Despite its name, the barleywine is indeed a beer but at wine strength — ranging as low as 7-percent alcohol by volume in British versions and upwards of 15 percent in American interpretations. Despite its name, barleywines aren’t made with tons of specialty grains, as one might assume. Historically, barleywines are brewed with pale malt, the same malts used for pale ales. Brewers achieve that rich caramel flavor that’s expected in barleywines by extending the length of the boil, which caramelizes the flavors and imparts that deep color. Yeast and hops vary between English-style and American-style barleywines, but either way, the barleywines we drink today are expectedly bold, yet surprisingly complex. Today, Peaks and Pints presents five, 5-ounce pours of barleywines in our Craft Beer Crosscut 3.21.18: A Flight of Barleywine Beer.
Sound Old Scoundrel Barleywine
10.4% ABV, 40 IBU
Sound Brewery’s Old Scoundrel is a delicious malt balanced barleywine with enough Cascade hop to make it a great marriage of the Old and New Worlds. The nose is malt forward, with healthy doses of caramel and toffee, often characteristic of English barleywines. There is also an essence of molasses and a vague fruitiness. Notes of brown sugar, faint nuttiness and dried apricots coat the tongue followed by a distinct hoppiness. While hoppy, Old Scoundrel is well balanced against the malt and sweetness.
Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws
11.5% ABV, 70 IBU
People have been making pilgrimages to Portland for Alan Sprints’ beer since the dark ages — back when hazy and sour beers weren’t made that way intentionally. Hair of the Dog’s Doggie Claws, a holiday-themed barleywine, is brewed with Simcoe and Amarillo hops along with Organic Pilsner malt, British crystal and dark wild flower honey collected on Mt. Hood. It smells of thick, decadent caramel coupled with notes of raisins, molasses and dark fruits. First sip brings a sweet caramel-raisin infused maltiness that carries hints of dark fruits, cherry and sourdough. This is followed by a nice wave of piney, citric, herbal hop bitterness causing a nice interplay between the sweet and bitter aspects of the craft beer.
Sierra Nevada Trip In The Woods Ginger Bigfoot
11.4% ABV, 65 IBU
Doesn’t a bourbon spice toffee brownie sound delicious? The combination of chocolate, nuts, ginger, brown sugar and the spice from the bourbon are a party for the taste buds. Let’s drink it! Sierra Nevada’s Trip In The Woods Ginger Bigfoot is all that, plus vanilla beans, coconut, candied oranges, and, of course, a hop bite to help balance out the sweetness. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, introduced in the winter of 1983, is considered to be the referential barlerywine, presenting the style at its theoretical best. This barrel-aged version was introduced in 2013 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their popular barleywine and it’s extremely drinkable.
Counterbalance Flight Risk Barleywine
11% ABV, 90 IBU
Counterbalance Brewing Company, started by two former homebrewers who met while working at Seattle coffee company Caffe Ladro, opened its doors and launched wholesale distribution in February 2015. The Seattle’s historic Georgetown neighborhood brewery celebrated its third anniversary last month releasing Flight Risk Barleywine 3rd Anniversary 2018 from its 10-barrel system. The American-style barleywine lands with flavors of pineapple, stone fruit and caramel. It finishes dry.
Boundary Bay Old Bounder Reserve
9.7% ABV, 100+ IBU
Boundary Bay Brewery, a 23-year-old establishment based in Bellingham, brought home gold from the 2016 North American Brewers Association awards for its Old Bounder (2014 Vintage) in the English-Style Barley Wine category. Old Bounder is a rich, copper-colored, full-bodied barleywine with a smooth caramel sweetness, warming-alcohol content and balanced with Zeus and Willamette hops. As the story goes: a fisherman of yore, Old Bounder, sought strong ales with a vestige of the past. Upon discovering American barleywine, a goblet was required straightaway. Be like Old Bounder.
