Meer over Barleywine
Which barleywine are you looking for?
- English barleywine: very malty and fruity, with a soft, warming alcohol.
- American barleywine: strong malt and plenty of hops. Often a brewery's strongest beer, released in winter and with a vintage year on the label.
- Wheatwine: an American style of the same strength, usually made with half or more wheat malt.
- Barrel aged: according to Brew Your Own, barleywine often goes into used bourbon barrels. See also barrel aged.
Belgian and strong: quadrupel.
Young or aged
Barleywine changes over time. Aroma and bitterness soften, the body gets thinner, and sherry, wine or port-like notes can develop. According to the BJCP, young and old versions both deserve appreciation, each for what it is.
What you'll find at Hoptimaal
Most of it comes from American and Canadian breweries: Revolution Brewing, Barreled Souls, Perennial Artisan Ales, Bissell Brothers and Jackie O's from the United States, and Temporal Artisan Ales, Badlands and Brasserie du Bas-Canada from Canada. Also, among others, Sibeeria from Czechia, Anderson's from Estonia and Dude from Brazil. For every beer you see the current Untappd score.
Serving and storing
Serve it at 10–13 °C in a cognac glass and take your time: it's a beer to sip. If you want to lay it down, store it cool and dark at a constant temperature, upright (with a cork: on its side). CraftBeer.com from the Brewers Association recommends tasting it after six months and then yearly. Ask the brewery how long it will keep.
Buy barleywine at Hoptimaal
At Hoptimaal you can buy barleywine (or barley wine, as the English spell it) online or in our shop at Leeghwater 5 in Amersfoort. You can order barleywine by the single bottle. Order before 3 pm on working days and we ship the same day. Shipping within the Netherlands is free from €75.
Tip: put a barleywine next to an imperial stout of similar strength. According to the BJCP, the difference lies mainly in the emphasis: the stout is darker and more roasted, while the barleywine is all about malt, fruit and hops.
Frequently asked questions
English or American barleywine: which should you choose?
If you want malt, choose an English one: according to the BJCP, bread, biscuit and caramel, dried or dark fruit, and from golden amber to dark brown. If you want hops, choose an American one: citrus, fruit or resin and a firm to aggressive bitterness. If you're buying it for the hops, drink it young, because aroma and bitterness soften over time.
Why is there a year on a barleywine?
American barleywines often come out in winter, with a year (vintage) on the label. Because barleywine changes over time, this shows you which vintage you have at home.
Is barleywine a kind of wine?
No. It's a very strong ale made from barley malt, hops and brewer's yeast, usually with 8–12% alcohol. "Wine" is only in the name. More in the Beer School on barleywine.
