Beerometric

The American version of the English Barley Wine, using American ingredients, tends to be hoppier, bigger, bolder, and more bitter.  It’s also a bit paler than the English version.  This beer is often released in the winter, can be vintage dated, and is almost invariably the strongest offering a brewery might have.  Anchor’s Old Foghorn, released in 1975 is one of the earliest versions, and Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot really typified the style in 1983. Note, this beer is often hard to find in Ontario.  

Barleywine will pour fairly clear, but some chill haze can occur. Colour is in the amber to copper range, with a low off white head that one should expect to be fleeting at best.  The nose on this should be of prominent malt and hops, followed by low esters and alcohol.  Look for toasted bread, grain, or  light caramel, and don’t expect the dark fruits, or toffee often associated with stronger beers.  The hops are often of the classic citrusy resiny type, but other variations do exist.  This is a full bodied and chewy beer, with some alcohol warmth and low carbonation.  A sipper.   Flavour doesn’t differ much from the aroma, but look for a fairly aggressive bitterness coupled with rich malt, and  a full and malty, yet dry finish. The balance is invariably in favour of malt, but the bitterness is always present.