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Twenty

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Twenty is an American barleywine from Surly, aged on French oak and tagged Rich, Strong and Malty. It was built on a rich backbone of English and German malts, aggressively hopped with modern American varieties including Warrior, Amarillo and Talus, then finished on Jupiles and Troncais oak. At 12% ABV it drinks assertively bold and bitter fresh and cellars graciously.

ABV
12%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop 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
maltyhoppyoak
malty
hoppy
oak
resinous
citrusy
caramel
Aroma
Bold and layered, opening with resinous American hop character—spice, citrus zest, and pine needles—complemented by bright Amarillo notes.
also:dark fruit
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Twenty

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light brown, translucent with excellent clarity. A dense, cream-colored head builds confidently and clings to the glass with persistent lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, befitting the beer's assertive strength.

deep amberexcellent claritypersistent head lacing

◌ Aroma

Bold and layered, opening with resinous American hop character—spice, citrus zest, and pine needles—complemented by bright Amarillo notes. Beneath sits a rich malt foundation of English and German grain with subtle caramel sweetness. French oak adds a gentle vanilla and wood spice that frames the nose without dominating.

resinous hopscitrus and pineoak and vanillarich malt backbone

◐ Taste

The palate enters with assertive bitterness and warming alcohol, then develops into layers of caramel, dark fruit, and toasted grain. Mid-palate reveals the oak's influence—a subtle vanilla and Troncais wood character that meshes with the malt's depth. The finish builds toward a long, dry bitterness with lingering resinous hop bite and noble bitterness that persists cleanly.

bold bitternessdark fruitwarming alcoholoak integration

◑ Finish

Long and dry, with resinous hop bitterness and a touch of oak tannin holding firm on the palate. The booziness is present but well-balanced, leaving a warming and slightly bitter aftertaste that invites contemplation rather than rapid consumption.

long finishdry and bitterwarming complexity
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
89
Appearance
86
Finish
88
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 Twenty

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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 malty, rich, hoppy character as Twenty will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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