Gold Label, traditionally made by Whitbread, stands as the Number 1 English Barley Wine Beer. This beer style, known for its development of oxidative characteristics like honey and toffee flavors with age, boasts a rich history and complex profile. The process of making barley wine in the 18th century involved boiling barley in water, then mixing this barley water with white wine, borage, lemon, sugar, and other ingredients. The outcome was a drink with an intense, multi-layered malt flavor, ranging from bready and biscuity to nutty, deep toast, dark caramel, toffee, and molasses.
Whitbread Gold Label is a premium example of this style, brewed in London, United Kingdom. It’s recognized for its oak and floral honey notes, rich fruitcake, vanilla, and molasses flavors. Marketed as a vintage barley wine, it reflects the descriptions found in Thomas Hardy’s novel “The Trumpet Major”, likening it to an “autumn sunset”.
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Barley Wine, despite its name, is actually a beer that dates back to 18th century England. This beer style was often used as a marketing tool against the growing popularity of wine. To achieve its distinctive flavor, the brewing process involves holding the mash at 149F (65C) for 90 minutes, which helps generate fermentable sugars. The color of barley wines can vary significantly, from a translucent deep amber to a cloudy mahogany, and even to a near-opaque black.
For those interested in brewing their own, a beer brewing kit is available. This kit, requiring the addition of brewing sugar, can produce up to 24 pints of real ale at home. The resulting beer offers pronounced esters, malty sweetness, and a hoppy backbone to balance the sweetness.
