English Barley Wine Recipe

This English Barley Wine recipe is for those who enjoy a strong, complex beer with a sherry-like flavor and a hoppy finish. With an ABV of 9.6%, this beer is not for the faint of heart, but its boldness and depth of flavor make it a favorite among beer enthusiasts. Brewed using a combination of pale malt, dark crystal malt, and carapils malt, this recipe also incorporates a blend of three different types of hops, as well as honey and a clarifying agent to produce a rich, full-bodied beer.

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English Barley Wine

One of the strongest beers produced by any brewery, English Barley Wine has a complex, malty, sherry-like flavour with a lingering hoppy bitterness on the finish.

Prep Time1 hour hr

Cook Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

To Ferment28 days d

Course: Beer

Cuisine: Ale

Keyword: English Barley Wine

Servings: 40 Pints

Calories: 250kcal

Author: Dan Smullen

Equipment

• 1 Mash tun
• 1 Large boiling pot (at least 30L capacity)
• 1 Heat source (e.g. propane burner or stovetop)
• 1 Immersion chiller or other cooling device
• 1 Fermentation vessel (e.g. carboy or plastic bucket)
• 1 Airlock and stopper for fermentation vessel
• 1 Hydrometer
• 1 Thermometer (preferably digital)
• 1 Auto-siphon or tubing for transferring beer
• 1 Bottling bucket or kegging equipment
• 1 Bottles or kegs
• 1 Bottle capper or kegging system
• 1 Cleaning and sanitizing equipment (e.g. brushes, cleaners, and sanitizers)

Ingredients

For the Mash – Liquor 21 Litres (37 Pints) – Mash Time 1 hr – Temperature 67°c/153 °F

• 16 lb Pale Malt Quantity 7.2kg
• 10½ oz Dark crystal Malt Quantity 300g
• 1¾ lb Carapils Malt Quantity 800g

For the Boil – 27 Litres (47½ Pints) – Boil Time 1 hr – 30 mins

• 2½ oz (Hops) Northdown 8% When to add – At start of boil (IBU 50.0)
• ½ oz (Hops) East Kent Golding 5.5% When to add – At turn off (IBU 0.0)
• ½ oz (Hops) Target 10.5% When to add – At turn off (IBU 0.0)
• 1 tsp Protofloc Other – When to add – For last 15 mins of boil
• 1.2 lb Honey Other – When to add – For last 5 mins of boil

To Ferment – 22°C (72°F) – Conditioning 14 weeks at 12°C (54°F)

• 1 Wyeast 1028 London Ale

Instructions

• Mash the pale malt, dark crystal malt, and carapils malt in 21 liters (37 pints) of water at a temperature of 67°C/153°F for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, sparge the mash with 27 liters (47.5 pints) of water at 75°C/167°F to collect the wort.
• Boil the wort for 1 hour, adding 2.5 oz of Northdown hops at the start of the boil.
• After 30 minutes of boiling, add 1 tsp of Protofloc to the wort.
• At the end of the 1-hour boil, turn off the heat and add 1/2 oz of East Kent Golding hops and 1/2 oz of Target hops to the wort. Also, add 1.2 lb of honey to the wort.
• Cool the wort to 22°C/72°F and transfer it to a sanitized fermenter.
• Pitch 1 pack of Wyeast 1028 London Ale into the fermenter.
• Ferment the beer at a temperature of 22°C/72°F for approximately 15 weeks until the fermentation is complete.
• After the fermentation is complete, condition the beer at a temperature of 12°C/54°F for 14 weeks.
• When the conditioning is complete, bottle or keg the beer and enjoy!

Bold Flavor Profile

This English Barley Wine recipe is not for the faint of heart. With a high ABV of 9.6%, this beer packs a punch. However, it’s the rich, complex flavor profile that truly sets this beer apart. With a blend of pale malt, dark crystal malt, and carapils malt, as well as a combination of three different types of hops and honey, this beer is full-bodied and has a sherry-like taste with a hoppy bitterness on the finish.

Perfect for Beer Enthusiasts

If you’re a beer enthusiast looking for a new challenge, this recipe is for you. It requires a bit of patience, with a total prep time of one hour, boil time of one hour and fifteen minutes, and fermentation period of four weeks. However, the end result is a beer that is sure to impress and satisfy even the most discerning palates.

Unique and Rewarding

English Barley Wine is a unique beer style that is not often seen on store shelves. By brewing this recipe, you’ll be able to experience a beer that is truly one-of-a-kind. Plus, the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel after successfully brewing such a bold and complex beer is truly rewarding.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this English Barley Wine recipe is the perfect choice for beer enthusiasts who want to try their hand at brewing a unique and rewarding beer. With its bold flavor profile and high ABV, it’s sure to impress and satisfy even the most discerning palates. So why not give it a try?

FAQ on Making this English Barley Wine Recipe