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HooDoo Barleywine

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Caramel and toffee from rich Maris Otter malt meet whiskey character and dried stone fruit from rye and sotol barrels. A take on the classic English barleywine, the strongest of the English ales, at 12.5% ABV and 35 IBU. HooDoo has released a vintage every year since 2013; this is the 2025 edition, poured in the Biergarten and to go in growlers and cans.

ABV
12.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter35 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
caramelmaltydark fruit
caramel
malty
dark fruit
oak
Aroma
Caramel and toffee dominate the nose, underpinned by rich Maris Otter maltiness.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for HooDoo Barleywine

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light copper in color, with good clarity and a dense, tan head that settles to a persistent collar. Carbonation appears moderate, appropriate to the barleywine's full body. The lacing clings consistently to the glass.

deep amberpersistent headgood claritymoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

Caramel and toffee dominate the nose, underpinned by rich Maris Otter maltiness. Behind that, whiskey notes and dried stone fruit emerge from the barrel aging, with a subtle toasted oak character that does not overwhelm. The overall impression is warming and complex rather than aggressive.

caramel, toffeewhiskey characterdried stone fruittoasted oak

◐ Taste

The palate opens with strong caramel and malt sweetness, followed by layers of dark fruit and oak from the barrel work. Alcohol warmth builds in the mid-palate without harshness, and the 35 IBUs provide just enough restraint to keep the beer from cloying. The finish is dry and warming.

caramel, malt-forwarddark fruitoak influencewarming alcohol

◑ Finish

A long, drying finish with lingering toffee, oak, and subtle whiskey notes. The alcohol presence extends the aftertaste without becoming sharp or unpleasant.

long, warmingdry finishtoffee and oak
85
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
87
Appearance
82
Finish
84
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 HooDoo Barleywine

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About Barleywine

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Barleywine?

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 Barleywine

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, malty, dark fruit character as HooDoo Barleywine will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Barleywine beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →