Avery Hog Heaven

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

A very nice brew. Well balanced and loaded with malt and loaded with floral aroma and hopps. Good effort.

Source: 22 oz, 2008 bottle purchased at Frugal MacDoogal’s in Nashville.
Glass: Poured into a tulip glass.
Appearance: Poured a deep amber color with red and orange highlights. One finger of tan head.
Aroma: Sweet malt dominates. Not a lot of hops present due to the age. Hints of brown sugar and cinnamon are present.
Flavor: Sweet malt dominates the palate. Warming alcohol finish.
Palate: Full body with soft carbonation and a chewy mouthfeel.
Overall: Pretty decent. Not a top 10 BW for me, but still very drinkable.

On tap @ Map Room. Clear amber fading to ochre @ edges; inch-high fungussy head that devolves into Swiss cheese on the sides of the glass. Aroma has some radish and lots of clean, uncomplicated hops; tons of hops in the flavor, a bit overdone actually; ends exceedingly bitter. Coats one’s tongue, medium-full bodied. Grows on you as it warms, but reaffirms my belief that American barleywines are not my favorite style...seem to lack refinement.

Bomber. Pours orange with a medium sized head. Aroma is heavy on floral and fruit hops, something I did not expect from a Barley Wine. Lotta grapefruit in the nose. Body starts with citrus, then rounds with ripe fruit, malt sweetness, and sugar. Finishes hop-bitter, reminiscent of some DIPAs that I’ve tried recently (Lagunitas Maximus, Gordon, Double Simcoe). Really tasty overall, I actually kind of like the extra hop touch, though unusual for a Barley Wine.

Bomber. Pours crystal clear amber with a one finger beige head that results in great lacing. The nose is sweet malt and floral hops. The taste is caramel, brown sugar and citrus hops with some pine in the finish. Medium bodied. Good BW, the hops cut through the initial sweetness nicely.

Copper/amber pour with a thick head that stuck around for a while, beer looks great. I was told that it smelled like a "dime bag" and I concur, very hoppy on the nose, also some strawberry as previously noted. Nice and spicy on the tongue with lively carbonation and some caramelized dark fruit, minimal heat. Complex. I’m satisfied.

Clear mahogany with a moderate light tan head. Hoppy, and spicy aroma. Flavor is smooth, hoppy, spicy, and some fruit. Very good stuff.

Poured a rusty orange with a nice thick head that laced nicely. Stong hop and pine aroma. At 100 IBU’s, I was surprised it was not overly bitter. The hops and pine dominated the flavor and masked the alcohol well. My first barleywine and has left me curious.