Avery Hog Heaven

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

This brown ale poured with a modest tan head and a sweet fruity aroma. The flavor is initially sweet, then more bitter and alcoholic at the finish. There is a raisin-like characteristic and a hint of spice.

Bottle. Brownish-copper, with a modest, tan head. Overpowering aroma of malt. molasses and alcohol. Sweet and heavy, with an unexpected hop bite. Finishes clean for such a sweet beer. Leaves a bit of alcohol flavor after the finish.

Draft at the Blind Tiger. Aroma of some peppery alcohol, sweet caramel malt and a rich citrus like fruit. The flavor is dominated by the rich fruit, raisens, and caramel malt, and it is probably slightly above average for the style. It’s probably wise to have this beer as your second beer.

Bomber I’ve been sitting on for a while - probably from 2006. Sweet rush of slightly resinous, slightly grainy hops and caramel, massive explosion of malt with accents of grapefruit, orange, spice, and light grass. Slightly floral and sugary. Pours a deep, dark burgundy with a very thick, creamy and lacing tanned head. Taste is surprisingly dry, medially bitter, and very malty. Caramel doesn’t cloy but seems a bit syrupy, hop buds and a touch of grain. Ends with a huge, pleasant warming sensation. Body is a bit thinner than full, we’ll say medium, and the 9.2% is really well hidden. Finish is dry and hoppy and indeterminately spicy. Definitely has a very high degree of complexity, though I think I’d prefer this as fresh as possible, before it’s flattened and the hops have mellowed. Nice blend, though, smooth and relaxing.

A good barleywine but not as strong as Dick’s or Doggieclaws. Nice, not to sweet palate and a little on the dry side. Pours a nice dark amber with a thick head. This beer get’s better as it warms up and more citrus flavor comes out. Great with steak!

Bomber, drank a couple of weeks ago. Going off of memory here... I’m usually not a big fan of barley wines and old ales. But, there are always exceptions and this was one of them. Very overpowering beer though. Everything was very strong: hops, malt, and alcohol presence. Still, an enjoyable beer.

22 oz bomber. Pours a dark amber with a red hue and a big creamy head with long retention. Aroma of hoppy citrus and rich sweet malts that sting the nose. Flavor is fairly complex, notes of raisins, malts, and a bit woodsy. Medium mouthfeel, but a bit light for a barely wine. Dry finish with a lingering bitterness. Fairly noticeable alcohol warmth. Overall it was good, but I think it needs to sit around for a year or two.

2007 bomber. Poured a dark amber with a red tint. Decent size off white head that never quite went away. Seriously hoppy, but surprisingly smooth and very drinkable. Not as thick as most barleywines, and tastes more like an IPA. Some alcohol. Great beer though, I will be picking up more of this.

re rate. I let a bomber age over the winter. Less hoppy, more dark fruits in the aroma and nose as long as caramel and toffee. Alcohol is still present.