to make things bigger were attracted to this style immediately. Today you can easily find three US versions to every English example.
Great Examples of the Style
Young’s Old Nick Barley Wine, England
Thomas Hardy Ale, England
Traquair House Ale, Scotland
Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn, USA
Alesmith Old Numbskull, USA