Absolutely. There's no better time and place to enjoy barleywine, the complex, extra-strength ale made for sipping on winter nights.
Barleywine, which originated in England several centuries ago, has gained a following on this side of the Atlantic. Its revival began in 1975, when Anchor Brewing Company turned out its first Champagne-split-sized bottle of Old Foghorn. Other brewers, especially in the West, followed suit.
Given Alaska's long, cold winters, it's no coincidence that the state's brewers--even the tiniest--have tried their hand at barleywine. Some brew two or three, each with its unique character. Dawnell Smith, who writes about beer for the Anchorage Daily News, was impressed enough to call Alaska "The Barleywine State."
There's no better place to get acquainted with new beer styles than at a beer festival. That's especially true of barleywine. The best showcase for the style, and one of the world's biggest, is The Great Alaska Beer and Barleywine Festival in downtown Anchorage. In its seven-year history, the festival has outgrown several venues, and now calls the Egan Convention Center home. It has attracted thousands, including such celebrities as Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter, who raved about his stay in Alaska.
The price of admission, $25, turned out to be a bargain. It included a souvenir glass and 30 drink tickets, each good for a two-ounce sample. Although some 175 beers were on hand, the real stars of this show were the barleywines. In all, there were two dozen--far more than most stores carry. There were also dozens of strong ales, doppelbocks, and other winter warmers.
Barleywine packs a big alcoholic punch, so sampling it is the ultimate test of pacing yourself. Haste does make waste with strong ales; a tasting strategy is a must. So after finding seats, we opened our programs and picked the beers that most intrigued us. We started, of course, with the Alaskan barleywines we wouldn't find back home.
As the evening rolled along, a steady stream of people--most of them dressed for a pleasant evening out--joined the party. I saw more middle-aged attendees, and parents with small children, than usual for a beer festival. There were plenty of people in their 20's and 30's, too, and most of them really knew their beer. Beer fans of all ages enjoyed the live entertainment, a lineup that even included a band led by Tom Dalldorf, the editor and publisher of Celebrator Beer News.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Paul Ruschmann's International Beers topic, please visit the Discussions page.