American Barleywine
American barleywine: a very strong, rich, bitter ale for slow sipping, from Anchor Old Foghorn (1975) and Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (1983). Strength and serving.
An American barleywine pours amber to medium copper, often with ruby lights, under an off-white to light tan head. It tastes rich and malty, with a firm to aggressive bitterness and a strong American hop, noticeable alcohol and a full, warming finish. At 8–12% it is a beer for slow sipping, and age dries and smooths it.
Where it comes from
Breweries have long sold a barleywine as their strongest ale, often for winter and dated by vintage. American brewers adapted the English barleywine with their own hops. Anchor’s Old Foghorn of 1975 was one of the first craft versions, and Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot of 1983 set the hoppy standard of today.
How to serve it
Pour it at 10–13 °C into a snifter. It goes with braised beef cheek, strong blue cheese or rich desserts.
Next to its neighbours
It has more hop than an English barleywine and is usually paler than the darker English ones. It is maltier, fuller and sweeter than a double IPA, with hops that stop short of extreme, and stronger and richer than an American strong ale.
American Barleywine in numbers
- Classic examples
- Anchor Brewing, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Bell's Brewery
- Original gravity
- 1.080–1.120
- Final gravity
- 1.016–1.030
- Food
- Braised beef cheek; strong blue cheese; rich desserts
- Classic examples
- Anchor Old Foghorn; Sierra Nevada Bigfoot; Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws; East End Gratitude
- BJCP style
- 22C American Barleywine
Sources
Checked .
- 22C. American Barleywine, 2021 Beer Style Guidelines — Beer Judge Certification Program
- American Barley Wine — CraftBeer.com, Brewers Association
