Style: English Barley Wine
From: Young & Co’s Brewery PLC, London, England
Barley wine is a beer style not terribly well known to most Americans, but it’s well worth a taste if you’re interested in trying something new. It’s a variety of strong ale that originated in England in the 1800’s, and are naturally sweet, with the sweetness balanced by the bitterness of the hops. These beers are also stronger than most beers, ranging from 8% to 12% alcohol by volume, roughly the same as most wines – hence the name “barley wine.” (In the U.S., you will find the bottles labeled “barley wine-style ale.”)
Young’s Old Nick is a good example of the style. It pours a very dark reddish amber, almost brown, very clear but not transparent because of the dark coloring. The head is a nice off-white, almost tan, about two fingers thick. The head dissipates quickly, leaving a fine tracing.
The aroma is almost surprisingly sweet and very malty. There’s also quite a bit of fruitiness, plum or raisin, and a hint of yeast.
The sweetness is also the first thing you notice in the flavor. There’s a definite caramel flavor with a hint of chocolate as well as the plum and raisin flavors. There’s enough hop bitterness to give Old Nick a nice edge, but it’s not as hoppy as many American barley wines. The sweetness is also tempered by the high alcohol content, which gives the beer a nice bite.
Old Nick has a smooth, creamy mouth feel and rich body, and it’s nicely carbonated. It’s not as syrupy or heavy as you might expect from a barley wine, and it’s very drinkable. I normally think of a barley wine as a beer to sip slowly, to make one last for the evening, but this one is light enough to enjoy two or three.
The best glassware for Old Nick would be a traditional pint glass, a snifter, or an oversized wine glass, and it should be served a bit warmer than most beers you might be used to, at 50 to 55 degrees. Because of its intense flavors, it’s a good beer to enjoy on its own, but it will also pair well with intensely flavored cheeses, such as cheddar, blue, gorgonzola or limburger.
Old Nick is imported from England, and is widely available in bottles.
