Arlington’s Skookum Brewery drops ‘bone-rattling rye bomb’ barleywine

Barren Wood, Skookum Brewery, Arlington

Style: English-style Barleywine

Stats: 10.4 percent ABV, 50 IBU

Available: In 12-ounce bottles at the brewery and select bottleshops or on tap at the brewery

My thoughts: Skookum head brewer Hollis Wood likes his barleywines to be a little more Aston Martin than Chevrolet. To put it plainly, he enjoys the deeper, maltier English-style barleywines to their hoppier American cousins.

Barren Wood was first brewed as a strong rye ale a few years ago, but Wood upped the rye and malt to turn this version into a bone-rattling rye bomb that shakes in at more than 10-percent.

He also aged it longer, 11 months in Heaven Hills bourbon barrels to be exact. The end result is a barleywine with louder notes of toffee, vanilla and raisin, with the hops toned way down.

The higher alcohol content weighed into Wood’s decision to sell it in 12-ounce bottles rather than 22s.

“I like that you can sit down with one bottle and not have to worry about capping it or over-drinking,” Wood said. “I didn’t want people to have to clear their calendar to enjoy it.”

There’s an ugly sweater-themed party to celebrate the Barren Wood barleywine’s release from 5 p.m. to close Saturday, Dec. 17 at the brewery.

From the brewery: “An English style rye barleywine which spent 11 months in bourbon barrels. Warming flavors of toffee, vanilla, oak, caramel and bourbon. 10.4%abv and 50ibu’s. Available on tap and in bottles Saturday the 17th.”

More new releases

Cont(r)act High IIPA, Skookum Brewery: An herbaceous Double IPA, brewed with Simcoe, nugget, centennial and equinox hops. Pine, citrus, herbal and dank. On tap at the brewery.

Hop Check-Up No. 2, 5 Rights Brewing: An American IPA featuring a blend of Australian Galaxy, Vic Secret and New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops, as well as Skagit Valley Malting’s Alba 6-row malt. Available at the brewery.

Belgian Golden Strong Ale, Lazy Boy Brewing: Hopped with Azzacca hops, this Belgian beer is a big one at 8.7 percent ABV. Available at the brewery.

Metallurgy II, Crucible Brewing: Made with Mandarina Bavaria and Simcoe hops, this IPA is the second in Crucible’s series of IPAs brewed with different hops. Available at the brewery.