They say bicycles are for summer. And the beach. And the beers. But… since when do we believe what everyone says?
To break this cliché (we beer sapiens love to break stereotypes) today I am going to talk about some beers that are perfect for winter: the BarleyWine.
Barley… what? Don't worry, the truth is that it is a very little-known category of beer, but highly reputed among beer experts.
Some curiosities about BarleyWine
- Not to be an exception, this beer hails from England. It is a type of Strong Ale and has been brewed since 1800. However, it did not receive its current name until 1903.
-
BarleyWine means “barley wine”. They say that it was called that to compete with the wines of southern Europe, but there are those who claim that some ancient cultures already used this name, directly comparing beer with wine.
- In the 40s in England there was a change in the tax system and more taxes had to be paid the more alcohol the beers had. How they go well loaded, the BarleyWine almost disappeared! Fortunately, in the 70s they became fashionable again.
- In recent years, quite a few brands have come onto the market that are sold as limited edition winter beers.
How to drink a BarleyWine?
Let's start at the beginning, the glass. This beer is best drunk by the glass. And since it is quite close to the wine (because of its high alcohol content and low foam), you can move it around in the glass so that the flavors and aromas rise.
BarleyWines are amber to dark brown in color, often with ruby highlights. The foam layer is usually not too dense and is whitish. Its aroma is fruity. Now close your eyes and focus: the malt flavor is strong, complex and intense. You can feel its sweetness on the palate. There may even be a little wine flavor…can you find it?
To accompany this powerful beer, I also recommend powerful flavors: blue cheese, endives with Cabrales cheese, game sausage... If you want to have it with a dessert, try any dairy recipe (curd, yogurt ice cream …) and above all, nuts! This dried fruit is perfect for BarleyWine.
So, you know. Beers are also for winter. Dare to choose this special type of beer and…. do not forget that it has quite a high alcohol content! ;)