Avery Hog Heaven

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Boulder, Colorado USA

Pours a deep red with an off white head that clings to the glass. Big nose of hops, hot alcohol, fruit, dough, molasses, caramel. Taste is very hoppy, sweet malt, some fruit, then more hops in the finish. A surprisingly hoppy barely wine. Pretty awesome for a barley wine.

During one GABF week when I lived in Denver I had this on tap as my session beer! I’ve been drinking it for years in bottle and on tap and it’s a big league winner for a hoppy barley wine lover. Reddish amber, medium head. Big hops and malt, some alcohol, plums, molassas, caramel. Good fresh or aged.

22 oz bottle, courtesy of Acknud. Pours a hazy garnet color with a tiny off white head. Nice thick, syrupy mouthfeel with mild carbonation. Nose is hops & caramel. Taste is same as nose. Very sweet brew. Some alcohol warmth, but not overwhelming.

22oz from Total Wine @$6.99. Smells wonderful, certainly one to appeal to the hopheads out there. I’ve had better Barleywines but this one certainly isn’t bad.

Bomber: poured a cloudy red copper color. Very lovely and distinct smell that I can’t put my finger on. Sweet malt? Wonderful taste: thick sweet malty taste with hops and the end. Great balance between sweet and bitter. Alcohol was not noticeable. One of my favorites.

bottle. Aroma of citrus, apples, caramel, flowers, dried dark fruits, licorice. Medium dark hazy copper hue. Average sized off-white frothy head that mostly diminished and left some lace. Flavor is sweet malt then transitions to flowers and sweet fruits and finishes with a noticeable bitterness. Palate is full bodied and oily flat. This barley wine looks and smells amazing but the hops are too dominating on the palate when fresh. 2 years in the cellar and this would be awesome. This one was too young.

I enjoyed this on tap after running the inaugural Avery "4K on the 4th" race. I certainly have never had this much hop in a barleywine! I would definitely categorize this as an extreme IPA. This one pours lighter than most barley wines, an amber-copper color. The aroma is of dried fruits and hops. There is a nice caramel and roasted malt flavor on the front end, followed by a hop bitterness. The finish is a little hoppy, but not too much.

Pours amber/red with a nice lasting off-white head. Big hoppy aroma is immediately perceived; it’s mostly pine and fresh grass. Smooth bitterness coats the tongue. There’s just barely enough malt to keep this beer from being an IIPA. Body is surprisingly light and drinkable. A barleywine that is actually a bit refreshing??? Cool.