Avery Hog Heaven

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

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.

Not very thick, but the lack of viscosity is made up for with a flavor that lasts forever, hence the high palate score. One sip will have you mulling it over for 15 minutes at least. It starts out slow but comes in late with tons of malt and hops like a DFH 60 min. Head and lacing also last a long time.

bottle is 2004 vintage, drank in 2008. pours a cloudy copper with no head. aroma is sweet candied sugar, yeast, dark fruits, and malt. drinks sweet red fruits, dark sugar, and rich sweet malt. finishes sweet with no alcohol thanks to age. this is VERY drinkable with 4 years on it and very tasty.