Top 10 Barley Wines Brewed in America
This Top Ten Barley Wines list is from the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. The best barley wines can range from amber to deep copper-garnet in color and have a full body and high residual malty sweetness. Complexity of alcohols and fruity-ester characters are often high and counterbalanced by assertive bitterness and extraordinary alcohol content. Hop aroma and flavor may range from medium to very high levels. ABV: 8.50% – 12.20%. IBU: 40-100.
1. Shipfaced – Silver Harbor Brewing – Michigan
2. Keg Nog – Burnside Brewing – Oregon
3. No. 20 Barleywine – The Freehouse – Minnesota
4. Behemoth – Three Floyds Brewing – Indiana
5. Barleywine – Liquid Mechanics Brewing – Colorado
6. Sledge Hammer – Peticolas Brewing – Texas
7. Olde Ale – AleSmith Brewing – California
8. Auld Tallywhacker – Latitude 42 Brewing – Michigan
9. Sucaba – Firestone Walker Brewing – California
10. Behemoth – One Barrel Brewing – Wisconsin
History of Barley Wines
Barley wine, one of the oldest and strongest beer styles, traces its origins to 18th-century England, where it emerged as a response to the growing popularity of strong wines among the aristocracy. Brewers, seeking to compete with imported wines and showcase their craft, created high-alcohol ales using large quantities of malted barley, extended fermentation, and sometimes prolonged aging in wooden casks. The term “barley wine” first appeared in the 19th century, with Bass Brewery’s No. 1 Barley Wine, introduced in 1870, often cited as a defining example. These beers were typically rich, malty, and complex, with flavors ranging from caramel and toffee to dried fruit and subtle hops, and their strength—often 8-12% ABV—made them a luxurious alternative to table wines. By the 19th century, barley wines were a staple of British brewing, celebrated for their depth and ability to mature over time, much like fine wines.
The style saw a revival in the 20th century, particularly with the rise of the craft beer movement in the United States. American brewers, starting in the 1970s and 1980s, reinterpreted barley wine, emphasizing bold hop profiles alongside the traditional malt-heavy backbone, creating a distinct subcategory known as American barley wine. Anchor Brewing’s Old Foghorn, first released in 1975, was a pioneer, blending English tradition with West Coast hop intensity. Meanwhile, English barley wines, like Fuller’s Vintage Ale, continued to prioritize malt complexity and aging potential. Today, barley wines remain a niche but revered style, with brewers worldwide experimenting with barrel aging, fruit infusions, and hybrid techniques, cementing the style’s legacy as a bridge between beer and wine cultures.
Top 10 Beers in America – Ales Lagers Specialty Barrel Aged