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Paddy's Barleywine

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Paddy's Barleywine is a rich, full-bodied barley wine at 8.7%. Caramel and dried fruit carry both aroma and flavour, and the alcohol shows as warmth. It was brewed together with the homebrewer Paddy Gunn of the Wee County Brewers, whose own version won best of show at the National Homebrew Club Competition in 2025; the prize was a brew day at Hope, and the result appeared as number 37 in the Limited Edition series.

ABV
8.7%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter48 IBU
Malt-forward 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
carameldark fruitmalty
caramel
dark fruit
malty
Aroma
Pronounced caramel and toffee notes dominate the nose, complemented by dried stone fruit and a subtle fig undertone.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Paddy's Barleywine

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue with excellent clarity and a dense, off-white head that persists across the glass. Fine carbonation supports strong lacing and sustained foam presence. The colour reflects the substantial caramel Malz foundation of this full-bodied expression.

deep amberdense headexcellent lacingpersistent foam

◌ Aroma

Pronounced caramel and toffee notes dominate the nose, complemented by dried stone fruit and a subtle fig undertone. The alcohol warmth is apparent but well-integrated, adding depth without harshness. Noble hop character provides restrained herbal and floral notes that support rather than overpower the malt-driven profile.

caramel, toffeedried fruit, fignoble hop characterwarm alcohol

◐ Taste

Caramel sweetness enters on the palate with layers of dried apricot, raisin, and dark honey. Mid-palate develops a warming alcohol presence that frames the malt complexity without becoming cloying. Moderate bitterness (48 IBU) arrives late and cleanses without asserting dominance, allowing the malt expression to remain the focal point.

caramel sweetnessdried fruit complexitywarming alcoholrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is lengthy and warming, with residual caramel and dried fruit notes lingering into a slightly dry aftertaste. Alcohol warmth persists pleasantly without becoming hot or fatiguing.

long, warm finishlingering dried fruitdry aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
83
Appearance
84
Finish
80
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 Paddy's 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 full-bodied, rich, caramel character as Paddy's 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 Ireland beers →