Tonight's beer of choice comes from Avery Brewing - Hog Heaven Dry-Hopped Barleywine. This is a big barleywine with hops on it's mind - 9.2% ABV, 104 IBUs, and dry-hopped liberally with Columbus hops. Avery recommends you pair this beer with meat or game with an apricot glaze...OR pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches. Anyone else hungry?
The color is slightly cloudy dark amber with a big ole' 2 inch head. Aroma is incredible - lots of floral spiciness at the top level, and when I stick my nose closer I catch a big basket of sweet fruits and caramel malts - the fruits are sugary.
The drink starts off hoppy, piney, with oily resins clinging to the tongue. Then comes a firm wave of sweet malts that mixes with those citrus fruits that were in the nose. Big spicy alcohol comes along with it - pretty harsh, solvent alcohol that pushes some of the other flavors out of the way and takes control. The mouthfeel is hefty, chewy and full-bodied with a lighter carbonation.
Overall Rating: This was a strange barleywine - I really felt it was more of a harsh Imperial IPA - a little too hot for me. The flavors don't work that well together, the beer jumps from one thing to another without any real balance. One of my least favorite brews from Avery.
No comments:
Post a Comment