Maharaja - Avery Brewing Company

stimulus

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch 13, bottled March 2011, 10.52% ABV.

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a snifter glass.

A: Pours a clear orange with a one finger off white head that settles a bit and leaves nice lacing.
S: Sweet citrus, aromatic and bitter hops, and a nice malt presence in the background.
T: Flavorful hop bouquet to begin the onslaught, followed by sweetness from the sturdy malt backbone, orange and grapefruit, and finally the brew finishes with a bitter alcohol bite combined with more citrus.
M: A bit sticky and cloying, medium carbonation, smooth finish.
O: The finish on the taste sounds a bit overwhelming, but it the alcohol bite is just noticeable, and it hits with a good amount of bitterness and citrus flavor for a balanced combination. This beer is perhaps one of the best IIPA's I've ever tried, and now that I've tried it fresh, I think I can put it right up there with Green Flash & Double Jack as my favorite IIPA's. (Note, I prefer the citrus characteristics these beers impart more than I do pine, but I respect and enjoy PtE for what it is, but not as much as these 3).

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 02:35:04 | More by stimulus

PlinyBeMiney

California

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-21-2013 23:15:51 | More by PlinyBeMiney

ThreeFishes

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-21-2013 18:46:00 | More by ThreeFishes

Busker

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-21-2013 18:09:39 | More by Busker

willcabral

California

5/5  rDev +17.9%

05-21-2013 01:34:48 | More by willcabral

ericwa1154

Texas

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-20-2013 14:49:11 | More by ericwa1154

LCB_Hostage

Pennsylvania

1.5/5  rDev -64.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.75

This is one nasty beer. I will admit that this bomber has been sitting in my fridge for 4-6 weeks, so maybe the problem is that it ages horrifically, but my god, this was awful.

It looked pretty as I poured it into an imperial pint glass, but it was all down hill after that. The aroma was subdued, but what there was was bitter in a way that I can't associate with any known type of hops.

The taste was also bitter, but not in a pleasurable, hoppy way. More of a getting a mouthful of gasoline when you do a shitty job of siphoning way. It just burned itself into the roof of my mouth and back of my tongue and would not go away.

I see from the reviews here that a lot of people have had a much better experience with this beer than I did, so it may have been a bad bottle or at least a bottle with too much age on it. I couldn't find any dating on the bottle, but unless it was several years old, there's no excuse for it going THIS bad. But there are so many great DIPAs out there that I enjoy regularly, I will not be giving this one another shot.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 14:35:54 | More by LCB_Hostage

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Deep amber, brilliant, clear, white head has some retention and good lacing.

S/T/M - Huge hoppy nose, mostly pine and pineapple with underlying floral notes. Hint of booze in the smell, a little stronger in the taste. Sweet caramel malts provide a strong backbone, yet the body stays in the medium range. A little sweet overall for my liking, which is the only thing holding me back from giving even higher scores. Still finishes bitter though with resinous pine and a hint of booze.

O - A little sweet and boozy, but still maintains good hop character. I'll pass on another bottle, but would surely get it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 12:40:36 | More by garuda

PlayitAgain

New York

4.75/5  rDev +12%

05-20-2013 03:04:09 | More by PlayitAgain

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +12%

05-20-2013 01:44:18 | More by Ctrauty

HopChef44

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

05-20-2013 00:40:07 | More by HopChef44

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-19-2013 15:37:54 | More by ShawnMH

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-19-2013 04:21:03 | More by LambicPentameter

J_Dub

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-19-2013 01:42:32 | More by J_Dub

jakeox

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

05-19-2013 01:13:04 | More by jakeox

SightinColor

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

05-18-2013 23:29:07 | More by SightinColor

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

05-18-2013 20:49:59 | More by Photekut

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I was very pleased with this Colorado DIPA, as my expectations were not terribly high. It stands up to some strong DIPA competition. Not one characteristic stands out as being off the charts, but nothing disappoints either. I will have this again if I can get it fresh from the source, but otherwise I'd choose a handful of others.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 19:23:40 | More by DenverHopHead

jono0101

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +12%

05-18-2013 16:05:35 | More by jono0101

mkirkland80

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-18-2013 02:15:48 | More by mkirkland80

EricClayton

West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-17-2013 19:38:59 | More by EricClayton

carlosega

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-17-2013 17:20:34 | More by carlosega

s1ckboy

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

05-17-2013 01:06:20 | More by s1ckboy

OMsweetOM

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-17-2013 00:43:48 | More by OMsweetOM

JuniperJesus

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-16-2013 23:54:25 | More by JuniperJesus