Hog Heaven Barley Wine - Avery Brewing Company

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've never had a Barleywine so I figured it was about time. Bought a bomber of this because the other beers in the Avery line have been very good.

Appearance: Completely opaque honey hue with a one finger white head that dissipated quickly but looks to be leaving some nice lacing.

Aroma: A nice balance here. Some citrusy/earthy hops with a touch of alcohol and malt.

Taste: Like this one from the first sip. A malt bomb of caramel and slight breadyness with an unmistakable hop presence. Citrus and pine hop profiles wash over your palate and leave you with a dry finish. I expected this one to taste similar to the American Strong Ale style and I was right. The dry-hopping gives it that great hop profile to match the huge malt bill. The 9.2% ABV is practically nonexistent until the finish when you get a nice warmth from it. I can't say I taste the 104 IBUs but I'm sure it's because dry-hopping bumped that number up without actually causing much bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied but drinks like something smaller. Not syrupy or sticky which is good. Nice carbonation and a genuinely smooth and drinkable experience.

Final Thoughts: I guess I'm not surprised, but this one really came through with great flavor. Having never had other Barleywines I can't speak for how it compares, but it is very good in its own right and makes me want to seek out others of the style. Would I drink it again? Yes, I'm planning on cellaring a bottle or two as well.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 23:44:39 | More by JamesMN

SocalKicks

California

4/5  rDev +0.8%

05-24-2013 06:43:43 | More by SocalKicks

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%

05-22-2013 01:23:00 | More by mikeincharleston

jgbiggs

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%

05-20-2013 22:06:26 | More by jgbiggs

jeffthepony

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%

05-19-2013 02:42:48 | More by jeffthepony

jealmanzar

New York

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

05-17-2013 16:17:39 | More by jealmanzar

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%

05-17-2013 03:12:53 | More by ElizabethEleanor

MinorThreat

Colorado

4/5  rDev +0.8%

05-16-2013 00:08:24 | More by MinorThreat

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

05-15-2013 12:54:36 | More by DarthGuitarHero

h0ppster

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +0.8%

05-14-2013 17:49:43 | More by h0ppster

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

05-13-2013 16:46:47 | More by Bonko_the_sane

drummermattie02

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

05-13-2013 14:23:46 | More by drummermattie02

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -18.1%

05-10-2013 14:37:10 | More by twenty5

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +0.8%

05-07-2013 05:13:48 | More by DaveAnderson

Jordantb313

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

05-05-2013 02:46:11 | More by Jordantb313

DeezGunz14

California

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

05-02-2013 04:07:56 | More by DeezGunz14

mcdsports

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

04-28-2013 17:06:34 | More by mcdsports

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

04-27-2013 20:17:30 | More by Kelp

rydev24

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.8%

04-27-2013 17:05:50 | More by rydev24

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

04-26-2013 15:33:36 | More by Jason1337

AmitC

Indiana

4.51/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 oz bomber.

Color is deep amber with ruby hues. Over three fingers thick off white colored head with excellent retention power. Awesome lacing on the sides. Very beautiful looking. Calm. Translucent.

Aroma is just beyond awesome. Strong hop flavors. Pine and resin hop character. Heavy malts. A lot of warmth and some alcohol is apparent. Strength is strong and powerful. Fills the nose with overwhelming intensity.

Taste is brilliant as well. Very good amount of bitterness provided by intense hops. Malt does a balancing act and provides the old ale flavor. Earthy and ground hop character. Piney and resiny feel is present in abundance as well. Finish is bitter. Bitterness is strong. One of the most bitter Barleywines or any ale for that matter, I have had.

Mouth feel is medium to full bodied. Oily character but with a much fuller body due to heavy malt content. Nice texture. Strong and powerful. A bit astringent.

One hell of a beer. This is a gem. Find it and drink it. You will love it if you like DIPAs, barleywines or hop forward beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 15:01:06 | More by AmitC

n00blar

Maryland

4/5  rDev +0.8%

04-22-2013 22:45:53 | More by n00blar

Holmes698

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

04-21-2013 13:10:21 | More by Holmes698

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.8%

04-21-2013 13:09:48 | More by outoffocus

mkennedy119

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

04-21-2013 05:04:04 | More by mkennedy119