Brewing Barley Wines

Origins, History, and Making Them at Home Today

Terry Foster author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Skyhorse Publishing

Publishing:7th Nov '24

£14.99

This title is due to be published on 7th November, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

Brewing Barley Wines cover

For Craft Beer Drinkers and Homebrewers Alike

From early English origins to modern American examples like Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot and Rogue’s XS Old Crustacean, barley wines are a favored style among homebrewers and craft beer drinkers alike. In Brewing Barley Wines, widely respected beer and brewing writer Terry Foster presents the history and development of the style as well as the guidance and expertise necessary to successfully homebrew it yourself.

The book opens with an exploration of the definition of the style from its murky past to somewhat arbitrary modern standards. Foster explores the style guidelines given by the Brewers Association (BA) and the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) and finds them to be narrow, even faulty, showing that many beers not designated as barley wines­—including some stock ales, Scotch ales, wheat wines, and even double IPAs—can be said to fit the style. Foster then goes on to give a history of barley wine, which saw its first specifically labeled commercial example as recently as 1903, but which has been produced for centuries under a variety of names. Originally an English style, barley wines were not generally brewed in America until the rise of craft brewing in the late twentieth century. But having cemented a foothold in the New World, with many craft breweries having at least one featured example and sometimes several, barley wines are now rarely produced by British brewers due to heavy taxation on strong beers. 

Foster then examines the ingredients used in barley wines as well as best practices and procedures for brewing them, including how to create and successfully manage the high-gravity worts required for making these beers. Finally, Foster provides a collection of sixty recipes showcasing the variety and range of ingredients explored in the book with detailed instructions for making them at home.

Brewing Barley Wines belongs in the library of every craft beer drinker or homebrewer.
 

“Terry Foster's command of traditional English beer styles and how to brew them is unrivaled. Enjoy as he turns his expert eye on the malty complexity of barley wine, one of England's true classics.”
—Brad Ring, publisher, Brew Your Own Magazine

“This book is a culmination of literally centuries of information that Terry has accrued over decades and decades of research. If you are a casual beer fan or are serious about the depth of information here, grab a copy and a glass of barley wine and sit back—this is a great read.”
—Jeffrey Browning Sr., owner and head brewer, Brewport, Bridgeport, Connecticut

“For decades, Terry Foster has been sharing the fascinating history of British beer and brewing with readers through a meticulously researched, straightforward, and easily digestible style. His books are invaluable resources filled with brewing techniques and recipes that set brewers of every level up for success in mastering classic styles.” 
—Dawson Rapuzzi, editor, Brew Your Own Magazine

“I’ve known Terry for over twenty years and having access to a legend in the brewing industry is a very comforting feeling. It's intimidating to be around a master of your profession, but it is always a pleasure being with Terry. I love pouring Terry a beer we've made—often one where he's literally written a book about the style—and we're just two guys in a pub sharing a pint. As much as you think you know about a style of beer, you're going to learn some things with a Dr. Terry Foster book. Whenever Terry tried a beer I made and liked it—now that's a good feeling. In Brewing Barley Wines, he shares his truly next level knowledge about beer and its history.”
—Rob Leonard, owner, New England Brewing Co., Woodbridge, Connecticut

ISBN: 9781510766938

Dimensions: 210mm x 140mm x 20mm

Weight: 431g

288 pages