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King Henry II

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Chocolate-covered caramel and a warming spiced whiskey finish mark King Henry II, a 13.5% barrel-aged English-style barleywine with crème brûlée and toasty sweetness. It spent a year in the barrels that had held Bourbon County Brand Rare Stout, and follows King Henry, released in 2011. It is a 500 mL bottle, sold at the Goose Island Taproom and Salt Shed Pub.

ABV
13.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatecarameltoasty
chocolate
caramel
toasty
spicy
oak
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with rich chocolate and caramel tones, followed by warming oak and vanilla notes from extended barrel aging.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for King Henry II

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light brown, with excellent clarity and a dense, persistent head that clings to the glass in fine rings. The color reflects a year spent in bourbon barrels, settling into a warm copper-brown hue under light. Carbonation is moderate, supporting the creamy foam collar.

deep amberpersistent headclear, well-defined

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with rich chocolate and caramel tones, followed by warming oak and vanilla notes from extended barrel aging. Beneath these lies a subtle spice character with whiskey undertones, along with toasted malt complexity that anchors the bouquet. No sharp alcohol bite; instead, the spirit integrates smoothly into the overall aromatic profile.

chocolate, carameloak, vanillaspiced, whiskey notes

◐ Taste

Entry is full and sweet, with dominant chocolate and caramel flavors coating the palate. Mid-palate reveals crème brûlée character and toasty malt depth, balanced by restrained bitterness (35 IBU) that prevents cloying. The high alcohol (13.5%) adds warmth without harshness, while oak tannins provide structure and a subtle drying grip.

chocolate-forwardcaramel sweetnesstoasted maltwarming alcohol

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with spiced whiskey notes lingering on the palate and a subtle oak dryness settling in. Aftertaste remains sweet and slightly creamy, with a gentle heat that extends well beyond the swallow.

long, warmingspiced whiskey afterburn
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
89
Appearance
85
Finish
85
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Excellent cellar candidate — can age 3–10 years, developing dried fruit, toffee and sherry notes.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with King Henry II

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About English Barleywine

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Barleywine?

English Barleywine is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar English Barleywine

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, caramel, boozy character as King Henry II will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other English Barleywines in hopIQ

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