Barleywine - English or American, what am I making?

[peterj]

So I checked the gravity on the barleywine and it's gone from 1.125 to 1.038 in 4 days and was still noticeably bubbling. I think it's going to end up where I want it. The wort tasted pretty awesome too, not nearly as sweet as people were letting on.

I thought you said the OG ended up being 1.112? That's good that you liked it! Hopefully it will turn out well for you! Let us know where it ends up finishing.

 

[nuber]

I thought you said the OG ended up being 1.112? That's good that you liked it! Hopefully it will turn out well for you! Let us know where it ends up finishing.

Ah you're right. My target OG was 1.125 but it ended up at 1.112

Will keep everyone posted

 

[DSorenson]

That is pretty freaking exciting. I wait with bated breath.

 

[JKaranka]

Try aging some of the batch with Brett to get stock ale. Even Brett and lacto for strong dry sherry and sour notes would be true to old British style.

 

[nuber]

it slowed down and is at 1.035 as of yesterday morning. I'm going to crank the temperature up to 69 from 64 and see if the yeasties wake up and go from there. It's only been fermenting for a week so hopefully I can get it to drop some more points.

 

[DSorenson]

awesome, dude, you are almost sitting at 70% attenuation.

 

[nuber]

reading 1.032 this morning. almost about time to move it to the glass carboy and let it hang out for a month or so before bottling. sitting about 10.5%, has a nice mouthfeel and taste already. I'm really excited for this one! Will take another reading on Monday and if it hasn't dropped i'll move it

 

[DSorenson]

I wouldn't have given you two cents for that fermenting so low. It's a Christmas miracle!

 

[nuber]

I wouldn't have given you two cents for that fermenting so low. It's a Christmas miracle!

I'm excited! It ended up at 1.029 by the time I actually got it transferred to the glass carboy. I'm going to give it a month and then bottle it, rather than secondary it for a few months i'm going to do longer conditioning int he bottle I think.

 

[nuber]

Had my first taste of this last night. It's not cloyingly sweet, or really that sweet at all compared to some other barleywines i've had. It has a really nice toffee flavor and some brown sugar as well as some breadiness. I guess finding the right balance is possible even with a ton of crystal malt.

 

[DSorenson]

Had my first taste of this last night. It's not cloyingly sweet, or really that sweet at all compared to some other barleywines i've had. It has a really nice toffee flavor and some brown sugar as well as some breadiness. I guess finding the right balance is possible even with a ton of crystal malt.

Was it carbonated?

 

[nuber]

Was it carbonated?

Yeah it was nicely carbonated, maybe just a tiny bit more than ideal for a barleywine but I liked the body that way.