Get your snifters ready…introducing Barleywine 2024

Our annual Barleywine offering is, hands down, one of our brewers’ favorite projects. It goes like this: they gather freshly emptied bourbon barrels, pour in a strong ale and other ingredients, then wait patiently for nearly a year as the liquid ages and takes on the unique characteristics of each barrel. (Even when all the barrels come from one bourbon producer they still present different characteristics from cask to cask.)

This year they used a blend of Heaven Hills and Widow Jane bourbon barrels, which introduced more prevalent notes of bourbon and vanilla. They also replaced the usual English Maris Otter malt with malt from Maine Malt House in Mapleton. This delicious local malt provided the desired flavors and aromas for our one-of-a-kind Barleywine.

This year’s Barleywine is a bit bolder than last year, with a 13.2% ABV compared to 12.5% last year.

Some folks like to pair Barleywine with rich desserts or robust foods, but the brewing crew thinks that Barleywine’s deep complex flavors are best enjoyed on its on merits, perhaps around a fire with good friends…

Don’t forget that we also offer our Barleywine in an extra special package: the vertical “brewers’ reserve” 4-pack, one can for each year: ’21, ’22, ’23, and ’24.

Barleywine will available on draft and in 12-ounce cans (and vertical 4-packs) at all Sebago locations starting Friday, November 22 and while supplies last.