If you live somewhere where cold temperatures and snow have already made an appearance, you might be surprised that winter hasn’t even officially started. But just because the coldest season doesn’t begin until December 21st, that doesn’t mean that you can’t start sipping wintry beers. The outside temperature would dictate that it’s time.
A great example is the wintry, warming barleywine. There’s a good chance that, if you’re a beer drinker, you’ve heard of barleywine even if you haven’t imbibed one. But what exactly is a barleywine? Is it a wine or a beer made from barley?
What is a barleywine?
I’ve imbibed countless beer styles in my alcohol career, but in the pantheon of beer varieties, there are very few as confusing as barleywine. Let’s get one thing straight right off the proverbial bat. A barleywine is a beer, not a wine. But what exactly is it?
“Barleywine is beer turned up to 11,” says Garth Beyer, certified Cicerone and founder and owner of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin. What he means is that barleywines are literally usually 11% ABV and above. “It’s an ultra-strong, slow-sipping ale where malt gets philosophical.”
The style is typically between 8–12% ABV, with some modern show-offs wandering even higher.
“If you’re wondering why the range is so broad, is that a brewer prioritizes the malt flavor they want, then they work to wrangle the right yeast and fermentation flow to support it. Sometimes they achieve the flavor profile with lower ABV, sometimes higher.”
Where did it get its name?
It’s called barleywine for the simple reason that it’s a high-ABV, rich, strong beer that has a similar alcohol content to beer. But, instead of being made with grapes, it’s made with (you guessed it) barley.
“It was Britain’s way of saying, ‘This is as strong as wine, but made from barley, old sport,’ so the aristocrats could drink ‘beer’ without admitting it,” says Beyer.
Why is it great for winter?
If you didn’t realize it already, barleywine is a great choice for winter drinking for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it’s the beer equivalent of liquid fruitcake and caramelized toast.
“It’s big, boozy, and warming. It’s the kind of drink that makes snowstorms feel like a spectator sport,” adds Beyer.
What are some of the best available?
If you’re interested in trying barleywine this winter, there are many to choose from. Beyer opts to go Wisconsin-centric (for obvious reasons) with his picks.
“I have to go with two Wisconsin examples to encourage you to make a beer ‘cation to the state. Get your hands on any barleywines from 608 Brewing in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Phil is one with the cask there. And then my absolute favorite example is the two varieties of American and English barleywine from Giant Jones in Madison.”
Now that you’ve heard from a beer expert and understand just how perfect barleywine is for the winter months ahead, it’s time to find some more to add to your seasonal table. Keep scrolling to see some of our favorites.
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
This popular, 9.6% ABV barleywine-style ale is brewed with Caramelized and Two-row Pale malt as well as Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook hops, and ale yeast. The result is a big, bold wintry beer featuring flavors like caramel malts, toffee, dried fruits, candied orange peels, and just a hint of floral, earthy pine.
$12.99
3 Floyds Barrel Aged Behemoth
If you’re looking for an extremely warming, high-ABV barleywine this winter, look no further than 3 Floyds Barrel Aged Behemoth. This 13.6% ABV American-style barleywine is matured between twelve and sixteen months in barrels that previously held Willett Bourbon. The result is a memorable beer loaded with flavors like toasted coconut, sweet vanilla, dried fruits, and warming bourbon whiskey.
$23.99
Real Ale Sisyphus
You might not have heard of Real Ale Sisyphus, but it deserves a spot in your barleywine winter rotation this year. The first seasonal release from the Blanco, Texas-based brewery, this 10.5% ABV barleywine was so popular that it was made available year-round. Clearly, with its flavors of candied orange peels, toffee malts, dried fruits, and gentle piney hops, it hits best during the winter months.
$6.99
Fair State Zoomie Catcher
This limited-release, seasonal barleywine is brewed with Cascade and Chinook hops as well as Pilsner malts and Dry English yeast. The result is a 10.2% ABV balanced, hop-forward brew centered on flavors like caramel sweetness, brown sugar, toasted vanilla beans, and pleasantly bitter pine at the finish.
$17.99
Bottom line
Hopefully by now, you can see the appeal of barleywine during the winter months. The bold, rich, warming flavor profile and high-ABV are just right for warming you from the inside out from now until the spring thaw months from now. Stock up on one or more of the above examples. We promise you that you’ll be very glad you did.
