What makes a barleywine a barleywine?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by sacrelicio, Oct 12, 2012.

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  1. sacrelicio

    sacrelicio Pooh-Bah (1,838) Feb 15, 2005 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    Obviously barleywines, double IPAs, and strong ales often have different flavors, but sometimes they are very similar (Angel's Share tastes like a barleywine, Old Guardian and some of the Three Floyds barleywines taste like DIPAs, for example).

    What is the main difference between a barleywine and those other styles? Is there something in the brewing process that creates the distinct barleywine flavor that is not done when brewing a strong ale or double IPA? I heard somewhere that it was an extra long boil time that created longer dextrin chains or something to that effect...but I don't remember exactly. Barleywines certainly have a rich, chewy characteristic that sets them apart from other strong, hoppy ales. What creates that distinct flavor?
     
    #1 sacrelicio, Oct 12, 2012
  2. mindfuldave

    mindfuldave Savant (1,089) Mar 22, 2011 New Jersey

    Typically the high ABV and greater use of bittering hops with a long boil instead of a lot of late addition hops. Late addition hops tend to fade a lot faster. So the higher ABV and bittering hops tend to make them ageable for a couple years, like a 'wine'.

    Thats at least what I think.
     
    #2 mindfuldave, Oct 12, 2012
  3. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Check out the beer judge certification style guidelines. BJCP.org. that'll give you a technical description of what makes a style a style.
    Yes, sometimes the styles can slightly overlap, like SN Bigfoot fresh can taste like a DIPA, but over time it will morph into something else tasty, while most DIPAs will just become a hop-faded DIPA.
     
    #3 JrGtr, Oct 12, 2012
  4. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Barley.
     
    #4 UCLABrewN84, Oct 12, 2012
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  5. Etan

    Etan Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Wisconsin

    Old ales and English barleywines are historically synonymous. "American" barleywines tend to feature an aggressive hop profile, and depending on how beefy the malt profile is, can therefore become very similar to some DIPAs. Strong ale is a catch-all style that can include barleywine. Some people prefer to make technical distinctions but in terms of general usage that's about it.
     
    #5 Etan, Oct 12, 2012
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  6. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Agreed, like most long established beers they simply cannot be pigeonholed. They have been around too long for that in all shapes and sizes.Until quite recently there were just names not styles.
    The BJCP is not an authority on beer styles and whatever they might say you will find plenty of anomalies.Have a look at;
    http://zythophile.wordpress.com/201...e-difference-between-barley-wine-and-old-ale/
     
    #6 marquis, Oct 12, 2012
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  7. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,305) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    They also tend to have some aging development potential.
     
    #7 Zimbo, Oct 12, 2012
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