Avery Brewing Hog Heaven Barleywine Review

This barleywine is certainly deserving of the barleywine label and it contains all of the things commonly associated with barleywine. This ale pours to a reddish- orange- tan color and it offers an aroma that is fruity, spicy, and quite enticing. The head of foam is good and it takes time to subside, leaving plenty of lace on the sides of the glass as it settles down. Among the flavors present in this beer, the taste of peppery hops is most evident. It is followed by flavors of pine and citrus. But that isn't all- there is also a nice, caramel malt backbone with this ale, and it helps to balance out the flavor, even though it remains bitter overall.

One thing I find somewhat surprising about Hog Heaven Barleywine is the bitterness rating of 104 IBU. Normally, a number this high would indicate that a beer is intensely hopped that would cause drinkers to cough or gag upon taking a sip. But Hog Heaven isn't like that. It is most certainly a bitter brew, but I would not have guessed that its bitterness rating was 104. The contribution from the caramel malt is the likely reason. It offers just enough sweetness to counteract part of the bitterness, resulting in a beer that isn't as bitter as it otherwise would be.

Overall, Avery Hog Heaven Barleywine is a very good barleywine that I am certain to purchase again when a hop craving strikes. It isn't as full bodied as some of the really BIG barleywines available on the market, but it is still a very tasty ale that really hits the spot when you get a craving for hops. My craving has been pacified for now, but when it strikes again, Avery Hog Heaven will rank high on my list of antidotes.