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Ritual #1: Opening Ceremony

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Slightly bitter and rich, this English-style barley wine is the first ritual in Nemeton's series, named for the rite druids once held at their Nemeton, the ritual place in the forest. Blossoms and herbs go into the brew, and the brewery sets it as a fuller cousin of a quadrupel. 10.8 % ABV, brewed at the Stadsbrouwerij Veenendaal.

ABV
10.8%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
herbalfloralmalty
herbal
floral
malty
caramel
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent herbal and floral notes that recall the brewery's ritual inspiration, layered with rich malty undertones and subtle caramel sweetness.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ritual #1: Opening Ceremony

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light brown in color, presenting a clear body with good clarity and a tan head that demonstrates solid retention and lacing. The carbonation is moderate, allowing the fuller body to express itself without excessive effervescence.

deep amberclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent herbal and floral notes that recall the brewery's ritual inspiration, layered with rich malty undertones and subtle caramel sweetness. Noble hop character adds restraint and refinement to the bouquet, while a gentle warmth from alcohol presence rounds out the aromatic profile without dominating.

herbal, floral blendnoble hop characterrich malt basecaramel sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate is vollmundig and weighty, with the malty backbone delivering sustained sweetness and caramel complexity that unfolds through the mid-palate. A measured bitterness—neither aggressive nor subdued—arrives to balance the alcohol warmth and residual sweetness, while dark fruit notes add subtle depth. The herbal and floral character threads throughout, tying the composition together.

full-bodied richnessmalty sweetnessbalanced bitternessdark fruitherbal complexity

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with the bitterness lingering pleasantly and the alcohol presence becoming more pronounced as it fades. A gentle drying quality and echoing caramel note characterize the aftertaste.

long, warming finishlingering bitternessalcohol warmth
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
86
Appearance
82
Finish
82
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 Ritual #1: Opening Ceremony

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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 rich, herbal, floral character as Ritual #1: Opening Ceremony 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 Netherlands beers →