Hog Heaven Barley Wine - Avery Brewing Company

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap @ Driftwood, Plymouth. Poured into a tulip glass

Appearance: red-brown in color, 1/2 inch head, clear, moderate carbonation

Smell: piney and citrus hops, toffee and earth

Taste: Follows the nose piney and citrus hops, toffee, earth, with caramel

Mouthfeel: medium bodied for the style, low carbonation, sweet start with bitter middle and dry bitter end

Overall: An enjoyable American barleywine. Plenty of hop flavor to go around with some stick sweet malts. Not the first American barleywine I would reach for but it is pretty tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2012 14:39:47 | More by tigg924

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served a slightly hazy honey brown color with a little bit of reddish hue. Upon serving there was a one finger cream colored head that faded to leave a decent level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma was heaviest of a caramel and toffee sweetness. Mixed with these sweeter aromas are a lighter bready smell, some citrus hop aromas and a light boozy smell.

Taste – The taste starts out with a strong biscuit and bready base with some of the caramel sweetness that was detected in the nose. As the taste advances further some of the caramel diminishes as hop flavors begin coming to the taste profile. Grapefruit and pine hop flavors begin the hop profile but are soon joined by some earthy hop flavors as well. In the end some alcohol flavors meet up with the lightly sweet and somewhat hoppy flavors of the brew to leave a warming hoppy flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was just above average in terms of creaminess with a carbonation level that was on the slightly lower side. Pretty nice for the style, the hop flavors, and the light alcohol burn at the end of the taste.

Overall – Not a bad brew. A, not too sweet or too boozy, barleywine. It isn’t a powerhouse of flavor like some barley wines, but has its place as a more subtle but pleasant barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 01:08:19 | More by Darkmagus82

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First beer ever from Avery.

This pours out a deep amber/ruby color with a nice fluffy off-white head.

The smell is overwhelmingly hoppy and pungent, with notes of citrus and caramel too.

Taste wise this is definitely a hop bomb of a barleywine. Right away the pungent and juicy hops attack your palate followed by citrus notes and caramel/toffee sweetness that ends with miild hints of dark fruits. The finish is very dry and it has a creamy, rich mouthfeel. The dry-hopping did wonders to this.

Overall, a really really tasty barleywine and I'm impressed with Avery. I would have liked a little more dark fruit, but not a big deal for such a great tasting brew.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2012 16:00:19 | More by JohnnyMc

CraftVA

Virginia

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

A – A reddish amber color, somewhat hazy and pours with a decent head that is short-lived.

S- A subtly hoppy aroma dominates, with sweet notes as well.

T – Delicious, citrus hop flavors come through with a smooth and sweet caramel finish.

M – Very smooth and modestly carbonated.

O – I tasted the 2010 vintage of this on tap during a Barleywine festival, and it was one of my favorites. The delicious hoppy and sweet flavor really set it apart from some of the fruitier barleywines.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 23:54:34 | More by CraftVA

57md

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance is copper with a finger of head that had practically no retention, but left some nice lacing. There is a fresh hop nose which is a pleasant surprise for a barley wine. Some sweet malt hits upfront and then it is followed by a potent hop finish. Not quite true to style, but rebellious in a way that I like very much!

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2012 04:24:45 | More by 57md

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2010 version served on tap in a 10 oz glass

appears a hazy orange color, with white head. great lacing that coats the glass as I drink. Big aroma of piney and citrus hops. Taste is combination of sweet malt and minty hop. medium body and carbonation.

overall - a good hop forward barleywine

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2011 02:19:15 | More by jmdrpi

ehammond1

California

3.03/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

On Tap

Pizza Port
Carlsbad, CA

Hazy, murky orange with a thin white crown. Spots of lace left down the glass.

Pine and citrus forward aroma--lots and lots of hops with some caramel and toffee sweetness. Bright and hoppy.

Muddled together flavors with tons of bitterness. The nice pine and citrus component found in the aroma have all but disappeared, leaving a bready, caramelly, incredibly bitter, boozy beer. Not so great.

Thin to medium mouthfeel with ample carbonation. Appropriate.

A great aroma, but that's about all. I won't be drinking this again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 00:57:57 | More by ehammond1

monza

Kansas

4.53/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a fantastic offering from Avery, which is what I expect from them.

This is a very nice dark bronze color with very good lacing as you work down the tulip glass. Hop aroma is abundant with a very clean citrusy nose that screams Pac NW hop like Cascade. The mouthfeel is full bodied, and the taste is perfectly balanced bitterness / sweet with that awesome citrus hop kick. Very nice example, although somewhat non-traditional for the style.

On top of the excellent flavor, it was $4.50 for a 12oz draught in the proper glass at a local watering hole!

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2011 17:23:53 | More by monza

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Armsby Abbey.

A - Poured into a snifter a ruddy reddish brown hue with a big fluffy one finger head that leaves incredibly side lacing.

S - Sweet malts, light american hoppiness with good grapefruit aromas.

T - Really sweet malts here with more of those light citrus hops (grapefruit rinds). There is an almost black tea bitterness flavour at the end.

M - Nice carbonation for a barleywine here. Doesnt feel heavy or syrupy.

O - Overall this is a very nice barleywine. Excellent appearance and flavour profile. Would like to get my hands on a bottle of this to try and age it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2011 22:10:58 | More by rudzud

Tschnab

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- ruby day with a wispy off white head and chunky lace splotches

S- very hoppy with a slight malt background, tiny whispers of raisin and molasses.

T- the hops come through surprisingly well. It is definetly the most prominent feature of the beer. Not too sweet, raisin and candied sugar in the back. Slight bitterness.

O- a hop forward barleywine, not the best, but very good.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 23:26:59 | More by Tschnab

znichols

Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Beautiful clear amber with a tad of white head. Decent lacing that sits for a few minutes. Typical color for a barleywine.

S: Candy sweetness with a little grain. Malty aroma seems to dance with the hop aroma pretty nicely. Very enticing smell; Toffee, Brown Sugar, Earthy hops.

T: First off, let me say, the grain bill on this one is hefty and really gives it a candy-like flavor. I get strong caramel, figs, and even a little soft cinnamon flavor. The hops play a role, but not as much as i figured for a 100IBU+, dry hopped ale. They give a somewhat sharp, earthyness to the beer, but the malt is the star. Finishes with a little old wood and alcohol.

M: Pretty high carbonation for the style, as well as a lighter body. Barleywines are beasts of the creator and can vary. This one's a little more bright and light bodied. Still enjoyable mouthfeel that kind of acts to open up the deep flavors as you swoosh it in your mouth.

D: I Really like this Barleywine. I've never had one with quite as much hop flavor and the sweetness and toffee flavor is really pleasant.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2011 00:10:56 | More by znichols

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Als of Hampden served in a nonic. This brew appears a fairly clear color of copper with a creamy off-white cap. Thick patches of lace cover the glassware. A swirl revives the cap.

The smell of the brew is minerals mixed with citrus and fruity hops. Toasty malt, grassy hops and alcohol that is lightly fusel increases in awareness as the brew gets warmer. All together not a bad smell to a barleywine but a little young and I could do without the mineral aspect.

The taste is strongly bitter with oily hop resins that cling inside the mouth. There is a solvent character to the bold alcohol that mixes with the resinous bitterness and toasty malt aftertaste that creates an interesting flavor that is somewhat like a chemical cleaner flavor mixed with minerals.

This is a full bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. Quite Americanized in the style with an exaggerated amount of hop characteristics with oily bitterness that isn't bad. The alcohol inclusion is not hidden at all in both flavor and warmth. I have a bottle of this that is more than a year old, having this on tap satisfied my curiosity, I won't be opening the bottle for at least another year or so.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2011 13:25:19 | More by stakem

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed this in a tulip at Al's of Hampden.

A deep ruby/rust color combo with an off white rocky cap which settles to a ring of beads which are tight. The lace clings well in rings, the clarity is gently hazy. I enjoy the way the aroma has a nice blend of piney hops with fruity malt esters and subtle citrus accents with slight alcohol odors. The feel is good with some bitterness up front followed by a mildly sweet middle and semi dry finish with some alcohol heat.

The taste is quality with good hop flavor and mild caramel in the malt, more stone fruit than anything coming from the yeast/malt blend and mild piney bitter hop accents. The taste has subtle sweetness in the finish which seems to lessen the impact of the alcohol which is present in the taste. Overall I think this is a quality barlewyine - I am not sure why it took me this long to review it. Perhaps I did but misplaced the notes -I have had it a few times and still remember the first time at Kclinger's in Hanover. I think it fits the style well and I am glad I got to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2011 13:50:27 | More by Slatetank

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: deep orange/amber, 1 finger fluffy head, elegant lacing

S: sweet citrus/orange peel, big barley, mild pineapple, spices

T: sweet caramel, citrus front, solid barley foundation, slow bitter finish

M: med/heavy, firm carbonation, sticky

D: NICE! Slow down with this one. A few of these and you might feel like you have turned into barley wine.

I love barley wines, great beer for the price. Avery continues to make delicious bomber beers.

The alcohol is well hidden and the nice warmth slips into your legs as the flavors rekindle your spirit.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2011 19:38:47 | More by BeerLover99

claytong

Vermont

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

rereviewing. had this a couple times at the brewery and had a bottle once. had this last night there.

golden, clear and lovely head. smell its strongly of hops, citrus and grapefruit. 104 ibus? my my. if i wanted hops, i would want this beer. however im not a hop head. maybe when i have a sore throat.
mouthfeel is puckering and refreshing at the same time.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2011 09:10:50 | More by claytong

JizackFH

New York

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at Sunswick 35/35 in Astoria, NY on 2/6/11.

Reviewed from notes.

A - This beer pours a nice deep amber ruby color. It has a nice off-white head that leaves good lacing behind on the glass.

S - The smell is of sweet caramel and juicy hops. It has notes of pine, cherries, and a touch of alcohol presence.

T - It tastes of sweet caramel malts, and has a nice big hop presence. There are some notes of plum, raisin, and pine. The finish has a big hop bitterness that lingers for quite some time.

M - It has a medium body and good carbonation. There is a bit of a chewy quality to it. It goes down smooth, and there is some lingering hop bitterness in the finish. Also, there is some alcohol warmth present.

D - Good drinkability. It goes down smooth, and all the aspects of the beer work really well together. The flavor is great, and i could drink a few of these in a sitting without it getting old. This is a good beer and I recommend trying it. Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2011 11:27:53 | More by JizackFH

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a snifter at the VH WhirlyBall.

I'll drink this when pigs fly...oh...apparently, the label has informed me that the time has come. It pours a lightly hazy ruby-amber topped by a finger-and-a-half of cream foam. The nose comprises toffee, caramel, slight pine, and a vague sense of red wine (more a rose, but, hey, I ain't no wine expert here!). The taste holds notes of strong pine and grapefruit rind, light onion, and a thoroughly dominated caramel/toffee blend in the background. The body is a hefty medium, with a light moderate carbonation, a dry finish, and a nearly chewy feel. Overall, a solid b-wine, but a bit much for me to necessarily enjoy regularly.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2010 18:15:31 | More by TMoney2591

thedoubler55

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark amber in color, barely any head, very moderate

S - Caramel Malts, strong pine, very strong smell but very pleasant

T - Very simmer in taste, no strong feel at all, very nice easy going taste nothing to crazy here, perfect for a barley wine

M - Very smooth beer, not to much bitterness, very simple mouthfeel, not like other BW'S

D - One of the better Barley wines I have had, definitely would like to try again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2010 20:15:06 | More by thedoubler55

taitlifto

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First, I don't like barleywines. So take my review for what it is with that in mind. I love double IPAs and Belgian Triples.

That said, three bars in Dallas coordinated a rare tapping of multiple Avery brews and I wanted to take advantage of this unique opportunity to enjoy something rarely seen: Hog Heaven on tap at the Libertine in Dallas.

On the whole, a ery drinkable beer with no evidence of it's 9 - 10% abv. My issue with making this a regular beverage of choice is the piney citrus notes with too much bitterness for my tastes. But I know many people enjoy that. It just isn't for me. However, it's a beautiful caramel color with a full nice head (couldn't measure as it was neatly sliced off by the tender of the bar prior to serving). It has a nice finish as the bitterness recedes and I wonder how it wouldve paired with some Asian Ginger dish or citrus based meal like lemon chicken. Oh, and wert once in awhile, I caught a hint of black pepper.

Pretty good. For a barleywine ;)

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2010 21:58:01 | More by taitlifto

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the brewery in August 2009. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a moderate copper color with a very thin off white bit of lacing after a small head on the initial pour. Sell brings citrus and floral hops and a large amount of caramel malt sweetness. Taste is a bit of a mess with a large dose of hops that are somehow overpowered by an even larger dose of sweetness. Doesn't carry very much depth. Feel is fairly heavy with low to moderate carbonation. Drinkability is hampered by the taste just kind of being everywhere. A strange barleywine that might do better with some age.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2010 01:09:11 | More by Thorpe429

mklinger

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

At the J Clyde in Birmingham. Served in a 12oz snifter. A small head off white head formed over a bright amber liquid. Crystal clear. Great lacing left behind.

Aroma was hoppy, nice and citrusy and a bit dank. Also a bit of caramel sweetness. Maybe a smidge of alcohol going on here.

Taste was nice. Certainly some solid malt & crystal malt/caramel flavor. Not as big of a malt character as I usually expect from a barleywine. In some ways, not so different from some DIPAs. Plenty of hop flavor, too. Quite bitter -- Strong as many DIPAs again. Alcohol was noticeable, but less present than in aroma.

A bit more light bodied than expected for style. Good beer, but not really what I expect for a BW.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2010 20:30:56 | More by mklinger

MbpBugeye

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Dirty Franks, Downtown Columbus. I got the first glass from a brand new keg.
A- Red. This beer is a very red colored barleywine. The head is very small but it lasts quite a while. It throws quite a bit of lacing.

S- Vedry hoppy but very malty at the same time. Its nearly balanced in smell but it leans towards the hops. Its very piney.

T- The taste is a continuation of the smell. Its backwards from most beers, the bitter hops come first then it breaks into a caramel maltiness.

M- Just shy of full bodied. Crisp, carbonated and nearly dry.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2010 07:36:25 | More by MbpBugeye

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a nice golden color, small frothy dirty white head, thinner bodied and hopped like an Imperial IPA. It was very hoppy but it lacked a lot of body, deep malt and maturation. Drinkability is good but I rated it low as a barleywine because this IS NOT A BARLEYWINE in my book, sorry guys. It did smell good..like Imeprial IPA though..just because you hopped it to Hell and it is a 100IBU does not make it a barleywine.
///
20 March 2010: on tap HL Fest. 2006 vintage. Wow! This beer was a big hot IPA mess fresh but after 4 years it holds its own. Nice carame, citrus(grapefruit, pinepalle, pine) much easir to drinka nd more balanced. Nice.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2010 00:51:42 | More by barleywinefiend

PorterLambic

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a liquid copper color with a small, thin white head that leaves some lace.
Smell is hops, floral, malt and nothing else.
Taste is more malt, hops and floral.
Malt really lingers and balances the hops well. A medium/full body. Overall a good beer, but not great especially for an Avery.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2009 02:25:38 | More by PorterLambic

MiScusi

California

2.4/5  rDev -39.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

On tap at Lucky Baldwin's delirium cafe in sierra madre.

Dark reddish, nice cap of foam on top. Smells like a malty, sugary, fruit bomb. The beer is way too sweet for me. Cloyingly sweet. I don't find a lot of balance offered here by the hops to cut some of the sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2009 15:20:38 | More by MiScusi