Avery Hog Heaven

Robust head bursting with huge, fresh centennial hop scent. Pine, citrus, and more pine. Hophead delight. Huge bitterness (100 IBU) perfectly counterbalanced by caramel toffee sweetness. Sweet and malty but not cloying. Warming alcohol finish followed closely by great hop bitterness. Barleywine meets IIPA. Perfection in a bottle.

This is a fantastic beer. Well balanced maltiness and hops. Fantastic aroma with a caramel taste, again balanced with hops. Awesome.

Thanks to Alan at Coastal Wine Connection. The aroma is awesome! Brown sugar, lightly grapey. Warm fruity and alcoholy. This is the best barleywine I’ve ever had (spoken by a guy who usually doesn’t care for the overpowering candy-alcohol in them). Musty, lightly smoky. I want some cheese!

Amber color; creamy head; long lasting lace; Strong hop aroma: with citrus undertones. Well balanced creamy palate with spicy hops--very smooth. Thank you KrisB and a happy birthday to me.

Pours a murky amber color with an off-white head leaving sticky lacing all around the glass. The smell of this one is awesome, it has some caramel in the background, but mostly consists of citrus fruits, and a very strong smell of pineapple. Taste starts out hoppy with combinations of pine and citrus fruits, then hits you with a subtle maltiness, finished with pineapple. Mouthfeel is full bodied and just the right amount of carbonation, truly feels wonderful on the palate. Would I have another, oh hell yes. Definately worth picking up, I will be getting more as soon as I can.

I often visit Avery’s tasting room (at least once every two weeks) because I live very close to it and they produce the best beers in the state. Because of this I get to talk to the men who brew it all the time. I was once told by a couple of tem that it is a cardinal sin to age the hog. I understand their point that the hops begin to deteriorate over time but, at the same time other beautiful flavors emerge. I recently drank a bottle of this that had been cellared since 2001. It is true that the hop flavor had virtually disapeared but the malt characters were amazing. I know it is very difficult to buy a bottle of beer this good and wait to drink it, especially when you know its flavor will change so drastically, but it is definitely worth a try. Also, if the bottle is relatively undisturbed before you pour it you will et the hops right at the end.

This is the best Barleywine I have tried. The aroma and flavor perfectly balance the alcoholic after tones. Very good mouth feel and not so to heavy like other barley wines.

A personal alltime favorite. Maybe more of an Imperial Pale Ale, none the less it is great. Lots of hops!