So I brewed an all grain barleywine and its currently in a secondary fermenter. I tasted some recently and its a little more sweet than I would like. Ive heard that sugar additions can dry out the beer, but is it too late to add some sugar to make this a little less sweet?
Sugar additions don't dry out the beer as compared to the same beer without the sugar addition. That's because simple sugars ferment completely. So the same amount of residual sugars will be left either way. Of course, the ABV will be higher, and the the beer may seem dry in the context of its higher ABV. If you were to replace some of the other fermentables/nonfermentables (e.g. wort from your mash or dry/liquid extract) with sugar contributing the same OG, that would dry out the beer. All that aside, you can certainly add sugar to the secondary if you want.
I would also add that you are sampling a flat beer. It will be less sweet once it carbs up...that is, it will seem less sweet. Anyway, unless it's cloyingly sweet, I'd be hesitant to make any changes.
