Brewing a high‑gravity beer like barleywine is an exciting challenge—it demands more time, ingredients, and patience compared to lighter styles. If you’re brewing all‑grain, be aware that your yield will likely be reduced because of the heavier grain bill.

A homebrewed Barleywine. Titan’s Tribute.

(See our article: Titan’s Tribute Barleywine (Homebrew Recipe) )

1. Grain Bill & Specialty Malts

Start with a substantial base malt—lights such as 2‑row barley or Maris Otter—and add specialty malts (e.g., crystal, caramel) to boost flavor and color. You’ll need much more grain than for standard beers.

2. Extract Brewing Alternative

If you prefer extract brewing, supplement your base malt extract with specialty grains for complexity. This simplifies the process while still producing rich malt flavors.

3. Water & Mash

Use a balanced water profile. For American-style barleywine, consider blending reverse-osmosis and tap water. Adding chloride enhances malt smoothness, while some sulfate (100–200 ppm) can help dry out the finish. Aim for a mash temperature around 152–156 °F to retain fermentable sugars but still allow body.

4. Boil & Hops

A long, vigorous boil (90 minutes or more) intensifies caramelization and concentrates the wort. Hops are essential—not only to balance the massive malt bill but also to define whether your wine leans English (more restrained hops) or American (bold, citrusy hops).

5. Yeast & Fermentation

Choose a robust yeast strain capable of achieving high attenuation. Pitch enough yeast and consider a starter to ensure a healthy fermentation. With high gravity, a secondary fermentation is recommended to clear and mature the beer.

6. Conditioning & Aging

Patience is vital. Barleywine usually takes months to mellow and develop. Many brewers age their beer for 3–12 months, monitoring flavor evolution—oak aging and bottle conditioning are popular enhancement methods.

7. Style & Serving

English barleywine tends to be rich, malty, and less hoppy, while American versions emphasize hop bitterness and aroma. Expect ABVs in the range of 8–12%. Serve it in snifter glasses to fully appreciate its depth.

(See our fun Facebook post about Barleywines here: The Beer Thrillers – Facebook Post.)

Quick Reference Table

Homebrewing Recipes

We are circling back to include more homebrew articles. We have gotten some requests for recipes, so we have decided to write them up and post them here. Be sure to check for other Homebrew articles and recipes as well!

• Brewing a Traditional Lithuanian Farmhouse Beer – Keptinis (Karl Larson)

• Nebula Nectar Hazy IPA (Homebrew Recipe)

• Titan’s Tribute Barleywine (Homebrew Recipe)

• Mad Elf Inspired Clone (Homebrew Recipe)

• Dark Souls Schwarzbier (Homebrew Recipe)
• Quadruple Hopocalypse – Quad IPA (Homebrew Recipe)

More Homebrewing Articles

• The Ultimate Guide to Homebrewing: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices for 2024
• Brewing a Traditional Lithuanian Farmhouse Beer – Keptinis
• INKBIRD ITC-308 Product Review
• Book Review: The Homebrewer’s Garden: How to Easily Grow, Prepare, and Use Your Own Hops, Malts, Brewing Herbs (Joe Fisher and Dennis Fisher)
• The Beer That Had Medieval Drinkers Seeing Things – Exploring the Surprising History of Black Henbane in Brewing
• How to Brew Barleywine: A Comprehensive Guide

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server).

We also now have a SLACK channel – which acts as a hybrid chat room, message board, Reddit style; workspace and posting area for us. You can hang out with us there and chat about all kinds of things – not just beer, but “off topic” things like movies, TV, books, podcasts, hiking, sports, and more! Join us at: The Beer Thrillers on SLACK.

We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written. The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of May 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

Starting tomorrow – January 30th, 2025 – the Drunken Smithy will be having their soft opening at their “Mead Hall” at the Lebanon Valley Mall. Located inside the Lebanon Valley Mall, at 2236 Lebanon Valley Mall, Lebanon, PA, United States, Pennsylvania the Drunken Smithy calls their section the “Mead Hall”.

Drunken Smithy in their Mead Hall at the Lebanon Valley Mall

Drunken Smithy Soft Opening January 30th

Starting January 30th, 2025, the Drunken Smithy will be having their soft opening at the Mead Hall in the Lebanon Valley Mall.

Their Facebook announcement they made at 10:00 AM today reads:

Have you heard?? Drunken Smithy will have a soft opening for our Mead Hall on Thursday, January 30.

Plus we’ll have live music in the Mead Hall this Friday and Saturday evening! Come have a drink and celebrate with us!

Stop by during hours of operation anytime on or after January 30 and we’ll be happy to serve you while we ramp up for our grand opening on March 15.

#winery #meadery #cidery #wine #mead #cider #CentralPA #LebanonPA #DrunkenSmithy

-Drunken Smithy Facebook Post

For More Information

Since they are a meadery, and because their new, they are not yet on Untappd. But you can follow them at these social media platforms:

• Drunken Smithy – Official Website
• Drunken Smithy – Facebook
• Drunken Smithy – Instagram

A good craft beer bar contains beers of all different styles.

Opening a bar can be a lucrative venture, especially in areas with limited competition. With fewer bars around, you have more freedom to shape your business and attract a loyal customer base. However, before you can start pouring drinks, there are several crucial steps you need to follow. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process of opening a bar:

1. Develop a Comprehensive Business Plan

Every successful bar begins with a well-thought-out business plan. This document will serve as the foundation of your venture, detailing your business model, concept, and objectives. It should clearly outline your long-term goals as well as the short-term milestones you need to hit along the way.

Your business plan should also cover key details such as staffing requirements, vendor partnerships, and contractor agreements. Equally important is your brand identity—craft a compelling brand kit that includes your unique value proposition, logo, color scheme, and overall visual style. A strong brand will set your bar apart from competitors and resonate with your target audience.

2. Choose the Ideal Location

Once your business plan is in place, the next step is to find the perfect location for your bar. High-traffic areas are generally the best spots to attract a steady stream of customers. However, if you’re aiming for a more exclusive atmosphere, a less conspicuous location might be more suitable.

Consider your budget when selecting a location, as prime real estate in urban areas like downtown Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or Harrisburg can be costly. While negotiating rent is an option, it’s not always feasible in markets where commercial property prices are on the rise.

3. Obtain the Necessary Licenses and Permits

Since your bar will be serving alcohol, securing the right licenses is critical. Each locality has specific regulations concerning the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with local laws and obtain the necessary permits. This may include a liquor license, health permits, and possibly a building permit if you’re constructing your bar from the ground up.

4. Design a Themed Ambiance

An elegant, beautiful craft beer bar can set the right tone for your establishment.

Your bar’s design should reflect the concept and atmosphere you want to create. The interior should align with the preferences of your target audience. For instance, if you aim to attract working-class patrons, consider a classic, midwestern theme complete with a vintage jukebox. On the other hand, if you’re targeting young professionals, opt for sleek, modern decor with ambient lighting.

Promoting your bar’s interior on social media is also essential. Use platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase your bar’s unique ambiance and entice potential customers.

5. Craft a Tempting Menu

A Charcuterie board is a great fun, light, and hip food menu item to include.

A well-curated menu is key to your bar’s success. In addition to offering a diverse selection of local and international drinks, ensure your food offerings complement the overall theme of your establishment. If your bar caters to a luxury crowd, include premium options like charcuterie boards featuring high-quality cheeses and expertly sourced meats such as wagyu beef.

A thoughtfully designed menu can attract both drinkers and non-drinkers, making your bar a go-to spot for a wide range of customers.

Conclusion

Opening a bar is a rewarding endeavor when approached with careful planning and a clear vision. By following these steps and staying focused on your goals, you can create a thriving bar that becomes a favorite in your community. If you’re passionate about the idea, now is the perfect time to turn your dream into reality.

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)