Smuttynose Brewing Company Big Beer Series: Barleywine Style Ale

Big Beer Series: Barleywine Style Ale

 

Smuttynose Brewing Company in Hampton, New Hampshire, United States 🇺🇸

  Barley Wine - Barley Regular
Score
7.18
ABV: 11.6% IBU: - Ticks: 68
First brewed in England, these potent, malty monsters were frequently aged before being put into small bottles and sold as strong beers or even medicinal tonics. The American version has been blown up with more alcohol, larger bottles and more hops.

Smuttynose Barleywine straddles these two branches of the barleywine tree. When you taste it, you’ll notice deep, rich caramel malt flavors, balanced with hop bitterness. Fruity hop flavors act as a garnish for its amped-up but classic flavor. For a more refined experience, tuck a few bottles away for a year or two. The alcohol will mellow and the hop aromas will fade into the background, leaving the luscious malt to shine on its own.
 

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3.9
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 17

Wasn’t totally impressed with last year’s version when I first had it, but after letting a bottle sit for 8 months or so, this one is growing on me. A really rich caramel malt nose on an orangey-brown body. Full-bodied malt with rich caramel and plummy dark fruit round out the thick caramel malt taste profile. A touch of citrus and complementary hops make this a winner, with a little aging.

Tried from Bottle on 23 Sep 2025 at 19:59


7.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Sample from 2009 bottle during Blarney Wine Festival 2019 on 03/16/2019. Hazy amber-orange color with a medium off-white head that dissipates quickly to an outer ring. Small patches of lace. Aroma of malt, fruit, caramel and hops. Full-bodied with flavors of caramel malt, dried fruit and earthy hop. The finish is sweet with a fig and malt aftertaste. Pretty good overall.

Tried from Bottle on 03 Jun 2019 at 21:00


8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle from Systembolaget. (bought in 2014) Clear reddish/amber with a large tan head. Sweet with malt, toffee, some hops, grapefruit and apricot. Similar taste. The body was full and the finish was long with warming alcohol.

Tried from Bottle on 04 Dec 2016 at 04:57


7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Sample at tasting. Smooth malts, light spicy alcohol, some honey. Strong bitterness with a pretty harsh alcoholic vodka-esque note. Good, but...

Tried on 23 Aug 2016 at 06:50


6.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle shared at the return of Old Spice tasting. Pours clear amber with a small off white head. Aroma of caramel, toffee, sweet malt. Flavour is moderate to heavy sweet light moderate bitter. Above medium bodied with soft carbonation.

Tried from Bottle on 04 Dec 2015 at 14:17


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle at THT. Clear copper, almost amber with off white head. Syrup, marzipan, orange, light green leaves, bitter grass and alcohol. Quite sweet too. Full bodied with soft carbonation.

Tried from Bottle on 04 Dec 2015 at 14:16


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

65cl bottle courtesy of JMGreenUK shared at December THT. thin creamy white head. Hazy light amber pour. Pretty decent

Tried from Bottle on 04 Dec 2015 at 14:15


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle at the Return of Old Spice tasting, Dec 2015, Den Haag. Poured a clear medium amber with a thin white head. The aroma is toffee, caramel, orange citrus. The flavour is moderate sweet with a light but smooth rich, alcoholic palate. Medium bodied with average carbonation.

Tried from Bottle on 04 Dec 2015 at 14:15


7.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Well done and easy drinking for style. Pours cloudy brown with good head. Citrus and some tang in finish. Some booze. Well done, and my kind of barley wine. Tap at Churchkey.

Tried from Draft on 13 Nov 2015 at 18:54


6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Bottle at Martins place. Cloudy amber body with a low head. Dried fruit, citrus and malt together with light syrupy brown sugar. Strong alcohol in the finish.

Tried from Bottle on 05 Sep 2015 at 05:55