1001 Beers

Beer No: 61
Page No: 154
Category: Amber

I'm usually not a fan of barleywines.  I find them excessively malty with a watery/oily texture that just doesn't really go well with what I have come to expect from my beer.  I like some bite with my beer - most notably a nice hoppy bite.  So while 1001 Beers is filled with all sorts of beers in all sorts of categories, I've really been putting off trying any of the barleywines.  But, it was either the Avery Hog Heaven or a Duvel last night and for some reason, I figured a Hog Heaven would hit the spot.

And boy did it.  Not your standard run-of-the-mill barleywine, Avery's Hog Heaven packs a hop wallop with 100+ IBUs and a hoppy nose that will knock you back a step.  Using the Columbus hop - a high-alpha acid hop variety - the pine and citrus aromas and flavors really dominate this barleywine.  Perhaps that's why the label calls it a "Barleywine-style Ale" and not just your standard barleywine.  Whatever you call it, Avery once again delivers a top-of-the-line product here with a malt richness that is balanced well with the hop bite.  I have just one more Avery beer to go in the book, but I'll definitely be going back to their fine ales, as they really have blown me away with their flavors and quality of beers.

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Avery Hog Heaven from Avery Brewing Company

Aroma: 8/10
Appearance: 3/5
Taste: 7/10
Palate: 3/5
Overall: 14/20

Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

Had from bottle from BevMo. Pours cloudy orange with a nice bubbly white/tan head. Aroma is a nice blend of hops and malts with the hops really coming through. Sweet malts are dominant as well in this barleywine. Though I’m not the biggest fan of barleywines, the taste of Avery’s really worked for me. I think the hops really upped the drinkability as the malts don’t dominate the flavors here. Taste is initially bitter from the hops, finishes a bit dry and sweet. A nice ale for those that probably aren’t huge barleywine fans.