Hog Heaven Barley Wine - Avery Brewing Company

Trappissed

California

4.58/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

It does have that familiar Barley Wine aroma and taste. However, this is insanely smooth and tasty. Great nose, very sweet smelling with citrus and mixed fruits. Caramel. Flavor is not as sweet as expected, which is a good thing. Great malty taste, with just enough bittering hops to even things out. Getting a lot of that sweet caramel with some hints of citrus.

I actually lost much faith in Avery after the last few offerings I've had, were found to be sub-par. This beer is among the best Barley Wines I've ever had. I have a hard time giving this any 5's though, because no aspects really blew me away(aside from Drinkability). Taste is great, but missing some sort of umph! Perhaps even a little muted.

Drinkability is the only 5 for me, simply due to the fact that this goes down very easy. Would never know this is 9%+. This Barley Wine is very approachable and I would recommend it to someone who has never tried this genre of beer.

Additional notes from 11/28/09 tasting:

I think this one may be more fresh than the previous time I had this. Tastes and smells much more like a DIPA. Really hoppy. The malt is still there, but it is now in the background. Lots of citrus and pine. Still very good, but the first time was much better.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2009 05:08:51 | More by Trappissed

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

pmarlowe

California

4/5  rDev +0.8%

04-21-2013 01:37:36 | More by pmarlowe